Psychological horror films employ various cinematic techniques to create an atmosphere of fear and suspense. Low key lighting is used to make scenes dark and mysterious, not showing details and making audiences feel like something frightening may happen. Music and sounds also build suspense and warn of impending fright. Characters are often vulnerable and psychologically damaged. Editing techniques like point of view shots put the audience in the character's perspective to share their fear.

1. GENRE
RESEARCH
Psychological Horror

2. Mise-en-scene • In a psychological horror film, there is low key lighting
to convey a dark, mysterious and frightening
atmosphere.
• The use of low key lighting makes the audience feel like
something frightening is going to happen due to them
not knowing where anything is in the scene.
• Lots of deep space is used to show vulnerability of the
characters or to signify danger.
• Only small, dim lights are used to focus the audience
and characters attention to an object which could lead
to something else in the scene.

3. Music and
Sounds
• In a psychological horror film, music is used to create a
mysterious atmosphere and to create suspense.These
are often use to warn the audience that something
frightening is about to happen.
• Mysterious sound effects are also used to raise
suspense.These could be the creaking of doors or
floorboards.
• Loud sound effects are used in psychological horror
film to frighten the audience.These loud sound effects
could be things such as a loud bang of a door, or a
scream.

4. Characters
• The characters in a psychological horror film are
usually vulnerable.The films are usually based on the
mental stability of the character, which then leads to
the events in the film.
• The characters usually show fear and vulnerability.
• The character in a psychological horror film are usually
psychologically damaged.

5. Shots and
Editing
• In psychological horror film, lots of point of view shots
are used to put the audience in the position of the
character and allow them to share the same viewpoint.
• Fast pace editing is used to portray the frantic
atmosphere in the frightening scenes.
• Held hand shots are also often used to give a jerky,
disorientating feeling to the audience.
• Close up shots show the reaction of the characters to
an event in the scene, such as a villain appearing in
front of them, or a loud bang.
• Tilt shots provide a dramatic feeling to the audience.
• Numerous high angle shots are found in psychological
horror films to show that the villain in superior.