Glossary

cosmic horror

Lovecraftian horror, also referred to as cosmic horror, is a genre pioneered by H.P. Lovecraft . It centers on fear of the unknown, in essence, horror beyond one’s comprehension. Cosmic horror takes away control and agency, creating a feeling of helplessness. John Carpenter’s The Thing, and Stephen King’s The Mist are examples of cosmic or Lovecraftian horror.

Ghosts

Ghost stories trace their roots further back than recorded history, anthropologists speculate that condensed breath may be the origin for the popular depiction of the ghost as a white misty form. A ghost is the spirit of a person remaining after the death of their physical body, many times linked to an act of revenge or some unfulfilled business. Ghosts have come in many forms, most commonly thought of as a non-corporeal misty form. However other ghosts appear as humanoids, sometimes complete with the wounds that killed them.

Macabre

Macabre is not necessarily a genre of horror, it means simply for something to have a grim appearance, often featuring the details of death. Macabre is often attributed to physical artwork, or in the setting of horror media. It creates unease and a sense that something is not right.

Monsters

Monster literature is a form of horror literature. Some of the most famous stories of monster literature are Dracula, Frankenstein and Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Many of these stories have themes of science and the supernatural. Characters are frequently isolated and alone. Duality is another common theme, with humans sometimes being ‘the real monsters.’

Psychological horror

Psychological horror exploits human psychology, playing on fears of distrust, doubt, and paranoia. Common themes are of characters questioning their sanity, unsure if the events taking place are real or not. In movies lighting and sound are often used to create unease in the viewer in psychological horror films. The Silence of the Lambs is one well-known example of psychological horror.

Survival horror

Survival horror is a horror genre exclusive to video games. Unlike in other games, the player is less in control, while having the ability to fight, the player may be limited due to a lack of resources, or enemies that are far stronger. Common attributes of the genre are evasion, resource management, puzzle-solving, and a scary environment. Survival horror can be seen as an expansion of horror films, with many of the same camera tricks being used to allow monsters to hide from the protagonists to scare them. The origin of the genre is credited to the 1996 Resident Evil.