3. Latest and Greatest The horror genre now is flooded with new themes, techniques and styles to appeal to everyone preferences. The industry is thriving with a plethora of new and exciting films being made including “Paranormal Activity”, “Saw” and “Drag Me To Hell”, just to name a few. The horror genre now has so much more special effects than there was in the time of Méliès, which has lead to a new breed of horror films that now dwell on showing you the creatures in all there glory as well as scary you a lot more than ever before. The new techniques used in horror films include using more gore (Halloween), using loud noises (paranormal activity) and making you jump (drag me to hell).
4. Subgenres The increased demand for bigger and better horror films has lead to more and more types or ‘subgenres’ of the main horror genre. These can include “Slasher”, Psychological, Supernatural, Noir etc of which have been created to fill the gaps and cater for the want for new and different types of horror films. Slasher films such as Rob Zombies remake of “Halloween” are aimed at men that enjoy, gritty and gory films often with female characters in helpless situation, which has also lead to the “final girl” trope which is used in “Alien” where Ripley is the last survivor and must fight off the alien all by herself.
5. Codes and Conventions The codes and conventions of the horror genre are what directors and filmmakers have been following for years to make films that are widely accepted and enjoyed. Codes and conventions are what make the film the genre it is, if it has some of the codes and conventions then it can be classified in that genre or be a hybrid with it. There are many codes and conventions of the horror genre some include Good vs Evil with good having to prevail (Aliens), creaking doors/staircases (Paranormal Activity), creatures jumping out from places (Dawn of the Dead), people acting as God must face defeat (I Am Legend, Omega Man), tension building music (Drag Me To Hell), death is inevitable (Final Destination) etc.