Sub- genres of a Horror.
By Millie Iron
Psychological Horror
Psychological horror’s play with the emotions of the audience, relying on their fears to create suspense and tension within the film. The plot of this genre usually revolves around the supernatural or a story line in which the audience can relate too, rather than outright gore and graphic violence. This exploits the audiences fears, creating a more gripping, tension building viewing experience. They also use plot twists to furthermore engage the audience. For example: Rather than immediately showing a monster or villainous character, a physiological horror will use eerie music, low key lighting or a sequence of unusual activity, in order to gradually build suspense and fear.
Because of the relatable storylines of the genre, the location will usually be somewhere in which the audience expects danger will occur. For example, this may be a haunted house, a cabin in the woods or a claustrophobic area or any other terrain which will toy with the audiences emotional instability and fear. Therefore, Location is a significant Macro element in this Sub-genre.
May 2002 Lucky Mckee The Black Cat 1934 Edgar G Ulmer Case 39 2009 Christian Alvart
Rosemary’s Baby 1968 Roman Polanski
Sublime 2007 Tony Krantz
Jacobs Ladder 1990 Adrian Lyne
The Ring 2002 Gore Verbinski
Mirrors 2008 Alexandre Aja
The Shining 1980 Stanley Kubrick
The silence of the lambs 1991 Jonathon Demme
The Ward 2010 John Carpenter
I can see you 2008 Graham Resnick
Slasher Horror The title ‘slasher’ helps to the define the genre, as it usually involves mass murder by a psychopathic killer, with the use of a feared weapon such as a blade. The Killer usually escapes, provoking the sense of unstoppable brutal crime. Slasher horrors were hugely popular during the 1980’s as evident by the montage of films on the next page. It was highly successful Slasher films such as Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street which triggered this. Technical codes and conventions, Mis en scene are crucial in this sub genre, as a key element is a weapon. A weapon is used to portray the vulnerability of the human body and suggests multiple ways one can die. In the slasher genre, the audience becomes aware of the selected weapon in which the antagonist has, creating fear for other characters. As well as this (due to the numerous murders by the psychopathic killer) blood and other gore related materials will be used as a prop in this genre, meaning Mise en scene is a significant Micro element.
Friday the 13th 1980 Sean S Cunningham
Nightmare on Elm Street 1984 Wes Craven
The House on sorority row 1983 Mark Rosman
My Bloody Valentine 1981 George Mihalka
Saw 2004 James Wan
Childs play 1988Tom Holland
Halloween 1978 John Carpenter
Urban Ledgend 1998 Jamie Blanks
The Hills have eyes 2006 Alexandre Aja
Prom Night 1980 Paul Lynch
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974 Tobe Hooper
Scream 1996 Wes Craven
Gothic Horror
The sub genre of Gothic horror evidently contain elements of both goth and horror. The genre usually revolves around a supernatural plot and often features romance which unfolds throughout the film. However, the romance may be seen as forbidden or not ‘normal’ adding suspense as well as fear to the genre. Gothic horrors usually contain a dark, melancholic portrayal of characters or romance and are one of the most early originating sub-genres of horror due to early 20th century fiction, such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The Mise en scene and setting usually seem quite dated within this genre and may feature a nocturnal world with desolate, medieval looking locations like castles, graveyards and old mansions. The lighting will almost always be of a low lighting to coincide with the general sombre plot. The antagonists within the genre are usually of supernatural origin; ghosts, vampires, witches, demons.
Dracula 1958 Terence Fisher
Sleepy Hollow 1999 Tim Burton
The Mummy 1932 Karl Freund
The awakening 2011 Nick Murphy Black Sabbath 1963 Mario Bava
Frankenstein 1931 James Whale
Interview with the Vampire 1994 Neil Jordan
Castle of Blood 1964 Sergio Corbucci, Antonio Margheriti
Woman in Black 2012 James Watkins