Psychological horror is a genre that plays off of the audiences own preconceived fears and anxieties by using a combination of micro and macro aspects that the brain is trained to respond to with fear. Films within this genre however do not often engage in shock or gore but rather rely on the build up to make even the smallest actions inspire fear and terror. The focal characters within these films often have mental or sociological issues which the directors use to allow the audience an insight into the problems experienced by these characters.
The Black Cat is a 1934 horror film that became Universal Pictures' biggest box office hit of the year. The picture was the first of eight movies and was one of the first films to be truly characterized as a psychological horror movie.
Cat People is a 1942 horror film produced by Val Lewton and directed by Jacques Tourneur. DeWitt Bodeen wrote the original screenplay which was based on Val Lewton's short story The Bagheeta published in 1930.[3] The film stars Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Jane Randolph and Tom Conway. Cat People tells the story of a young Serbian woman, Irena, who believes herself to be a descendant of a race of people who turn into cats when sexually aroused. Cat People was very controversial at the time of it's release because it was perceived as a disguised attempt to comment on the issue of nymphomania. The film does use several jump scares which is uncharictarstic of the genre however ultimately the narrative structure and controvasy caused after the release earns Cat People its status as psychological horror.
Roman Polanski directed two films which are considered quintessential psychological horror: Repulsion (1965) and Rosemary's Baby. The plot of Repulsion focuses on a young woman left alone by her vacationing sister at their apartment, who begins reliving traumas of her past in horrific ways. Whereas in Rosemary's baby a pregnant woman who fears that her husband may have made a pact with their eccentric neighbors, believing he may have promised them the child to be used as a human sacrifice in their occult rituals in exchange for success in his acting career. These plot devices and many others are what qualifies Roman Polanski as a real influence on the genre of psychological horror.
Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film The Shining is another particularly well-known example of the genre. With an I.Q well over 180 this film has been subject to so much analysis over the years that almost every moment of The Shining has been thought to be of hidden significance to someone. However whilst thoughts and opinions of The Shining may differ greatley it can easily be argued that Kubrick is at least partially responsible for how psychological horror is made and viewed today.
The Black Cat is a 1934 horror film that became Universal Pictures' biggest box office hit of the year. The picture was the first of eight movies and was one of the first films to be truly characterized as a psychological horror movie.
Cat People is a 1942 horror film produced by Val Lewton and directed by Jacques Tourneur. DeWitt Bodeen wrote the original screenplay which was based on Val Lewton's short story The Bagheeta published in 1930.[3] The film stars Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Jane Randolph and Tom Conway. Cat People tells the story of a young Serbian woman, Irena, who believes herself to be a descendant of a race of people who turn into cats when sexually aroused. Cat People was very controversial at the time of it's release because it was perceived as a disguised attempt to comment on the issue of nymphomania. The film does use several jump scares which is uncharictarstic of the genre however ultimately the narrative structure and controvasy caused after the release earns Cat People its status as psychological horror.
Roman Polanski directed two films which are considered quintessential psychological horror: Repulsion (1965) and Rosemary's Baby. The plot of Repulsion focuses on a young woman left alone by her vacationing sister at their apartment, who begins reliving traumas of her past in horrific ways. Whereas in Rosemary's baby a pregnant woman who fears that her husband may have made a pact with their eccentric neighbors, believing he may have promised them the child to be used as a human sacrifice in their occult rituals in exchange for success in his acting career. These plot devices and many others are what qualifies Roman Polanski as a real influence on the genre of psychological horror.
Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film The Shining is another particularly well-known example of the genre. With an I.Q well over 180 this film has been subject to so much analysis over the years that almost every moment of The Shining has been thought to be of hidden significance to someone. However whilst thoughts and opinions of The Shining may differ greatley it can easily be argued that Kubrick is at least partially responsible for how psychological horror is made and viewed today.
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