Concepts to use in horror
ā¢ Being watched/followed. Can be used with plots like a home invasion or someone watching another person through a webcam.
ā¢ Losing control. Can be used with plots like possession, being forced to kill/hurt people to save oneself or a loved one, being blackmailed, etc.
ā¢ The nature of humanity. This can work when the āmonsterā is a human, and can call into question the concept of good and evil. Works well with the above in my opinion, as a human being doing monstrous things can sometimes lead to questions about humanity and whether humankind is good.
ā¢ The end of humanity. Can be cheesy (like in a lot of zombie plots), but is innately scary to a lot of people to think about. Things that seem more plausible, such as an apocalypse related to pandemics or environmental pollution, can come across in a more serious way when done subtly.
ā¢ Isolation. In some cases this can seem a little too convenient to the plot, but when done right isolation can up the terror of the plot, or even serve as the plot itself. Being trapped somewhere, like in the woods or in a small space, could work for this.
ā¢ Oneās own insignificance. Most cases Iāve seen where this works well show the characterās smallness in relation to something else. The ocean, space, cosmic gods, etc.
ā¢ The unknown. Often works well with the above in my opinion. The ocean and space, for example, would be good settings for this.
ā¢ Instinctive responses. The human brain tends to naturally react to things like violence, disease and contamination, and other things that threaten survival. Using these things too gratuitously can easily become campy or even voyeuristic and insensitive, but they can be used well.
