Fear of the unknown.

Horror has a particular style which is used often to define what makes something a Horror.

Different types of horror:

Terrified

Horrified

Grossed

The journey to the horror is a way of making the viewer believe in the reality of the horror by making the journey mundane just like normal life.

Driving to the location of the threat is the most common and cliche means of entry

Ominous tones a used after the journey to ease uneasiness into the main story’s plot.

False fear built early on through the use of music, focus on irrelevant objects and close ups.

Isolated scary places to play on the viewers insecurities of vulnerability.

The props and environment are key components in building this idea of being insecure, this as well as camera lenses are two really effective ways of making the viewer feel extremely uneasy.

Silence used to unsettle the viewer

Sound is often used as a means of building tension, texturing the dark and often bland setting

High pitch screeching often to compliment a jump scare distressing the viewer

Subliminal cuts

Monstrous creatures used to create an inhuman threat

Kids toys used as a device in many horror films to reinforce childhood anxieties

The Savante used as a device to give the protagonist a better understanding of what they’re fighting and how to fight it