Sub-genres of Horror

• Action- like a typical horror but with more action, for example more fight scenes between protagonist and antagonist. This genre is more subtle and tend to have elements of other sub genres, such as fantasy, supernatural and zombie. Predator is an example of action horror.

• Body horror- graphic destruction, mutilation of bodies. Also includes unnatural movements and incorrect placements of limbs to create 'monsters'.

• Comedy/parody- comedies typically mock horror conventions, such as story lines and characters. Similarly, parodies also mock the genre, however they also make direct references to other horror movies (usually popular ones). Examples include Scary movie and Ghostbusters.  

• Supernatural- mythical creatures and monsters, many of which derive from fairy tales and folklore. Popular creatures include vampires, werewolves and witches. Examples include The Ring and The Others.

• Paranormal- similar to supernatural, however it typically focuses on entities without a physical body. Popular story lines consist of body possession, or people being hunted and haunted by the entity. Paranormal activity is a famous example of the paranormal genre. 

• Zombie- a genre in its own right, the zombie genre features reanimated corpses or human beings succumb to a dangerous contagious disease. Always in a apocalyptic setting. Examples include Zombie Land and World War Z.

• Slasher- prevalent in the 70s and 80s, this sub genre involves stalking and murdering, typically with a bladed tool. Child's Play and Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a classic example.

• Gothic- gothic horror combines classic fiction with horror, death and at times, romance. Gothic horror usually has a Victorian or a general historical setting. Frankenstein, Nosferatu and Dracula are classic example while Crimson Peak is a more recent example.

• Science fiction- typically revolves around aliens, mad scientists and experiments gone wrong. Frankenstein and Apollo 18 are part of this genre.

• Found footage- a way of filming which gives the audience a first person view of the story through an original clip or 'footage' which had been lost then discovered. The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity are popular examples of this genre.

•  Psychological- the use of psychology to create unsettling effects. Replaces physical harm and threats with psychological, such as insanity and paranoia. Horror in this genre is generally more subtle. The Shining is a classic example of this genre.