THE PSYCHOLOGY OF HORROR
The FascinationExplores horrors we do not understand.
Echoes the innate violence of our species.
Morbid curiosity.
Evil affirms the existence of good.More Detail
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF HORROR
The Impact
Provoke terror.
Build on fear of the unknown.
Entertaining guessing game.
THE RULES OF HORROR
Structural Features
Orientation – brief, engaging, introduce the character(s) & their situation, a glimpse of the secret
horror to come.
Complication – isolate the character(s) with the horror.
Rising Tension – escalating events which threaten the character(s), forcing them to investigate and
eventually confront the horror.
THE RULES OF HORROR
Structural Features
Climax – character(s) seems about to be overpowered by the horror…
Resolution - something enables the character(s) to triumph. As they find peace / resume their normal
lives there is a hint the victory is temporary.
Characters and settings must be realistic. The horror has to be made believable, especially if supernatural.
THE RULES OF HORROR
Conventional Features
Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural.
The reader should be able to relate to the narrative.
There should be something unexpected on its way.
Readers of horror fiction expect the writer to have researched thoroughly.
THE RULES OF HORROR
Linguistic FeaturesBelievable, accentuating the
horror.
Fast paced.
Write normally.
SELF GUIDED TOUR OF HORROR
The Shining - Stephen King (possession)Frankenstein - Mary Shelley (monster)Rosemary’s Baby - Ira Levin (devil)The Silence Of The Lamb - Thomas Harris (serial killer)The Lord Of The Flies - William Golding (human nature)
Novels
The Tell Tale Heart - Edgar Allen Poe (killer)The Turn Of The Screw - Henry James (insanity/ghosts)Pics & ask Scobinator for ss suggestionshttp://www.classichorrorstories.com/stories/stories.html
Short Stories
Descent (monster)28 Days Later (zombie)The Exorcist (devil)The Orphanage (ghost)Seven (serial killer)The Sixth Sense (afterlife)Cube (psychological)
Films
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