Settings/Location and Iconography in psychological horror
Setting/Location
Settings and locations can vary in physiological horror depending on the characters involved. They tend to be similar to traditional horror locations such as abandoned location, forests, asylums or graveyards. but may also include more day to day places such as hospitals, schools or houses. This creates a sense of realism as we as the audience use these places in our life and can be used to confuse the audience into feeling that the characters are normal. An example of a location in psychological horror is the lodge of the shining which typically would not be seen as a scary or atmospheric location but in psychological horror are as the characters are staying there.
Iconography
Iconography is important in psychological horror as the
physical attributions in a scene of a film in general give a lot of obvious
indications to the audience and helps construct the plot line and elevates the
feelings that were meant to make the audience feel a certain way when watching
a psychological horror film. Props are not seen as much in psychological horror
as it features more on the character’s mind more than what is around them but
they typically are day to day items as it gives the sense that the character
lives a normal life. Things such as bars across windows are used to convey that
the characters are trapped with only themselves and gives the sense of
confinement and claustrophobia. Tight spaces may also be used as psychological
horror tends to play with the audiences and characters internal fears and tight
or cramped spaces may be one of these. Low key lighting is also typically used
to give the scenes a darker and more atmospheric look and fell heightening the
tension of it. Symbolism is also a key feature in this genre as it may show the
character’s religion or lack of it, so crosses would be used to convey this.
This can also be used to show the character’s struggle between good and evil
and there spiral into madness.
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