Psychological Horror

Psychological Horror

Main Plot Conventions:
Psychological horror may contain gore and graphic scenes  but doesnt fully aim to make the audiences jump out of their seats at all points of tension. Psychological horror plays on the aspects of fear within your mind, it manipulates the way you think and view a situation to increase feelings of vulnerability. Psychological horrors aim to create a feeling of emotional turmoil whereby you never truly know what to expect, whereas Slasher/Thrillers are fairly predictable as to who the next victim will be, this is enhanced by the fact that the killer will almost always be of human form (creating a realistic sense of threat).

Location:
Psychological horrors, unlike supernatural, are usually set in realistic locations for example homes, schools or hospitals. This enhances the sense of realism surrounding the plot of the film and makes the audience feel vulnerable to the situation. For example in The Strangers, the couple are at a honeymoon destination awaiting a proposal. The fact that they are attacked within this setting to such a traumatic degree enhances the feeling of being unsafe within your own dinural surroundings.

Lighting:
Lighting does not always follow convention within psychological horrors, although it may be presented as dark and unlight some psychological horrors such as The Ring focus most of the film within normal everyday lighting. This is effective as it combines the denural and nocturnal together by presenting something uncomfortable into a time assistiated with safety.

The Camera:
Camera work again is often plainly edited and filmed using a handheld effect however a camera stand may also be used in times of equalibrium. By using a handheld camera it creates a sense of realism and like the audience is the victim within the film, or even the murderer/creature.

Sound:
Sound plays a significant role in Psychological horror as it does in any horror film. Conventional diegetic sounds such as screaming are also followed within this genre however speech will often be kept to a minimum and be panic stricken. Music is used to enhance the narrative of a scene, for example: scenes of dramatic death or torture will screams, bangs and long periods of silences rather than orchestral music most commonly assosiated with gothic/paranormal horror.

Charlotte