As Halloween approaches, film lovers often find themselves drawn to the spine-chilling allure of horror movies. This genre encompasses a wide range of styles, from the adrenaline-pumping thrills of classic horror to the more nuanced and unsettling realms of psychological thrillers.
Psychological thrillers are a subgenre of thriller fiction that emphasizes characters’ unstable or delusional psychological states of characters, creating a sense of tension and suspense rooted in the mind rather than physical danger. These narratives often explore themes such as obsession, identity, and the complexity of human emotions, blurring the lines between reality and perception. A prime example is Jordan Peele’s Get Out, which masterfully combines horror and social commentary, creating an atmosphere of mounting tension and dread. The film’s protagonist, Chris, navigates a nightmarish scenario where he confronts both overt and subtle forms of racism, illustrating how psychological manipulation can be as terrifying as any physical threat. Get Out not only captivates its audiences with its suspenseful plot but also leaves them questioning the darker aspects of societal norms and personal relationships, making it a standout in the genre.
Classic horror intends to make you scream and spill your popcorn. The films contain jump scares and build-up emotions of growing terror and dread. The goal of the movie makers is to give the audience nightmares for weeks to come. Horror movies often center around the return of a monster or thing to be feared, which is seen in the film Scream, directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. This film, in particular, is about high school students who are victims of a serial killer called Ghostface. This terrifying, unknown persona is the returning monster in this storyline. The movie contains terror that certainly will make you jump from your seat. Classic horror is a genre that has been around forever; it plays with unrealistic ideas that, after watching,feel entirely possible.
Whether you watch psychological thrillers or classic horror movies, you gain fear that sticks with you far past watching the movie. What genre did you watch this Halloween?
