Codes and Conventions of Gothic Horror

Gothic Horror's have many codes and conventions which is linked to it for example :

• Wild and Desolate Landscapes
• Dark setting with Little amounts of lighting 
• Ruins such as Castles, Dungeons, Tunnels, torture chambers etc.
• Always has a feel of 'Doom and Gloom' were the main protagonists always feel in danger
• A back story which stereo typically has a bad ending which reoccurs throughout the film.

Gothic Horror Camera Movements:

• High Angle shots are common to make a person look vulnerable and weak
• Close ups are commonly used to show the fear on a persons face
• Extreme Long shot is common to show a large scenery giving the feeling of loneliness
• Tracking and Pan shots are common because they create the feel a person is being followed or chased
• Canted shots are common as it as used as if the victim is on the floor looking at what is flowing it
• Low angle shots are common to make the villain or antagonist look powerful and scary
• Hand Held Movements are common to create a sense of realism, to make you feel like you are there
• Point of View shots are common because it creates again a sense of realism and you feel like you are there with them or are them.
• Zoom is very popular as it focuses on an object or person you can't make out creating suspense
• Over the Shoulder shots are common as they create suspense and makes it feel the victim is being followed.

Mise-En-Scene:

• Costume is incredibly important Gothic horror as it is very specific with dark clothing often Victorian/Elizabethan like creating a mystery about the characters in the film.
• Make Up is also very key as characters will often have white make up making them look pale which even further creates mystery about characters
• Performance is key as characters are often have stale facial expressions when they are watching something that can't be explained creating a sense of fear as you are not certain what to think.
• Settings are typically Wild and Desolate with low lighting

Sound: 

• A dramatic score is common in a horror to create a sense of tension or occurs during a dramatic scene
• Sting's are common in horror movies are they make a scene more climatic
• Ambient noises of wind is common as it gives a sense of danger and loneliness 
• Dialogue is key where the characters will start calm but will rush their words during a climatic scene

Editing: 

• Is often slow paced throughout most the movie 
• Pace is often quickened during an intense scene for example a chase scene 
• Fade is often common in the beginning of a Gothic Horror 
• Dissolves are often use to cut to a different scene 
• Montage's are common to in a title sequence to show a history of the films background

Narrative:

• Story focuses on the feeling of fear
• Commonly have a tragic stories based years before time period
• Supernatural elements
• Only 1 or 2 of the main protagonists will survive 
• Villain approaches victory then the hero saves the day in the nick of time 

This photo would be very similar to scenarios you'd see in a Gothic Horror movie as it has very little lighting and with the mist in the frame to is what presents the doom and gloom feel as you would barley be able to see anything and hear very little also it being an Extreme Long Shot of a graveyard with a church in the back is a setting you'd stereotypically see as it typically creates a nervous feel to the viewer and even the protagonists in the film itself.

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Sleepy Hollow is a good example of the Gothic Horror genre as in contains a lot of conventions of a Gothic Horror, such as Little Lighting throughout, A back story with the killer which ends badly, set in a little town with a church in it, a long walk way which is focused on throughout the film indicating a sense of danger whenever it is on screen.