Genre Conventions

Action Films

Character

The protagonist is normally a strong and aggressive male

The protagonist is also normally an aggressive male.

The characters are not afraid to risk their lives.

The damsel in distress is always female.               

Narrative

The protagonist is always after the antagonist to protect or save someone or something.

The protagonist is always set back in some way, whether it’s the protagonist being stopped temporarily, or the antagonist getting stronger.

The antagonist always loses at the end of the film

The protagonist always manages to save or protect someone or something

Mise-En-Scene

In interrogation scenes, there is always low key lighting, and also will normally have a high angle shot of the person being interrogated to make him look inferior.

There is always a close up on a character to show their reactions or emotions.

Horror Films

Character

The damsel in distress is mostly female.

Antagonist normally is a monster or has a hidden identity.

Protagonist is always male.

The weakest person is tends to be the protagonist

The most physically/mentally strong character is killed first.

There is normally a young female that dies.

Antagonist normally has a twisted past, something to do with a woman.

Narrative

The protagonist always narrowly beats the antagonist.

There is always a girl that dies

The antagonist always seems like he will win over the protagonist until the end.

The victims always fail to follow social norms e.g. Sex before marriage, these people are normally the victim.

There is always a stalking scene.

Mise-En-Scene

Always set in either an isolated area or in an urban area, either a dark city or a ghost town.

Always close up or medium shot that reveals the antagonist.

A stereotypical shot in a horror film is a shot that goes towards a character to a clos up as they are screaming.

In slasher films there will be a long shot of a victim running towards the camera as the antagonist can be seen behind them