TYPICAL SYNOPSIS OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR

FILM BY LOUISE PITT

• PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR - MANY PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR FILMS FOLLOW THE CLASSIC STORY LINE OF A FAMILY/COUPLE MOVING INTO A NEW HOME, UNAWARE OF IT'S PAST. AFTER SETTLING DOWN THEY OFTEN FIND THAT THE HOUSE OR AREA IN WHICH THEY LIVE HAS A DARK, HORRIFYING HISTORY AND STRANGE THINGS BEGIN TO HAPPEN SUCH AS STRANGE VISIONS AND SUPERNATURAL APPEARANCES/OCCURANCES. THE MAIN ANTAGONISTS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL HORRORS ARE EITHER SPIRITS OR DEMONS, OR DARK ENTITES, THAT HAUNT THE FAMILY, OFTEN TO SEEK REVENGE OR BECAUSE OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS. CHILDREN ARE USED VERY FREQUENTLY IN PSYCHOLOGICAL HORRORS AS A LINK BETWEEN THE SPIRIT AND HUMAN WORLD AS IT IS BELIEVED THAT YOUNG CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO SENSE AND COMMUNICATE WITH GHOSTS MORE THAN ADULTS. THESE TYPES OF FILMS OFTEN LEAD TO THE ENTITY BEFRIENDING THE CHILD IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FAMILY. TYPICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR CONCLUSIONS MAINLY LEAD TO THE FAMILY ESCAPING OR LEAVING THEIR HOME AND CARRYING ON WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE, BUT EVERY SO OFTEN THERE IS A MYSTERIOUS DETAIL ADDED AT THE VERY END OF THE FILM TO SHOW THAT THERE MAY STILL BE SOME LINK ABOUT TO RE-OCCUR BETWEEN THERE RECENT ORDEAL, AND THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE ENTITY HAS NOT COMPLETELY GONE AND IS POSSIBLE THAT IT WILL RETURN IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER CERTAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR FILMS REVOLVE AROUND THE MIND OF A STALKER/ MURDERER. AN EXAMPLE O THIS TYPICAL SYNOPSIS WOULD BE SILENT HILL.