Analyse the Codes and Conventions of Horror Films as shown in the Openings of 'Dead Wood', 'Dead Mary' and 'Wrong Turn'

During this essay, I’ll be comparing 3 openings of horror movies which we have watched (Dead Wood, Dead Mary and Wrong Turn), and evaluate their efficiency of codes and conventions.

All movies consist of variety of camera angles and movements to achieve the effects the directors wish for. Taking Dead Wood as the first example, there was a lot of use of hand-held camera when action occurred within the scene. This technique was also featured in the movie Wrong Turn. Since both movies included rapid action, hand-held camera came in handy to follow the victims during their escape because there’s greater freedom of motion. It also creates a shaky-like effect to the raw footage so not everything in the scene is clear but blurred. The viewers are not able to see everything detailed precisely but just enough to understand the action in the certain scenes, which greatens the sense of thrill. However, Dead Mary acquires no use of handheld camera in their production, but more still shots to create calmer shots. This way, it enabled for the production team to focus on the details they’re keen to enhance to form a sort of sinister mood to their opening.

Alternatively, all movies featured close ups and extreme close up shots. These are always vital in horror films as these types of shots create a sense of anxiety. This is because audiences are drawn towards the victim’s expressive face and are more focused on their fear that transfers onto the viewers. I believe that the way the character’s face is nearer the audience, they feel more connected with them, which could be causing greater fear within the atmosphere.

We can view of an example in Dead Wood, when one of the victims has been drawn towards a dead end by the chaser. We can already detect the amount of fear in him because we’re given a clearer view of his anxious look on his face. There’s also a tight depth of field used in this shot, which allows for viewers to focus on the character’s face rather than on the background.

This effect is also used a lot in the movie Dead Mary to have the camera focusing on the important details. With these shots, the viewers are only introduced to details of the location, leaving them guessing where the scenes are taking place.

Only then is there an establishment shot that acts as the final answer.










Angles were also common amongst the movies. Taking Dead Mary as an example for high angle; when the female character holds up her phone in the hope of a signal, she fails to reach any, and the high angle (almost bird eye view) signifies how vulnerable she is without any reach of contact because viewers are looking down on her.

Wrong Turn also uses a high angle when the female character is climbing up the cliff. Because of the situation she’s in, she is looked down because of her falling behind, appearing weak. Whereas the man is looked up who appears fitter and stronger. However, these can also be POV (Point-of-view) shots because each character is looking at each other when the camera’s shot-reverse-shooting. However, the female character is still looking up to the male because she hasn’t made it before him and with the high angle; she appears weakened, making her the obvious victim
for the upcoming attack.


Non-diegetic sound is one of most effective technical codes because music acts as a source of emotion. When music contributes in horror films, it often begins with an eerie introduction to provide the mood of suspicion. This is usually followed by sudden changes to the speed or tempo of non-diegetic sound to enhance any unexpected action during the movie. This usually causes higher chances of spooking the audience or making them jump. Sometimes, it tends to slowly pick up the pace to match the action going on in the scenes. Alternatively, there can be a pause to the score to match the tension within the scene before a sudden appearance of thrill occurs.

Dead Wood starts of with unnerving background music along with an establishment shot. As soon as action occurs, there’s a sudden change to the music going from relatively calm pace to a dramatic, frightening attitude. This continues until the male character meets a dead end. This corresponds with the music because when the character has come to his end of escape, the music has also stopped. Then, the music is stopped to allow for the heavy breathing to be listened to by the audience. The music, once more, begins to build up along with the tension within the atmosphere. The character is frightened of his attacker, and as soon as the victim identifies his attacker, sharp violins come in to support the anxiousness.

Wrong Turn is similar. At the beginning, the music is peculiar with repetitive, heavy drums to build up awareness of the forest the audiences are looking at. You have sudden changes to the score when the female character manages to slip, and the pace is picked up along with the action to improve fear within the ether.

Dead Mary, on the other hand, focuses on diegetic sound, like the ordinary birds chirping to suggest the fact that the setting is located in the forest, and the constant sighing of the frustrated, solitary female character. I think her attitude is shown as ignorant and quite annoying due to the fact that she’s not satisfactory with her current situation (of course, who would) but when the male character comes along with the petrol, she’s frustrated with him being late rather than rescuing them with the bunks of petrol he had to carry for miles. Although, looking at the conventions, we can already suggest the fact that there might be some long survival because of the pair owning a sport-like car and plenty of gasoline. Moreover, the feminine character is shown observing a gun in the car, suggesting that they’re partly equipped against whatever they’ll be facing later on in the movie. Yet there’s unfortunate conventions featured too, like no signal on phone and radio not in sync, suggesting that the character is isolated from any contact or help. Therefore, their survival is not easy, and it will be likely that one of the characters from the pair will die, perhaps even both.

Conventions of isolation also occur in Dead Wood as well as Wrong Turn. I think this is often used in horror movies to create the sense of danger when you’re isolated and out of reach of help or any contact, making survival much more challenging for the victims. Taking Dead Wood as an example, the characters are lost in a secluded and dangerous forest. The forest isn’t completely tidy, creating obstacles for the male character to face when in attempt of his escape. This is when another convention comes in. The overweight character happens to trip over, slowing him down and allowing for the killer to catch up with him, making the victim much more vulnerable than before.

Looking at the way the character is dressed, he is judged as a casual, party person due to the fact that he’s wearing a Hawaiian shirt, chinos and white trainers. This type of clothing also suggests that it’s not suitable for camping, so the character hasn’t thought through about his situation. Comparing him to the female, she seems more organised. Firstly, her clothes are almost earthy colours, helping her camouflage within the environment. Also, she’s not sexualised unlike other movies do, like Wrong Turn and Dead Mary. In Wrong Turn, the female is dressed for rock climbing, yet she’s still wearing little clothes compared to the man. It goes the same with movie Dead Mary. Both females are wearing limited clothing, which show off their flesh and cause them to act as baits to the killers.

I conclude that the most successful movie out of all is Wrong Turn due to its efficient uses of technical and symbolic codes, and conventions. I believe that Wrong Turn had very well-thought camera angles and movements to fit the action in the scenes, and comparing to other movies, the editing were quick where necessary (e.g. a lot of action taking place) but kept its match-on-action understandable. I think that the exposure in Dead Mary was too high and ruined the picture of the opening. Wrong Turn also succeeded in symbolic codes because even though they sexualised the female character, she was highlighted as the upcoming victim since she showed little clothing but lots of flesh, almost acting like a bait for the cannibal. The movie also consisted of numerous conventions. Even if in some scenes it was obvious that something was going to happen, it yet manages to surprise the audience.