The Horror Genre
The horror genre is more than blood and death. It is more complex than one would anticipate which is why it can be so alluring.
What makes horror an alluring genre in film and television?
There is a general consensus that three primary factors that make horror
films and shows alluring. The first is tension in which it provides a
sense of suspense, mystery, terror, shock, or fear. Along with this some
horror can provide relevance in which it creates a cultural or personal
connection such as someone who is afraid of death. Lastly, it creates
unrealism meaning it has a distinct element that gives the viewer
separation from what they are watching and reality. The horror genre is
full of various subgenres. These subgenres are why horror isn't
restricted to just slasher and gore. Rather it can involve comedy,
mythological history, possessions, and many others.
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Utilizing the Horror Genre in Gaming
The horror genre is not only diverse in film and television but in games as well. This allows the player to get first hand experience on the various subgenres of horror in different styles of play. Some of the popular styles of play include passive, pacing, and survival. Passive focuses more on storytelling and the players overall experience. As for pacing it utilizes choreographed scary and non-scary sections to move the game along. Finally, survival involves the player completing actions to escape or survive the environment they are in.