Theoretical Approaches to Horror Films

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 Noel Carroll - Philosophy of Horror

 The theory suggests that society as a whole is mostly attracted to the gore and the transgression of norms. The idea is that an oxymoron, relates to the relationship between attraction and repulsion.
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 Sigmund Freud - The Uncanny

 The overall idea of the 'uncanny' theory which is thought to have something this is a secret and is also disturbingly strange also. It is something that ought to have been secret, but has come to light within the unconscious or subconscious mind.

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Carl G Jung - The Shadow 

 The idea that the so called 'shadow' is a projection of all we fear and dislike onto an external figure. Essentially, the horror films 'monster/creature' is all the worst part of us. Jung agreed with Freud that there was a certain part of the unconscious was reserved for forgotten or repressed memories (Personal Unconscious).
Image result for laura mulveyLaura Mulvey - The Male Gaze

 Films position the audience as the male eye. The audience get to 'spy' on the female characters. (A notable example of this is 'Halloween') - The audience get to see events from the point of view of the 'killer', looking at his naked sister. This will essentially mean that the audience are more likely to then empathises with the victim, even though they are simultaneously seeing it for the killers eye.

Image result for carol cloverCarol Clover - The Final Girl

 Due to the typical conventions of the 'Final Girl' as the survivor, horror is one of the few film genres which ask male audience to identify with their triumphant female protagonist. This is then contesting with the idea of the 'Male Gaze' of Mulvery which indicates that perhaps a genre that preys on the weakness of the females may actually be creating the adverse effect (Making the 'sexist' genre not so 'sexist' after all)
Related imageCynthia Freeland - Perverse Sublime

 She argues with that graphical violence and gore are so over the top within the horror genre - the exaggeration creates a kind of 'perverse sublime'. The graphic scenes throughout are so far fetch that we are able to enjoy them on an aesthetic and entertaining level - This then explains why many people don't like horrors to be too realistic.

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