Featuresof different genres
The characteristics which you use to describe the film place it within a particular genre. Film-makers deliberately use the standard forms of genres in their production. This can save money and build audience appeal.
Typical horror films, for example, rely on particular sounds and settings. Certain studios in England in the 1940s and 1950s specialised in horror films. Some examples of these were The Mystery of the Mary Celeste, The Curse of Dracula and The Mummy.
Image of a terrified woman being threatened by a monster
In America, the MGM studios made musicals in the 1950s. They had a store of resources (actors, technical staff, equipment and props) to support them. Some of these musicals were a way of re-creating the modern world or showing an ideal world. Examples of films were Singin’ in the rain, An American in Paris and Funny Face.
Most people like to know what sort of film they are going to see. They look for clues to find out if it is a musical, a mystery or a comedy. People can readily identify with a particular product and often it will reflect some of the social concerns of the time. You will notice how dramatic films about terrorism follow the terrible events that happen in real life and how crime films on TV in 2005 emphasise the role of DNA and forensic testing.
Films do not always fit neatly into one genre. Think of films you have seen where genres overlap. A film set in the American west where the white cowboy new settler clashes with the indigenous long-time inhabitant, the American Indian, sounds like a western. However the typical western film may also contain elements of drama and crime. Some thrillers and some musicals also contain comedy.
Most popular film genres share characteristics and features. You know what to expect from a Tom Cruise or Bruce Willis action-packed drama or a science-fiction drama such as Star Wars. Audiences like to know what to expect but they also like novelty. So the genres are not static but constantly evolving and changing. For example in Shrek, you have the traditional love story which looks like a comic fairy tale but also alludes to all sorts of modern preoccupations, such as appearance, personal growth and friendship. There is a serious side.
One thing which unites all films, whatever their genre, is story. The most popular films will always be the ones with a strong narrative structure, often with the hero figure who undertakes a physical or an inner journey in search of a goal. On the way he or she may encounter enemies or obstacles. The aim is to overcome the obstacle to win the ‘prize’ (often the girl, the boy or the money).