Sub-Genre’s of a Horror By Lisa Fodder
Psychological Psychological horror is a one of many subgenre’s of a Horror. This type of genre is made to convey the characters’ fears and emotional instability and to mess with the audiences head.
Plot twists are always present in this sub-genre. It usually entails the character to face a battle with a subconscious desire such as romance or revenge.
Psychological horror aims to create discomfort by exposing common emotional fears to make you feel vulnerable.
Films such as these are also Psychological horrors: • The Shining • The Haunting in Connecticut • The Silence of the Lambs • Identity
By making the audience feel fear it creates the build up of tension through out the film until the pressure is released and you (as the audience) finds out who the killer, ghost or supernatural being is/are.
Codes and Conventions The sound and music in a psychological horror is usually contrapuntal because it contradicts the play on screen. The protagonist always come back for revenge but chooses a different victim each time. The weapon used in a psychological horror is not physical but focuses on the mind. Also in a psychological horror they tend to use flashbacks tell the audience the past behind the happenings.
Slasher A Slasher film typically involves a Psychopathic killer, Stalker and a very graphic murder sequence of a helpless victim. In a Slasher the weapon that is typically used is a tool with a blade of some kind such as a knife, axe or chainsaw.
Films such as these are a Slasher: • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre • Halloween • Friday the 13th • Psycho • My Bloody Valentine
A Slasher includes graphic murder scenes only seen in Slasher films. Slasher use locations such as a suburb, neighborhood or cabin makes the film seem more realistic and possible.
Codes and Conventions The killer is usually masked so you cant see his face. The main characters will be either adults or teenagers and they will be alone making them more vulnerable. The killer will have a weapon that is sharp such as a axe, saw or knife. There are three main colours a Slasher will use; red, white and black. These are used to make you as the audience feel more involved.
Gothic The gothic horror is defined by the blend of Dark Horror and romance. The Gothic genre was biased on the Gothic culture and was an inspiration to the film Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897). The Gothic genre normally includes features such as castles, dungeons, ruin landscapes and magic or supernatural landscapes. The Gothic genre normally features Mythical creatures and/ or Vampires. Low key lighting is often used to create fear in the audience. However, during the daylight it will be gloomy and foggy. Some examples of Gothic Horror: • Dracula • Frankenstein • The Mummy
Codes and Conventions
Gothic horrors are used to bring up the past and show you what it was ‘supposedly’ like in them times with some exaggeration. The killers are usually ghosts, witches, devils or demons which in the past was thought to exist.