The scariest monsters aren’t in the dark or under your bed, they’re in your head.

Psychological horror films get inside and make you dread what’s coming next. It offers better storytelling. It digs deeper into unraveling human fears. And it places the characters in mental dilemmas.

Slasher horror is overrated. Who likes watching gore and blood? You’re not scared of the doll that sits on your shelf just because you watched “Annabelle” ; however you’re more likely to get scared when a movie portrays a human fear psychologically. Like the fear of isolation. It preys on the mind and not external shock.

Themes in psychological horror films are timeless, compared to slashers that often will have repetitive storylines that bore you and draw you away from watching another slasher horror.

Most slasher horror films always have the same teen group doing something bad that results in a pool of blood and a survivor that has PTSD. They rely too much on blood and violence, which isn’t my cup of tea. I like psychological horror films because it impacts me emotionally. It creates a lingering feeling of fear. This is what I expect when I finish watching a slasher horror movie, however it never happened.

Psychological horror films are so unpredictable. It keeps the audience guessing and creates an uneasy feeling. Psychological horror films usually have a slow pace which fills you with anticipation. In the movie “The Call”, a Korean horror film that excels in terms of psychological horror, leaves you having the fear of being controlled by someone. A few little decisions led to something big. This movie was a bit slow paced but just the right amount to keep you watching.

Everyone has different preferences, but I like tension that is drawn out. I like my movies filled with symbolism. Psychological horror films make your skin crawl and get under it.

Also many people interpret it differently which is interesting to see. This just shows how everyone’s mind is different.

Horror isn’t always about the darkness in places and shadows, it could be about the darkness in people themselves.