Psychological horror

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"Psychological horror" is a term widely used to refer to a subgenre of horror fiction, which uses knowledge (or lack thereof) and mood to create tension, as opposed to that horror which derives its effect from gory violence (often distinguished in the film medium by the term "splatter film"). Well-known examples include The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project.

Psychological horror plays more on the psyche than to the instinctual reaction to violence or gore. By confusing and/or reaching the subconsious of the viewer, psychological horror is able to have a deeper effect that is more socially acceptable than a gory film, yet is also nearly universal in impact. This genre is similar to the psychological thriller in that it uses psychology, but in the psychological thriller, the psychology is often applied to a character as opposed to the viewer.

Psychological horror is more common in literature than in modern film, and can also be found in some computer and video games. Prominent examples of video games that make use of this brand of horror include the Silent Hill series, Condemned: Criminal Origins and Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem.

[edit] Why is it Effective?

Psychological horror is frightening to some viewers because of the tension built upon throughout the story. Splatter films usually rely upon sudden "jolts" and direct physical threats to sympathetic characters, such as a monster jumping out from behind a corner. The primary effect of psychological horror is to play upon the anticipation of a perceived threat, or to confuse the viewer regarding the nature, or existence, of the threat (examples of the latter approach can be seen in the films Let's Scare Jessica to Death and Hour of the Wolf, and the games Rule of Rose and Silent Hill 2).

Oftentimes, psychological horror films have no recourse to the "gore" prevalent in splatter films. However, some violence may be used to reinforce the notion of possible physical danger, while still keeping true to the psychological nature (an example would be the 1999 Japanese film, Audition).

Occasionally - such as in the film Blair Witch Project - the antagonist is never revealed. With no explicitly defined threat presented on screen, the "fear of the unknown" theme becomes central and can be explored fully.

[edit] Outside Links

• Fiction Writers' Guide to Psychology - Archetype Writing