Genre Research

Psychological Horror Genre Research

Definition: A subgenre of horror fiction, film, and video games (as a narrative), which relies on the characters' fears and emotional instability to build tension.

Codes and Conventions

Weapons: The weapons are not usually physical weapons, but tend to be more supernatural and psychological. For example, the killer’s twisted minds act a weapon of fear against the victims in the film. Jumpy moments are also used as weapons to scare both the audience and the characters in the film.

Setting: Popular settings used for psychological horrors are big, old, abandoned houses, run down asylums, forest/woodland areas, hospitals etc. These create fear for the audience as they begin to picture themselves in these kinds of settings and how the would feel.

Sights: Flashbacks are often used to give a back story/explain some of what is going on in the film and the reasons for it.

Shadows and silhouettes are also often used to create fear and suspense, also to unnerve the audience.

Sounds: Contrapuntal sound (when the sound doesn’t match what is being watched) is often used in psychological horror films (the most popular used is Tiny Tim’s ‘Through the Tulips’) as it creates suspense and the audience builds up fear for what is about to happen next.

Characters: A disturbed or ‘mental’ character is generally used as the main protagonist that is usually out to kill people because of something telling them to in their head. Females are generally used for these roles.

Children are also often used as the main protagonist (for example, in Orphan or The Omen).

Generic Conventions

·      A more subtle type of horror (less gore and violence)

·      Creates discomfort by exposing psychological vulnerabilities

·      Tend to show evil or paranormal activity

·      People enjoy this as they thrive on the excitement of being scared

Iconography

·      Asylum/hospital

·      Blood

·      Forest/dark woods

·      Supernatural figures/creatures