Horror Sub-genres

1. Horror Sub-Genres
By Jamie Dawson

2. Slasher Horrors
The slasher sub genre is the most well known sub-genre within horror. It is home to some of the
most well known films known to the horror audience such as friday the 13th, a nightmare on
elm street, saw and scream. They contain the most recognisable codes and conventions of films
within the horror genre as a whole.
Conventionally, the killers have bladed weapons, s black costume and mask to conceal their
identity, the stereotypically teen victims, and the inclusion of lots of blood and creative killings.
One of the most well known slashers to date is the seminal horror Scream, which not only
implements these conventions of a slasher flick, but also makes the contemporary characters
aware of their existence within the world of horror.

3. Examples Of Slasher Horrors

4. Scream
Scream was the first film of its kind. The director (Wes Craven) acknowledged how
genre-savvy audiences were by having actors play characters that mocked the typical
horror conventions. Although they died anyway, this bought a comedic value into the
horror franchise and was popular with the audiences. Although this was still a slasher
film, it was the first of its kind, this is what made scream the well known successful
franchise it has become today. In this film, over the top acting and deaths were popular.
This film bought back the fear of unknown people as the first victim was being watched
by someone they didn’t know. This film however still stuck to typical slasher conventions
as the ‘slut’ still died first with the most painful death of the film.

5. Gothic Horrors
The gothic sub genre was made popular when horror was first introduced. Recently, the horror
audience have become less scared of the gothic sub-genre and so less modern films are being
made. Gothic horrors tend to include

6. Examples Of Gothic Horrors

7. Dracula
Dracula featured Bela Lugosi as the typical vampire of this decade. His costume was very traditional
and followed the conventions that were created by the literature in the 19th century. He wore a typical
black cape, tuxedo, fangs and featured the sucking motion commonly associated with the vampire
and lots of blood.
This film featured common gothic sound and eerie background noises to make the audience tense
and scared. The sound of howling was commonly used within this film as the audiences know that
wolves
Although Dracula was the first horror to incorporate sound into its production, it also had much more
to offer the audience, it featured the typical setting which was again described within the 19th century
novels, this was castle's, woods and mists. This kept the audience interested in the film as it was the
first time they were able to picture what it would have been like in the past.

8. Psychological Horrors
Psychological horrors are A subgenre of horror film, which relies on the character's fears and/or
abnormal psyche to frighten readers and viewers. Psychological horrors have become popular within
recend decades as it uses real life fears to attack the audience. Psychological horror relies on characters
fears and emotional instability to build tension in the plot. It aims to create discomfort by exposing
different psychological vulnerabilities and fears. This sub-genre relies on the unknown and so thrives
with modern audiences. This is because it creates an ominous feeling as lots of different events are
building up the whole picture.
psychological horror films fear is frequently built through atmosphere, eerie sounds and exploitation of
the viewer's and the character's psychological fears.

9. Examples Of Psychological Horrors

10. The Strangers

11. Supernatural Horrors
● Supernatural horrors begun in the 19th century and were mainly focused on ghosts and
hauntings by demons and monsters.
● Supernatural horrors became popular in the 1960s, one of the first supernatural horrors
included the film ‘13 ghosts’, it involved a young girl which is still a common convention of
most supernatural horror films.
● Supernatural horrors
Supernatural-Horror films often combine elements of religion into the plot. Supernatural films
deal with the some of the unknown questions of life; therefore, they tend to incorporate religious
elements into the plot. Since they emphasize the unknown, Supernatural films are considered
quite suspenseful and scary. Common themes in Supernatural-Horror films include the afterlife,
the devil, and demonic possession. Supernatural horror films can also contain more vivid and
gruesome violence in the plot.

12. Examples Of Supernatural Horrors

13. The conjuring
● Each conjuring film is based on real events.
● The first film is based on the true story about the Perron family who moved into Rhode Island
farmhouse in 1970, they had five daughters and remained living in that house for 10 years.
● The films were created based on the case studies from Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal
investigators. They have been involved in other famous cases such as The Enfield Haunting.
This narrative follows the typical trope in supernatural films where a family moves into a new house
with hidden secrets in an isolated area.
The Perron family find mysterious occurrences happening inside their house such as the clock stopping
at 3:07am, banging on the wall three times. After endless occurrences Carolyn approaches the Warrens
to ask them to inspect the house. After close inspection it is decided the house needs an exorcism and
cleansing from the evil entity.
The narrative follows the conventions of possession but breaks away by having an adult being
possessed rather than an innocent child.