Codes and conventions of The Post - Apocalyptic, Survival Horror (Thriller) genre

To sucessfully create my own trailer of this genre, I though I would do some background research into the common codes and conventions of the Post apocalyptic Thriller genre.

• A tight community of protagonists/ survivors of the apocalypse. - Such films as "The book of Eli" follow this convention, although the film does not follow the towns people, rather a lone survivor passing through. But it still gives a sense of civilisation, no matter how barren or damaged. Other movies such as "The Road" as this follows two male figures, and any signs of other survivors are depicted in canibalistic smaller groups, or families of dead people, hanging from trees, this creates a larger sense of hoplessness in the audience and challenges these conventions.
• Abandoned and Isolated locations. - This is a very common convention for this genre, and is probably, in my view, one of the most important. Creating a sense of loss of a civilised society, barren wastelands of deralic houses and cars does this theme justice, and agin created a sense of hopelessness that the audience feels for the characters.
• Survival. - All movies of this genre must stress the survival theme, as it allows us, the audience, to feel real fear and loss for the characters we are identifying with.
• Heroic male protagonist, mentally and physically. - This is again important as the audience needs a dominant character to give the narrative, and the story a chance, if the character was weak and vulnerable we would not expect them to survive the apocalypse, so making the film unrealistic.
• Dangerous and deadly antagonists. - This can be shown in the general sense or through a single character. Usually in this genre it is a dangerous male, with a gang or group following him, that do his bidding. For example, "I am Legend" although the antagonist is not human, there is still a ranking of authority, with him at the top, and his minions below him. Again the Book of Eli is another good example of this, with a man in charge of a large gang of ravengers, making him appear more dangerous and deadly.
• Death. - Death is another key theme in this genre that needs to be highlighted. To create other themes in the movie such as fear, hatred, loss, and depravity, death is the usual strating point. "The Road" is a exe;ent example of a movie that uses this to its advantage. Showing images of families that have hung themselves and people that have been brutal killed for the basics of supplies. It is rear to find a post - apocalyptic movie without a large influence from this theme.
• A dangerous and deadly environmeant. - This links to both the abandoned and isolated locations and the dangerous antagonist. A deadly environmeant in the movie means that throughout the film there is always a sense of tension, as the characters can never really escape the danger. As they live and journey in it. And this links to the next point of;
• Constant fear.