Discuss and Vote.
My Opinion
I'm going for Psychological horror here.
Gore's all fine and good, but it just seems like once you've seen a severed limb or someone's face being eaten off... it just doesn't make you cringe or scare you the next time you see it. The only film which I've seen use gore effectively, is the one's which feature psychological horror as well.
Psychological horror seems like the best way to get people scared, and maybe a little paranoid. For instance, think back to the original Halloween. Now, put yourself in the situation of Jamie Lee Curtis. Running from a man, hidden behind an emotionless, colourless mask. A man unspeaking, holding a knife and chasing you. Wanting to end your life purely for his own enjoyment. NOW THAT'S SCARY. Simply because, it VERY WELL could be YOU in the same situation. Hopefully it won't be, but it's still possible.
Another good example of psychological horror, is The Shining. A shining example of a classic horror film, simply because... again... it could be you. Your a small child, living for a winter season in complete isolation from the world, seperated by miles of mountain and snow. Your father begins to grow insane, coming under the influences of the house itself as well as the isolation of life. The reason why the film works, is because Stanley Kubrick is able to make the house actually seem like a character in itself. Almost like a poccesser, of Jack Nicholson's character. The backstory of the house, also provides a little more creepiness to the story. I think a simple way to put The Shining is... A haunted house, done properly... with the leesh off.
There are other horror titles such as The Ring (JP), which I have never seen. And from my friend's experience, I hope I never do. My friend suffers from Bipolar, which makes a person paranoid and sometimes depressed. After watching The Ring, she saw the woman in her room late at night. She has never been in the same room (at night) again. Simply because she is too afraid that she will "her" again.
I think another reason why the paranormal is so well executed in psychological horrors, is because we understand so little about them. And our powers against them/control are severly reduced, and we begin to fear what they will do. I have only ever seen one ghost in my life, and it wasn't a pleasureable experience in the slightest. Picture opening your curtain's at about 11:00 PM after hearing a noise outside which you think you should investigate, to see the silhouette of a little boy, his head looking directly up at you. That's what it feels like. Alone. Unknowing. Scared.
So. What experiences have you had with the paranormal, and what way is better to scare people? Gore or Psychology?
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