Horror Aesthetic

Creates uneasy tension with obscured areas and restrained light.

Visual traits

• darkness
• uncertain presence
• tense empty space

Expected changes

• Light is restrained and obscured areas increase
• Empty space sustains tension

Definition

It evokes unease through darkness uncertain presence and tense empty space. It does not specify a particular monster person work or story.

In more detail

It uses obscured areas and restrained light to sustain a feeling that something may happen. Subject and composition remain separate choices.

Includes

• Visual treatment using unease darkness and tense empty space

Excludes

• A particular monster or story
• Depictions of real violence
• A particular work or person

What this does not imply

• A particular monster or work
• Real violence
• Excessively graphic depiction

Variability

Because the evidence is a general media source, the intensity of fear may vary by output.

Usage

• Retain obscured areas to sustain tension
• Specify subject and scene separately

Distinguish similar expressions

• Specify named monsters works and stories separately

Typical uses

• Add uneasy tension
• Shape a dark atmosphere while retaining the subject

Possible failure modes

• The image becomes too dark to read
• Tension reads as mere low light