Boo!

With so much to choose from in the horror genre we have to decide what makes a great scary book, movie or game. With the recent release of Dead Space and Left 4 Dead imminent we’re being spoiled as long as you don’t mind putting yourself through torture. What techniques do authors and producers use to keep you on the edge of your seat, make you jump or force you to sleep with one eye open?

One of the most frequently used methods for scaring people is gore. You don’t have to wait long in any form of media in the horror category before somebody or something’s arm gets blown off, the head comes off or somebody goes on fire. Startling people is another commonly used technique, for example hounds bursting through windows in dark corners or arms bursting through doors when you are concentrating on cracking a code.

The problem with these methods is that people become accustomed to them quickly. It is not long before you expect the torso to have a hole blown in it or a zombie who looks dead to suddenly jump up and attack. The real methods for scaring people are tricks of the mind and power of suggestion. Psychological dread is an excellent way to make people nervous because it has the opposite effect of gore and frights, it grows stronger over time.

Anticipation makes you think something is going to happen, like hearing thumping and being strangely drawn toward the cupboard it’s coming from but when you open the door it’s only a cat. It’s when you relax and turn round only to get hit in the face by a shovel, that’s the scary part. Confusion, sound and lighting also work well.

The secret behind a good survival horror game is making the main character weak or vulnerable. You feel that escape is the only option instead of jumping into the middle of the action. If the character has skill or power then other methods are used such as a shortage of ammunition or save points.

Horror is a very personal thing and concepts that scare one person won’t effect another. Books and movies are good but personally I think that the best media format for horror lies in video games. Being part of the story and making the decisions that effect your outcome is exactly what makes a good horror experience.