The Rhetoric of Horror

The rhetoric of horror refers to the techniques and strategies used in horror stories and films to evoke fear, suspense, and emotional responses from the audience. This includes the use of unsettling imagery, eerie soundscapes, tense storytelling, and unexpected plot twists. By tapping into deep-seated fears and societal anxieties, horror engages viewers' imaginations, creating a heightened sense of tension. Through familiarity with the genre and its conventions, audiences often relish these frights, finding both thrill and catharsis in the experience, even as they confront dark themes and elements that provoke discomfort.