Research on Psychological Horror (Jasmine)

What is Psycholgical Horror?

Psychological Horror is a sub genre of horror fiction. They are often based around video games (as a narrative; one example of this is 'Silent Hill'). This genre relies on the characters' fears and emotional instability to build tension.
 Some of the greatest psychological horror films include:
- The Silence Of The Lambs
- The Butterfly Effect (One of my personal favourite films)
- Se7en
- American Psycho
- Jacob's Ladder
- The Blair Witch Project
- Dorothy
- The Conjuring
- The Omen

Opening Sequences

Sequence 1: The Butterfly Effect Opening Sequence

How is genre introduced? 
The non-diegetic background music, more than anything else, represents the genre.  However, the music co-notates with the text, even though the opening sequence is just credits. The text does, somehow, indicate part of the genre.

0:00 - 0:07; It tells us who the producers of the film are. The text flickers, which gives the sense that the motive isn't clear. As we find out later on in the film, the flickering is iconic because it gives us an insight of the main character's main problem- He finds it difficult to remember things, so his thoughts are always flickering about- and therefore aren't clear. Furthermore, the opening sequence is representative of the main character.
The music is also very dramatic, and it starts to get intense and creepy, once we get to the 'notepad part' of the credits. The text creates enigma because the first piece of text you see on the notepad is "how do i fix it?!" and "you never lost me." This will make the audience ask questions, which will be answered, eventually, in the film.

0:08 - 0:13; We find out that this is an Ashton Kutcher movie. The music stays the same, giving it the same feel as before.

0:13 - 0:18; The music drastically changes- less dramatic, more creepy! The pace of the text accelerates, as well as it starts to flicker (which, we said before, is using iconography and representation of the main character's mental state.)

0:19 - 0:23; A new transition is used after we get introduced to Amy Smart & Melora Walters' text. The transition changes- it fizzes out. (This is also representative because the main character subconsciously, fizzes out important memories, so he can't remember.) This may imply that they are victims of what happens in the movie- maybe, due to his mental well being?

0:24 - 0:28; We see a new piece of text, "do i have the power to heal them?" which creates more enigma. "Power? Power to control who?"

0:28 - 0:30; More enigma is created- "CUT THE ROPE". (Don't forget, the music is still creepy, it hasn't changed)

0:31 - 0:40; "I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU" is repeated, and then faded. This may give the impression that the character writing the credits is almost psycho-like? "took my shirt off" is repeated too- does that mean that the main character is somewhat desiring love?

0:41 - End; We get the name of the movie.

The reason why this opening sequence is psychological horror, and not just horror is because the music is the main factor messes with your head. You think something is going to happen, when really, nothing actually does. This is why the certificate on this film is 15+.