Horror Subgenres: Finding the Right Lane for Your Story

Image by: Kamil Feczko

Horror isn't a one-size-fits-all genre. From slasher flicks to cosmic dread, the genre branches into dozens of subgenres, each with its own rules, audience expectations, and opportunities for reinvention. As a screenwriter, knowing which lane you're writing in helps you sharpen your script, pitch more effectively, and stand out in an oversaturated market.

But here's the trick: subgenres aren't cages. They're frameworks. They give you a foundation to build from, and the freedom to twist expectations when it matters most. Below, we'll explore some of the major horror subgenres, how they work, and how to know if your story fits.

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Slashers

The slasher thrives on body count, iconic killers, and the primal fear of being hunted. These films lean into stalking, suspense, and brutal kills that escalate in intensity. Think Halloween, Friday the 13th, or Scream. Slashers are visceral and visual.

They're easy to market (a memorable mask goes a long way) and rely on characters making choices that heighten dread. If your script features a human (or humanlike) killer and a group of victims, you may be in slasher territory.

Supernatural Horror

Ghosts, demons, possessions. The supernatural subgenre deals with forces beyond human control. These stories often explore grief, faith, or guilt through the lens of the uncanny. Think The Conjuring, The Ring, or The Exorcist.

Supernatural horror taps into universal fears about death, the afterlife, and the unknown. It's especially potent when grounded in a personal character journey (a haunting tied to trauma, for example).

Psychological Horror

This subegenre focuses less on external monsters and more on the horrors of the mind. The line between reality and delusion blurs, creating unease that lingers long after the credits. Think Black Swan, The Babadook, or Rosemary's Baby.

Psychological horror sticks with audiences because it feels personal and intimate. It's often cheaper to produce (no elaborate monsters required), and they are usually heavily character-driven, which is perfect for scripts that lean into theme and emotional depth.

Folk Horror

Rural landscapes, ancient traditions, and communities bound by strange rituals define folk horror. It's about the clash between the modern world and old, unsettling belief systems. Think The Wicker Man, Midsommar, or The Witch.

Folk horror is atmospheric and immersive. It relies on mood as much as scares. It appeals to audiences who are drawn to history, culture, and the slow-burn unraveling of dread. If your story involves ritual, isolation, or outsiders facing a strange community, this might be your lane.

Cosmic Horror

Sometimes called Lovecraftian horror, this subgenre focuses on forces so vast and incomprehensible that human existence feels meaningless in comparison. Think The Mist, The Color Out of Space, or The Thing.

Cosmic horror is existential. It is unsettling because it reminds us how small we are in a universe filled with things we'll never understand. This lane thrives when you want to evoke awe and terror at once.

Survival Horror

Trapped in a hostile environment, characters are forced to outlast both external threats and their own breaking points. Think The Descent, A Quiet Place, or 47 Meters Down.

Survival horror is primal and easy to grasp: live or die. It's also budget-friendly if you can contain the setting (a cave, a cabin, a single location). This makes it highly attractive to indie producers and contests looking for producible scripts.

Body Horror

Mutation, infection, transformation. Body horror thrives on the grotesque and the loss of control over one's own flesh. Body horror has had a slight resurgence in the last couple of years with The Substance and Together.

Body horror is visceral and often symbolic. It represents the fears about disease, sexuality, or identity. If your story involves physical transformation as a metaphor for something more profound, you're writing in this lane.

Horror-Comedy

Laughter and screams sit side by side here. Horror-comedy works by poking fun at tropes while still delivering genuine scares. Some of my favorite horror-comedies are Shaun of the Dead, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, and Bodies, Bodies, Bodies.

Horror-comedy is popular with audiences and producers alike because it's versatile. It appeals to broader demographics, balances tension with levity, and gives writers room to play with structure.

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Final Thoughts

Horror thrives because it contains multitudes. By identifying your script's subgenre, you don't limit yourself. Instead your sharpen your voice, understand your audience, and make your story more marketable. A slasher doesn't play like folk horror, and a psychological thriller doesn't unfold like a supernatural possession story.

Once you know your lane, you can twist it. Reinvent it. Break it. Because the scariest horror isn't bound by rules, it knows exactly which ones to break.

-Renee