HG- Moodboard

Psychological Horror focuses on exposing the character's fears or insecurities and builds tension from this. To expand this point further, the genre is dependent on the character's fears, guilt, conscience and beliefs, filmmakers will use eerie sound effects, synchronous sound and express the sensitivity and instability of the protagonist.

 

In horror films of other sub-genres such as Splatter and Slasher films, the antagonist may be immortal and inhuman. However in psychological films, the character is likely to be normal and similar to anyone else, yet has a peculiar personality and has an odd motive. Unlike other sub-genres, the antagonist is revealed far into the film or in some cases at the end of the film as a sort of unveil. In psychological films, the evil is exposed from behind the normality of the antagonist, which makes it easier for the audience to relate compared to a slasher film which has alien evil.

 Furthermore, typically, a psychological film does not have any harmful content and focuses more on the mental health of the characters. Psychological films normally effect the audience on a deeper and more emotional level, this is because usually in this sub-genre of films there is a lead character whom is given prevalence throughout. This therefore means that the audience can identify and empathize with the main character. In addition to this, psychological films are also presented as being more realistic, this is because what happens in the film could really happen in real life. 

Best 10 Psychological Horrors:

10. The Blair Witch Project

9. Carnival of Souls

8. Session 9

7. The Other

6. The Haunting

5. Repulsion

4. Peeping Tom

3. Rosemary's 

2. Psycho

1. Se7en 

Psychological Mood Board

Clown scene from the popular film "The Poltergeist"