JV- Conventions of Horror Films

Conventions of a Horror Film - Alien (1979)

• One of the main conventions for horror films which is usually if not always a main part, is a secluded area which is isolated from the outside world and means that there is no possible way of escaping or getting help.
• From the opening of the Alien film, we can gather that it is located in space which means that this is the most extreme example and also corresponds with one of the key quotes from the film; "In space no one can hear you scream"
• There is also a danger which an individual or group are trying to hide from, this danger can be something from death to a curse, but everybody is still aware of this 'danger'. Yet despite this the main character(s) seem completely oblivious to this fact and continue with what they're doing instead of taking the safer route which would inevitably lead to them staying alive.
• Furthermore, we learn that there is always a main part which leads to the characters death etc. some of them include such things as a storm which prevents them from leaving or something like the individual fooling over.