Sarah Jane Eyre

Psychological Horror

Psychological Horror Insight

• Psychological horror is a subgenre of horror fiction that relies on characters' fears and emotional instability to build tension.

• Psychological horror films differ from the traditional horror film, where the source of the fear is typically something material.

• tension is built through atmosphere, eerie sounds and exploitation of the viewer's and the character's psychological fears.

The Black Cat, 1934

• The Black Cat is a 1934 horror film that became Universal Pictures' biggest box office hit of the year.

• The Black Cat was the first of 8 movies.

• The film was notable for being one of the first movies with an almost continuous musical score.

• This film was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and written by Peter Ruric.

Cat People, 1942

• Cat People is a 1942 horror film produced by Val Lewton

• 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.

• Reviews of the film were mixed when the film was first released.

• This film was directed by Jacques Tourneur and written by DeWitt Bodeen.

Vertigo, 1958

• Vertigo is based on the 1954 novel D'entre les morts by Boileau-Narcejac.

• It popularized the dolly zoom, an in-camera effect that distorts perspective to create disorientation.

• The film received mixed reviews upon initial release, but has garnered acclaim since and is now often cited as a classic Hitchcock film and one of the defining works of his career.

• This film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and the screenplay was by Alec Coppel & Samuel A. Taylor.

Repulsion, 1965

• Repulsion is a 1965 British psychological horror film

• The film is shot in black and white, increasingly adopting the perspective of its protagonist. The dream sequences are seen to be particularly intense.

• Repulsion is widely considered a classic of the psychological thriller genre

• It was directed by Roman Polanski and the screenplay was by David Stone.

The Shining, 1980

• The film is based on the Stephen King novel The Shining.

• Although initial response to the film was mixed, later critical assessment was more favourable and it is now viewed as a classic of the horror genre

• Briefly the plot is a family staying away when the main character, Jack gradually becomes influenced by a supernatural presence; he descends into madness and attempts to murder his wife and son.

• This film was directed by Stanley Kubrick and the screenplay was by Stanley Kubrick & Diane Johnson

The Blair Witch Project, 1999

• Though fictional, it is presented as "found footage", as if pieced together from amateur footage, and popularised this style of horror movie.

• The Blair Witch Project received hugely positive reviews from critics making it one of the most successful independent movies of all time.

• A studio production film based on the theme of The Blair Witch Project was released on October 27, 2000 titled Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2. Another sequel was planned for the following year, but did not materialize.

• It was directed and written by Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez.

The Woman In Black, 2012

• It is based on Susan Hill's novel of the same name.

• The film was planned to be shot in 3D, but that plan was later scrapped.

• In April 2012, Hammer Films announced that there would be a sequel to The Woman in Black, which is titled The Woman in Black: Angel of Death.

• It was written by James Watkins and the screenplay was written by Jane Goldman

• The Woman in Black is a 2012 psychological/supernatural horror thriller film