Textual AnalysisPsychological horror

By Karen O’Neil

Style

The psychological horror film genre consists of close ups and extreme close ups of character’s facial expressions and significant props which are slowly revealed to create tension, confusion and enigma to the audience. This technique is used to draw the audience into the film and want to continue watching as well as foreshadow the pace of the film. This technique is seen in several horror films such as Se7en, The Ring and Silent Hill. These shots are usually accompanied by slow editing and either screeching noises, string based instrumentals or echo's.

During the opening sequence of Se7en the audience first hear a deep base sound, similar to thunder which later on develops into a high pitched screeching noise. However the opening sequence to The Ring sticks to a naturalistic theme and emphasises the sound of rain hitting the windows and the echo’s of someone’s footsteps although the audience are unable to see them. Furthermore Silent Hill uses a deep based instrumental, similar to Se7en which occasionally has sound effects similar to a chainsaw.

Se7en

Dangerous weapons are often used in horror film genre. Especially during the opening sequence so the audience can easily identify the type of film.

The use of low key lighting and a black background is common to represent the evil and dangerous themes within the film.

The close up is used to alarm the audience and grab their attention. It also gives the audience an insight of the antagonist’s psychotic mind.

The Ring

The use of low key lighting and a black background is common to represent the evil and dangerous themes within the film.

The use of an extreme close up emphasises the fear the character is feeling. The audience are left curious and frightened because they don’t know what she’s looking at.

The protagonist in horror films are usually white females with blonde hair and blue eyes. The audience feel more sympathy for the character as she’s portrayed as an innocent, weak and attractive girl.

Silent Hill

The use of close ups of a prop during the opening sequence of a horror film emphasises the significance of it. It’s likely that the prop will appear again during the film.

Uses low key lighting and sticks to dark colours such as black and grey representing evilness.

Mysterious and murky setting.

High and low angle camera shots are often used to connote fear, confusion and nightmares whereas a point of view shot can sometimes be used to put the audience in the position of the agonist. The audience see a very long one in Evil Dead while Ash The Hero is being chased through the house. Handheld shots are used to create enigma for the audience because they’re not able to see what’s happening clearly. In the film Coverfield a handheld shot contribues in creating the feeling of terror and panic. The editing in horror films are made to establish unsettling tension and anxiety. Usually when the pace of the film has settled down something eerie, lively and frightening’s about to happen.

Horror films often contain dark colours such as black and red to connote danger, blood and evilness. Low key lighting is very common and is often used to emphasis dark shadows. Props can also be used as lighting such as torches, fireplaces and bonfires, again all used to connote fire and danger.

Style

Props or significant objects

Since psychological horror films mostly use character’s emotions and mental state to create tension and fear they tend to use a variety of props and significant objects to get the attention of the audience. The opening sequence of Se7en consists of props and significant objects as an alternative to characters, throughout the opening sequence the audience see shots of objects such as books, razor blades, scissors and a needle. The constant close up of books and pages full of handwritten letters connotes the intelligence of the agonist’s mind. The pages within the books are torn, full of ink smudges and untidy handwriting emphasising the uncanny and psychotic mind frame of the evil character and theme of the film.

Dangerous objects that can be used as weapons regularly appear in horror film opening sequences so the audience can easily identify the genre. Silent Hill uses props such as knives, machetes and needles to represent the theme of pain, death and danger in the film. The film The Ring uses everyday objects such as a TV and a fridge as their main props during the opening sequence. The TV turns itself on and the fridge door opens by it’s self to disarray the mental state of the characters and build up suspense throughout the scene.

Props or significant objects

• Props mostly commonly used in horror films include:

• Blood

• Torches/fireplaces/bonfires

• Knives/blades/guns/ropes

• Masks

• Chainsaw/other sort of metal machinery

Props or significant objects

SettingHorror films are usually set in haunted houses, isolated outside locations and domestic settings. The opening sequence to The Ring is set in a house which is possibly haunted. Domestic objects such as the TV, fridge and floors begin to move and turn on unassisted which creates a sinister, perilous and inexplicable atmosphere for the audience. The use of a naturalistic setting is effective because the audience are able to react more knowing these are places they go to regularly.

Other settings most likely to be used in horror films include:

Insane asylums/hospitals

Forests/woods/lakes

Small towns

ThemesThe themes within a psychological horror film include:

Revenge

Death (E.g. Se7en)

Religion (E.g. Silent Hill)

Secrets

Depression

Nightmares

Super natural (E.g. The Ring)

Good versus evil

Insanity

Childhood issues (E.g. Dark Water)

CharactersA majority of horror films have a protagonist which is either the victim or hero of the film. Horror films tend to include attractive, white females with blonde hair and blue eyes into the storyline and portray her as weak and venerable so the audience feel sympathy towards her throughout the film. This stereotypical character is found during the opening sequence of The Ring and Silent Hill both in distress and fear. Horror films always have an antagonist, the psychological horror genre usually uses a villain the audience can’t see to create enigma and to disarray the audience’s mental state as well as the characters within the storyline.

Another character found in psychological horrors is an innocent child that later on becomes evil/possessed by the antagonist. The use of this character is seen in the opening sequence of The Wicker Man and effectively creates disarrangement and uncertainty for the audience because a child which is usually seen as innocent and delightful has gone against their positive stereotype and began doing evil things such as killing and harming people.

CharactersOther characters found in psychological horror films include:

A police officer (either good or bad)

Simple minded and gullible teenage character

Serial killer/monsters/demons/psychopath

Narrative & plotThe plot of the film Silent Hill follows the life of a young girl named Sharon whose constant sleep walking and crying has worried her adopted mother. The small family take a trip to the town of Silent Hill and are welcomed by a car crash which leaves Sharon missing. Sharon’s mother sets out towards finding her daughter and unexpectedly learns mysterious secrets about her daughter’s connection to the town of Silent Hill whilst fighting off the local cult.

A popular narrative and plot for psychological horror films involve an important character discovering interesting yet dangerous secrets about their past. The unveiling of these secrets usually explain the reason why the antagonist exists and why they’re trying to harm the main character. The use of a cult fits into the popular theme of supernatural power and religion within the psychological horror film genre and give the film a more sinister and eerie ambience. Films such as The Ring and The Exorcist contain a similar plot.

Narrative & plotThe plot of the film Se7en follows the lives of two detectives whilst on the hunt to find a serial killer that justifies his crimes as exculpation for everyone’s blindness towards the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’. The film gives the audience an insight of the sociopathic John Doe’s lifestyle as he ruthlessly chooses seven victims that represent infraction of each of the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’. John Doe sees himself as a God and continuously gives out cruel punishments to sinners throughout the film.

The use of numerous serial killings within a horror film is popular because it fits into the themes of death, revenge and good versus evil. Some films give the audience an eerie yet interesting view of the killers mind set and builds up tension whilst showing the detectives attempt to catch the killer. The film’s based on the Seven Deadly Sins again sticking to the themes of religion and supernatural power which plays on the audience’s mental state and emotions. Psychological horror films that contain similar narratives and plots include Silence of The Lamb, Zodiac, Mr Brooks and I Saw The Devil.