Genre Conventions of ‘Urban Legend’ Opening Sequence

The mise-en-scene is set at night. The weather is rainy which is often a convention of horror which creates bleakness and sets the tone.

The female is alone in the car - a female alone is usually a convention at the start of the horror film (victim).

The mise-en-scene again is isolated, dark and a storm is taking place which could be foreshadowing further disruption.

There is a mixture of sound: Firstly, diegetic sounds such as car horns and the weather. Secondly, the non-diegetic sinister music is playing in the background.

The camera pans around the deserted gas station which again adds to the isolated feel.

There are repeated close up shots of the potential victim. This may create more of an emotional connection with the audience.

There is then a jump scare shot used when the man approaches the window which shocks both the character and the audience.

The male character is dressed and appears like a stereotypical horror villain and puts the audience on edge.

The sinister music juxtaposes the steady camera work which makes the viewer more on edge.

The opening uses typical conventions of horror to lure the audience into a false sense of security - (scary male, girl locked in a room, dark and horrific music.

Another convention is ‘the unwise stereotypical female’. (The audience realises that the man is trying to help her as he saw something in the car), this dramatic irony makes the viewer want to shout out to the screen to save her - This is a typical convention of horror.

Whilst the girl drives away, there is non-diegetic music that sounds like a heartbeat.

This whole scene makes the viewer very on edge as we are waiting for the climax. (This is a very common convention found in horror).

We are then shown a close up of an axe which is typical iconography used horror.

The last shot is where we see the girl being killed with blood and commotion which is typical for horror.