Horror movies come in all shapes and sizes - from comedies to social
commentary. Due to the variety inherent in the genre, the horror community
has developed a unique language to describe tropes, themes, and genres.
This page exists to help you start decoding that language - so you can
make informed viewing choices!
Tap each Genre to see a sampling of common themes
Cannibal
Depicts human consumption of the flesh of other humans (or themselves).
Example: Cannibal Holocaust (1978)
Splatter
Buckets upon buckets of blood! Be prepared for a lot of gory depictions of wounds, and spurting, oozing, real-looking blood.
Example: Ichi the Killer (2001)
Extreme
Not necessarily a lot of blood - but contains very disturbing content such as depictions of rape, graphic abuse, or torture.
Example: A Serbian Film (2010)
Torture
Graphic, and often extremely violent or disturbing, depictions of torture. This includes physical, emotional, and psychological.
Example: The Loved Ones (2009)
Devil & Hell
Any film that features harrowing encounters with the devil, or trips to hell.
Example: DEVIL (2010)
Ghosts & Spirits
Anything and everything feature the non-corporal undead. From hauntings, to matters of the soul. Just don't cross the streams!
Example: Ghostbusters (1984)
Haunted House
Any film that features harrowing encounters with the devil, or trips to hell.
Example: DEVIL (2010)
Crime
Depicts humans committing crimes against other humans, or the investigation of crimes by humans (regardless who committed them).
Deep Red (1976)
Giallo
Murder-mystery thrillers that combine the suspense elements of detective fiction with scenes of shocking horror, stylish camerawork and often jarring musical arrangements.
Your Vice is a Locked Door and Only I Have the Key (1972)
Revenge
Any film where a character/characters have been wronged by their victim(s). They exact (often violent or blood-soaked) revenge for their wounds (whether real or perceived).
Mandy (2018)
Redneck
The setting is situated in places far from civilization. Often including uncomfortable family dynamics, local legends, myths, or superstitions.
Deliverance (1982)
Slasher
A mysterious psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims usually in a graphically violent manner, often with a cutting tool such as a knife or axe. Slashers come with strict rules for survival, which vary from film to film.
Friday the 13th (1980/2009)
