¶ … Horror What is Horror?

According to Sigmund Freud, das unheimliche -- or the uncanny -- can be defined as something that is familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. In horror films, the uncanny can be achieved through the depiction of a series of events that will lead a character into a dangerous situation without the implicit description or portrayal of what the danger is. Horror is much more effective if danger and violence is left to the viewer's imagination because it is then influenced by an individual's personal fears. If a director explicitly shows danger or violence, the individual is then forced to accept the director's depiction without psychologically engaging in the suspense as much as they could have done if danger or violence was only implied.

In terms of horror as a genre, the true masters...

In Gothic literature, horror is often defined as the psychological reaction an individual has when confronted with something that is evil or fearful. On the other hand, terror is the physical reaction, whether it is the chills that run down one's spine or the compulsive need to shield one's eyes from the screen. Writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, and Bram Stoker can be considered to be the forefathers -- and foremother -- of the horror genre. While horror films force the viewer to picture situations and characters in a certain manner, Gothic writers relied heavily on what images could be conjured in the imagination of others, simultaneously forcing their readers to explore and come to terms with any psychological fears or reservations they may have had. It is only when one understands what drives and motivates individuals at a psychological level that horror and terror can be defined.
One of my first experiences with horror occurred at a young age. While I do not recall exactly how old I was at the time, although I believe I was about three, I remember being scared by a movie on the television late one night called "Curse of the…