Psychological horror (film and television)

Theatrical release poster for the American horror film The Black Cat (1934)

In films and television series, Psychological horror generally differ from traditional horrors, where the source of the fear is typically something material, such as grotesque or horrifying creatures, monsters, serial killers, or aliens, as well as the splatter and slasher film genres, which derives its frightening effects from gore and graphic violence, in that tension in psychological horror is more frequently built through atmosphere, eerie sounds and exploitation of the viewer's and the character's psychological fears.

Characteristics

Psychological horror is designed to evoke discomfort and fear by tapping into universal psychological and emotional vulnerabilities—exposing the darker, often repressed aspects of the human psyche. In analytical psychology, this concept aligns with the "shadow" archetype, which encompasses traits like suspicion, self-doubt, paranoia, and distrust—of others, oneself, and the world.

Psychological horror films sometimes frighten or unsettle by relying on the viewer's or character's own imagination or the anticipation of a threat rather than an actual threat or a material source of fear portrayed onscreen. However, some psychological horror films may in fact contain a material or overt threat or a physical source of fear, as well as scenes of graphic gore or violence, yet still rely or focus mainly on atmosphere and the psychological, mental, and emotional states of the characters and viewers to frighten or disturb. For instance, some psychological horror films may portray psychotic murderers and scenes of graphic violence while still maintaining an atmosphere that focuses on either the villain's, protagonist's, or audience's psychological, mental, or emotional status.

This genre often challenges the audience's understanding of the narrative, especially by centering on characters who are unsure of their own perception of reality or who question their mental stability. These characters may experience distorted perceptions of their surroundings, fall prey to delusions, or be manipulated by others through gaslighting. Additionally, they may grapple with emotional trauma, hallucinations, or mental disorders. Filmmakers may also enhance the atmosphere by limiting both the characters' and the audience's awareness of the threat—through techniques like dim lighting or visual obstructions (as seen in Bird Box)—which amplifies suspense by leaving much of the danger unseen, allowing the imagination to fill in the blanks.

Much like psychological thrillers, psychological horror often employs an unreliable narrator, or suggests that certain elements of the story are perceived incorrectly by the protagonist, creating a sense of confusion or unease for the viewer. Alternatively, the protagonist might appear mentally stable but is placed in a scenario where they interact with others who are psychologically disturbed. In these stories, mental conflict plays a central role, particularly as characters confront morally corrupt situations, supernatural phenomena, murder, or conspiracy. Unlike other subgenres of horror, which may feature overtly fantastical elements like monster attacks, psychological horror tends to keep its "monsters" hidden, favoring scenarios that feel more grounded in realism.

Plot twists are a common device in psychological horror, and characters often struggle with internal conflicts, including subconscious desires like romantic lust or the urge for petty revenge. In contrast to splatter fiction or monster movies, which often depict grotesque, alien forces beyond the viewer's experience, psychological horror focuses on more relatable, though deeply unsettling, emotional and mental turmoil. Occasionally, elements of psychological horror and splatter fiction intersect, as seen in films like the French horror High Tension.

Examples

The Black Cat (1934) and Cat People (1942) have been cited as early psychological horror films. Roman Polanski directed two films which are considered quintessential psychological horror: Repulsion (1965) and Rosemary's Baby (1968). Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film The Shining, adapted from the aforementioned Stephen King novel, is another particularly well-known example of the genre. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) directed by Jonathan Demme, as well as the animated film Perfect Blue (1997) directed by Satoshi Kon, are both notable examples of psychological horror, as on the surface they incorporate elements of the thriller genre. Recent English-language films in the genre include Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010), The Babadook (2014), It Follows (2015), Jordan Peele's Get Out (2017), Hereditary (2018), The House That Jack Built (2018), Midsommar (2019), The Lighthouse (2019), and Saint Maud (2020). It is believed that Black Swan took visual and thematic cues from the earlier Perfect Blue.

The Italian film genre known as giallo often employs psychological horror or elements of the psychological horror subgenre. The subgenre is also a staple in Asian countries. Japanese horror films, commonly referred to as "J-horror", have been noted to be generally of a psychological horror nature. Notable examples are Ring (1998) and the Ju-On series. Another influential category is the Korean horror films, commonly referred to as "K-horror". Notable examples are A Tale of Two Sisters (2003), Hansel and Gretel (2007), and Whispering Corridors (1998). A landmark film from the Philippines, Kisapmata (1981), is an example of psychological horror.

Box office

Bill Gibron of PopMatters offered a broad and nuanced definition of psychological horror, describing it as anything that evokes a sense of unease or tension, or a film that relies on the audience's imagination to fill in the gaps of what isn't explicitly shown on screen. Gibron ultimately characterized the genre as a "clouded gray area" that lies somewhere between graphic splatter horror and a more unsettling, cerebral cinematic experience.

Scholars and film historians have proposed different starting points for the psychological horror genre. David J. Skal, a noted historian, regarded The Black Cat (1934) as "the first psychological horror film in America." Meanwhile, academic Susan Hayward traced its emergence to the post-World War II era, citing films like Psycho (1960) and Peeping Tom (1960) as key examples. Hayward also suggested that the terms "psychological horror" and "slasher film" are often interchangeable, both falling under the broader category of "horror-thrillers."

Hayward further argued that psychological horror shares thematic similarities with slasher films, particularly in its portrayal of "vicious normalization of misogyny." She noted that in both genres, male characters often derive their sense of identity from their relationship to women, whom they then kill—frequently with knives or chainsaws—reinforcing their own distorted sense of power.

Use of music

In the 1980s, researchers Thayer and Ellison conducted studies examining how different types of music affected the psychological response to stressful visual stimuli. Using dermal electromagnetic measurements to track physiological reactions while participants watched and listened, they discovered that combining stressful music with intense visual images led to stronger psychological reactions than when the same visuals were paired with neutral or non-stressful sounds. The study also found that music with a positive tone influenced viewers to interpret the accompanying visuals more positively, while music with a negative tone made the visuals appear more threatening or unsettling.

See also

• Supernatural horror film
• Body horror
• Conte cruel
• Gothic fiction
• Hitchcockian
• Horror and terror
• Horror-of-personality
• Lovecraftian horror
• Paranoid fiction