Horrors

Horror refers to a broad range of narrative forms—literature, film, theater, and digital media—intended to evoke fear, dread, or revulsion in audiences. Works labeled as horror often foreground threats that are unknown, monstrous, or psychologically destabilizing, and they may aim to provoke moral reflection as well as terror.

Historically, horror has roots in folklore and the Gothic tradition of the 18th and 19th centuries, with early novels establishing a preoccupation with haunted spaces, sinister forces, and the fragility of the self. In cinema, horror became a dominant genre in the 20th century, expanding into subgenres such as psychological horror, supernatural horror, and slasher films. In recent decades, horror has also flourished in television, literature, and interactive media, including video games, where interactivity intensifies fear and immersion.

Key subgenres include Gothic horror, psychological horror, supernatural horror, cosmic horror, and body horror, as well as monster or creature features and survival horror. Common techniques include atmosphere and pacing, unreliable narration, implication over explicit gore, jump scares, and the use of allegory to address real-world anxieties—such as mortality, power, technology, and social difference.

Horror remains a significant cultural force, shaping debates about censorship, representation, and what audiences seek in fear. Notable works include early classics and later influential films and novels such as Frankenstein, Dracula, The Shining, Psycho, The Exorcist, Get Out, and contemporary streaming-era productions.