Psychological HorrorConventions

SOUND & EDITING Often the sounds and music used in psychological horror is ‘contrapuntal’

sound, which is when the sound does not match the action that is onscreen. This creates an unsettling atmosphere for the audience as it makes them question what they are seeing on the screen.

Eerie music and sounds are also used in order to create tension and suspense for the audience, and to make the plot more effective. Also high pitched sounds are created through the use of string instruments to build a tense atmosphere as they signify certain events.

For psychological horror, the editing is often more slow paced in order to build the tension and suspense as this sub-genre focuses more on the effect that the film has on the audience’s minds so a fast pace would not be appropriate.

Diegetic sounds that appear in the films of this genre of things like creaking floorboards and doors, and screaming. The screaming can often be chilling for the audience as it is an outburst of the character’s emotions.

Camerawork

High angle shots are often used in psychological horror and the horror genre in general, as they are used to demonstrate the power that the villainous presence may have over a certain character. It also helps to highlight the vulnerable side of a character as high angle shots can make them appear to be weak and powerless.

POV shots are also often used in this genre as it can link to the Uses and Gratifications theory with the element of a diversion. This is because POV shots allow the audience to feel completely immersed in the plot line and so they can use it as a form of escapism from real life.

Close ups are also often used in order to connote to the audience how the characters are feeling so that it is easier for them to understand the urgency of the situation.

This shot from Saw 2 is an example of a high angle shot and it connotes to the audience which character is in power (Jigsaw) and which character appears powerless, which is Michael who is shown in this shot.

This shot of Katie from The Ring is an example of a typical close up used in a lot of areas of the horror genre. It allows the audience to understand how the character is feeling and this may make them feel more sympathy towards them.

Narrative

A flashback is a conventional feature of the narrative for a psychological horror, and also the horror genre in general. This non-linear narrative allows the audience to be informed of why the killer/antagonist has reached their twisted psychological state. For example, in the 2013 film ‘Carrie’, the initial opening scene is a flashback to when Carrie herself was born, and this allows the audience to gain an insight into Carrie’s mother’s psychological state and foreshadows later events.

The killer or antagonist of the film often remains concealed in psychological horror films as suspicion of the unknown is a common characteristic of this sub-genre. If the antagonist is represented visually, they often appear normal and there are no signs of their danger, as psychological horror focuses on their mental state rather than physical.

Mise-en-scene Some common settings for horror and psychological horror films include: big

houses (often abandoned), woodland areas, abandoned warehouses, schools and hospitals. Settings like these are used widely throughout the horror genre as they can create a sense of isolation for the characters as they are often abandoned which creates a tense atmosphere as the audience knows that the character may be vulnerable.

Some common props for the horror genre in general include things like knives and chainsaws as a lot of films of this genre include a lot of gore so these props are vital to demonstrate this. However, the sub-genre of psychological horror does not rely on gore being present, and instead focuses more on the effect that it can have on the audience’s mind by exposing their psychological vulnerabilities. Psychological horrors may not rely on props as much but some common props may be things like technology and more everyday props, to show that it could happen to anyone in the audience. The costumes may also be more casual for psychological horror as it may be more of an everyday situation. Fake blood may be used in some cases although this sub-genre doesn’t tend to focus on the gory effects.

Characters Twisted and disturbed individuals are often used as the antagonist or

killer, who may be returning to seek revenge on a certain character who is their victim. The victims are often females as they are stereotypically represented as being the more vulnerable sex in films. In some films of the psychological horror genre, children are often the killers as for them to do this, they have to be emotionally or psychologically tormented. This may make the film more disturbing for the audience as they would not expect a child to be committing these sort of crimes.In the 2009 film Orphan, a couple adopt a child called Esther. However, behind Esther’s innocent exterior, the audience is able to understand through the revelations of the film that Esther’s character is actually a killer. This is an example of having a child as the main antagonist in a psychological horror, and how this can be disturbing for the audience to watch.

Other conventions

Psychological horror films can also often be based on true events, and this makes the film more chilling for the audience as it is more realistic and effectively could have happened to them.

This sub-genre tends to rely on the character’s beliefs, fears and other hidden truths about them to create an effective plot-line, rather than relying on gory elements and visual effects like a lot of horror films do.

Often there is less evidence of physical harm to the characters, but rather the psychological harm that occurs with the characters. Both protagonist and antagonist are often shown in a twisted mental state and this is sometimes more disturbing to the audience that showing the character with a lot of physical harm and gory elements.