Psychological horror
Psychological horror focuses on characters’ inner fears and mental instability to terrify audiences.
Definition and Approach
Psychological horror marries horror’s intent to evoke dread with character-driven explorations of fear, madness and the uncanny. It emphasizes mood, atmosphere and psychological tension over explicit gore, relying on suggestion and ambiguity to unsettle viewers.
Techniques and Style
Effective techniques in psychological horror include:
- Unsettling soundscapes and sparse musical cues.
- Subtle visual distortions and disorienting camera work.
- Dreamlike sequences that blur reality.
- Slow pacing to build mounting anxiety.
Films like The Shining and Rosemary’s Baby use environment and performance to convey creeping dread without overt violence.
Themes and Impact
Themes often revolve around isolation, identity fragmentation and the uncanny. Psychological horror probes the limits of sanity, prompting introspection on the nature of fear.
Contemporary Innovations
Directors such as Ari Aster (Hereditary) and Robert Eggers (The Witch) continue to expand the subgenre, blending folklore, period settings and surreal imagery to create artful, disturbing narratives.
Related Terms
Vito Russo Test
The Vito Russo Test is a set of criteria used to evaluate the quality of LGBTQ+ representation in film, ensuring that queer characters are both present and integral to the narrative.
Show Bible Update
A show bible update is the essential process of revising and expanding a television series' foundational creative document to reflect story developments, character arcs, and world-building changes.
DuVernay Test
The DuVernay Test is a critical framework for analyzing racial representation in film, assessing whether characters of color have fully realized lives independent of the white characters.
Mise-en-abyme
Mise-en-abyme is a sophisticated artistic technique where a film or image contains a smaller version of itself, creating a nested, self-reflecting, and often infinite loop.
POAP
A POAP is a unique NFT created as a digital collectible to certify a person's attendance at a specific event, serving as a modern-day digital ticket stub for film premieres and fan experiences.
Token-Gated Screening
A token-gated screening is an exclusive online film event where access is restricted to users who can prove ownership of a specific digital asset, such as an NFT, in their cryptocurrency wallet.
Movie Term Quick Links
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2025)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.