Steve Neale’s Genre Theory

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Steve Neale's Theory of Genre is a model used to judge the conventions, traditions, and variations found in a genre of film. Neale states that genres are not fixed, but are subject to change over time. His theory can be broken down into three broad areas: Repetition, Difference, and Genre as a site of ideological struggle.

Repetition:
Neale argues that genres are defined by repetition of certain conventions and tropes. This creates a sense of familiarity for the viewer. In the film, there are some repetitions from the teen drama and horror genres
Characters: The troupe of innocent-looking or naive young friends is a common trope for teen dramas as well as horror films. They are engaged in common teenage activities, like playing "truth or dare."
Setting: The use of what appears to be an innocuous, neglected playground is a horror convention. The juxtaposition of the familiar, playful setting and the foreboding atmosphere creates a sense of unease. The school/dormitory setting is also a common setting for teen dramas, so the fact that the events of the film take place within the setting feels like it is happening in a familiar, everyday setting.
Narrative: The film begins with a foreboding narration, establishing the premise of an epic about a boy named Ethan Graves who allegedly "went missing." This sets up the mystery on which the characters will construct the story, in a common horror genre. "Truth or dare" remains a plot device that will advance the story and leave the characters in a vulnerable situation.
Technical Codes: The unstable camera and eerie sound effects (e.g., the whispering and the sudden jump scares) are employed to generate tension and suspense, which are signatures of horror movies. The dark and somber light employed towards the end is also a visual genre signature of horror films.
Mise-en-scène: The film's opening employs harsh, desolate imagery of a playground, burned-out wood, and leaves falling. This kind of imagery creates an atmosphere of rot and apocalypse. The final scene shows the student standing in a dimming corridor and a dark figure with a ghastly smile, all of which are hallmarks of a horror film.

Difference

Neale's theory also states that genres require difference so that they can maintain audience interest. If a movie is repetitive, it is predictable and dull. The video makes use of subtle differences to retain the audience interest:

Mixing of Genres: The movie begins as a normal teen drama, with friends chatting and playing a game. This provides the audience with a feeling of false security. It quickly shifts, however, to a ghostly horror film when the characters' ordinary dialogue becomes a discussion about a ghost story and a contest where a room is haunted. This integration of a real-world setting with a supernatural threat is a significant "difference" that makes audiences stay on edge.

Character Development: Unlike some of the older horror films in which the characters are flat, the video provides a limited insight into each character's personality and motivations. For example, one of the characters is "lazy," while the other is "so-called legend." This lack of characterization makes the experience more interesting to the audience.

Genre as a Site of Ideological Struggle

Neale argues that genres are a site of ideological conflict because they reflect and challenge the ideas and values of society. The film's opening establishes a potential inquiry into contrastive ideologies:

Fear of the unknown: The film is working with the common fear of ghosts and the supernatural. The characters' fear of the "haunted room" and the "ghost" of Ethan Graves is a mirror image of a common belief in society that there is something supernatural.

Power Dynamics: The "truth or dare" game speaks, albeit in an understated manner, of the power dynamics between the group of friends. One friend dares another to go to the ghostly room, indicating a level of peer pressure and control.

Ramifications of Brutality: The back history of Ethan Graves having been bullied and then vanishing in the film suggests a plot idea about the potential ramifications of social exclusion and brutality. This is a moral theme present in both teen dramas and horror films.