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= Glossary of Horror Terminology =

This glossary defines key terms used throughout the Wikipedia of Horror.

== A ==
; Analog horror : A subgenre that uses the aesthetic of old analog media (VHS tapes, public access TV, educational films) to create horror content, primarily on platforms like YouTube.

; Atmosphere : The mood or feeling created by a horror work through setting, cinematography, sound design, and pacing.

== B ==
; Body count : The number of characters killed in a horror work, particularly associated with [[Slasher Film|slasher films]].

; Body horror : A subgenre focused on graphic transformation, mutilation, or destruction of the human body. See: [[Body Horror]].

; Bookend kill : A narrative technique where the first and last deaths in a horror film mirror each other.

== C ==
; Cold open : A technique where a horror film begins with a scare or kill before the title sequence.

; Cosmic horror : Horror centered on humanity's insignificance in the universe. See: [[Cosmic Horror]].

; Creature feature : A horror work centered around a monster or non-human antagonist.

== D ==
; Dread : A sustained feeling of anxiety and impending doom, distinct from sudden shock or fear.

== F ==
; Final girl : The last surviving female character in a [[Slasher Film|slasher film]]. See: [[The Final Girl]].

; Folk horror : Horror rooted in folklore, rural settings, and pagan traditions. See: [[Folk Horror]].

; Found footage : A filmmaking technique presenting the film as discovered recordings. See: [[Found Footage Horror]].

== G ==
; Giallo : Italian murder mystery/horror genre known for stylish kills and whodunit plots. See: [[Giallo]].

; Gothic : A tradition emphasizing atmosphere, decay, and the supernatural. See: [[Gothic Horror]].

; Grindhouse : Low-budget exploitation films, often horror, shown in disreputable theaters.

== J ==
; J-Horror : Japanese horror, particularly the wave of supernatural horror films from the late 1990s–2000s. See: [[J-Horror]].

; Jump scare : A sudden, unexpected visual or auditory element designed to startle the audience.

== M ==
; Monster as metaphor : The use of horror creatures to represent social fears, anxieties, or taboo subjects.

== P ==
; Practical effects : Physical special effects created on-set rather than through digital means.

== S ==
; Scream queen : An actress known for her roles in horror films, particularly for her screaming ability.

; Slasher : A subgenre featuring a killer systematically murdering a group of people. See: [[Slasher Film]].

; Splatter : Horror focused on graphic depictions of gore. See: [[Splatter]].

; Survival horror : A video game genre emphasizing resource management and vulnerability. See: [[Survival Horror]].

== T ==
; Torture porn : A controversial term for horror works focused on extreme suffering and graphic torture.

; Trope : A commonly recurring device or motif in horror storytelling.

== U ==
; Uncanny valley : The unsettling feeling produced by something that appears almost, but not quite, human. See: [[Uncanny Valley]].

; Unreliable narrator : A storytelling device where the narrator's account cannot be trusted.

== V ==
; Video nasties : Films banned or censored in the UK during the 1980s under the Video Recordings Act. See: [[Video Nasties]].

[[Category:Horror Concepts]]
[[Category:Horror]]