The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

As we approach the fall months, and especially nearing October, many people start to crave a good horror movie (or several). We realise that the general population is pretty split when it comes to horror; some people love it, some detest it. If you’re part of the latter group, have you ever considered that you may have just been watching the wrong type of horror? We all have things that particularly scare us.

For example, if you have a phobia of clowns, watching the movie It would probably be a terrible idea. However, you may find the idea of zombies to be ridiculous, so something like Dawn of the Dead wouldn’t phase you in the least bit. Brush up on your knowledge of this genre with this list of some different subcategories of horror:

Slasher

These films tend to feature a group of people (usually teens) being taken out, one by one, by a strange and psychopathic serial killer. Examples: Scream (1996), Friday the 13^th (1980), Halloween (1978).

Gore/Splatter

The name of this subgenre basically says it all. The scary aspect of these films is the exaggerated use of blood and grotesque imagery. Examples: Saw (2004), Final Destination (2000), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).

Haunting/Paranormal

In this type of horror film, an otherworldly or demonic entity haunts a house, person, or group of people. Examples: The Babadook (2015), Paranormal Activity (2007), The Sixth Sense (1999).

Body

Body horror taps into any human’s basic fear of infection, injury, illness, and just overall destruction of the body. These movies will often feature grotesque bodily transformations, a parasite, or detailed progression of a disease. Examples: Alien (1979), Black Swan (2010), Contracted (2013).

Psychological

This type of horror focuses on paranoia and vulnerabilities in the human psyche. Films in this category tend to elicit distrust, anxiety, and confusion. Examples: The Shining (1980), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Goodnight Mommy (2014).

Comedy

Comedy horror blends the funny and the frightening. While these films contain scary imagery or subject matter, they tend to overall be more laughable than scream-worthy. If you’re not the biggest fan of horror, this may be a good genre to dabble in. Examples: Zombieland (2009), Krampus (2015), The Babysitter (2017).

Social

This hasn’t really been considered a subgenre of horror until recently. While many horror films over time have included some commentary on society, we’ve seen an increase during these last few years. These types of films deal with the horrors happening around us in everyday life, such as government corruption and the oppression of marginalised groups. Examples: The Purge (2013), Get Out (2017), and Unfriended (2014).