Psychological horror relies on characters' fears and emotions to build tension. It focuses on everyday life so audiences believe the events could really happen, making them more cautious. Characters are psychologically damaged and expose the evil behind normality. Directors use "based on true events" to rely on audiences' minds to create horror. The genre uses POV shots when characters search dark places or feel watched, building tension. Fast cuts and mysterious music also increase anxiety, while silence creates unknown. Settings look isolated with dark atmospheres and small, hidden lights.

1. Genre Research:
Psychological Horror
MATTHEW PARKS

2.  Psychological Horror is a subgenre of Horror, and it relies on a characters
fears and emotions to build tension. Most audiences find psychological
horrors scarier than other types of horror genres because it focuses more
on everyday life, meaning that there is a chance that those events can
happen in reality, therefore making the audience more cautious.
 ‘Based upon true events’ is often used in psychological thrillers as
a lot of them are based on factual occurrences,
and film makers rely on the audiences mind to create
the horror effect.
Background Research

3. Characters
 Characters that are psychologically damaged, Psychological Horrors tend
to rely on characters beliefs, fears and hidden truths about themselves.
They expose the evil that hides behind normality.
 Characters show fear towards the main antagonist, who is generally a
disturbed or tormented individual.;

4. Shots and editing
 POV shots of the characters when searching for something in places such
as the dark or when they are being watched, this shows danger.
 Hand held shots when the person is being chased, this builds up tension
and panic and makes the audience feel like they are in the chase.
 Fast cuts are often used in psychological horrors, again
this builds up tension and makes the audience panic.

5. Music and Sound
 The music is used to create a mysterious atmosphere, and will build up
suspense to indicate to the audience that something is going to happen
soon, keeping them on the edge of their seats.
 Loud noises such as bangs or screams are used frequently, this is used to
make the audience jump, and wonder what's happening.
 There are some areas of silence incorporated within psychological Horrors,
this creates a sense of unknown

6. Mise-en-scene
 Dark atmosphere with an Empty looking area (e.g. house)most places have
a Look of isolation, making people wonder why the characters are going
there.
 Psychological Horrors do not normally incorporate weapons, they normally
rely on the twisted mind of the killer to frighten the victims.
 Only small lights from candles, lamps, or streetlights are used, this hides
most of the screen behind darkness, making the audience curious to
what's happening.
 Props such as knifes and claws are carried by the killer, making
him look more twisted and scary.