Structural Elements of Horror

 Copyright 2021 by Gary L. Pullman

An analysis of horror films discloses the use of a number of specific types of scenic elements that tend to recur frequently in such movies. Except for the prologue and the epilogue, the order in which these scenic elements occur may differ, and not all may be present in a film, although, typically, many, if not all, appear. In addition, each scenic element can be shown by itself or in combination with another (for example, an abduction can stand alone or be followed by a rescue or a murder). (Those common to more than one of the films analyzed in this post are in bold font.)

In Halloween (1978), these scenic elements occur in this order:

• Prologue (introduction)

• Escape (flight from antagonist or captivity)

• Stalking (hunting)

• Investigation (search for information by either amateur or professional sleuth[s])

• Murder(s) (unjustified killing[s])

• Encounter of protagonist and antagonist (first meeting of hero or heroine and villain, usually without violence)

• Initial attack on protagonist (first attack upon the hero or heroine)

• Escape

• Sustained attack on protagonist (sustained attack on hero or heroine, often by antagonist)

• Rescue (deliverance from danger)

• Epilogue (conclusion following main action of plot)

  

In Annabelle (2014), these scenic elements occur in this order:

• Prologue

• Murder(s)

• Investigation

• Attack

• Rescue

• Intelligence (provision or acquisition of information, often about the villain [e. g., origin, past, relationships], through secondary sources, such as television or radio news broadcasts, Internet browsing, books, police reports)

• Paranormal or supernatural incidents: (events inexplicable by science or reason)

• Relocation (displacement from one location to another)

• Pursuit

• Escape

• Discovery (finding of intelligence through own or others' actions)

• Attack

• Discovery

• Attack

• Warning (advisory of imminent danger)

• Attempted abduction (carrying away by force)

• Epilogue

  

In The Exorcist, (1973), these scenic elements occur in this order:

Prologue

Paranormal or supernatural incidents

Investigation (medical)

Investigation (constabulary)

Encounter of protagonist and antagonist

Intelligence

Paranormal or supernatural incidents

Attack

Death (loss of life due to natural causes)

Attack

Death

Rescue

Epilogue

In Psycho (1960), these scenic elements occur in this order:

• Tryst (private meeting between lovers)

• Crime other than murder (theft)

• Escape

• Investigation

• Relocation

• Concealment of stolen property

• Encounter of protagonist and antagonist

• Argument (heated discussion between two or more characters)

• Repeated encounter of protagonist and antagonist

• Decision to make restitution (deciding to restore to the rightful owner something that has been taken away, lost, or surrendered)

• Murder

• Disposal of incriminating evidence

• Intelligence

• Investigation

• Murder

• Investigation

• Discovery

• Intelligence

• Investigation

• Distraction (deliberate diversion of someone's attention from one incident or action to another)

• Attack

• Concealment of oneself or another

• Discovery

• Attack

• Rescue

• Intelligence

As this partial analysis of the recurring types of scenic elements common to horror films shows, such movies frequently use the same ones, despite the dramatic details of their plots. A writer who is interested in writing a horror novel or screenplay can use these same scenic elements to construct a plot based on a structure that has stood the test of time.