1. King (2010) describes Horror as being defined through three basic elements. Explain, using references, what these three elements are. Think of a horror story you’ve read/watched/heard that makes use of all three of these elements and show how King’s definition is at play in that narrative.
In Danse Macabre (King, 2010) acclaimed horror writer Stephen King defines the horror genre as being comprised of three basic elements these elements being, terror which King considers to be the finest element, horror, and revulsion the element King attempts to avoid the most. King also mentions how these three elements are layered in order of importance with “terror on top, horror below it, and lowest of all, the gag reflex of revulsion” (King, 2010, p. 22). The Witch (Eggers, 2015) is a horror film that makes use of all three of these elements to craft the horror within the film’s narrative.
The first, and finest element that King defines as the essential elements of horror is terror, King (2010, p. 20) says that “it’s what the mind sees that makes these stories such quintessential tales of terror. It is the unpleasant speculation called to mind when the knocking on the door begins in the latter story.” This definition of terror is quintessential to The Witch as it builds horror primarily in this way, what the film shows to the audience is a lot less scary than what the film does not show. An example would be towards the beginning of the film when the baby Samuel is kidnapped by a witch living in the woods. During this scene, we are shown brief glimpses into what the witch is doing with Samuel but never enough for the audience to fully understand. It is the implication that instils a sense of fear within the audience not what is shown, such as when the witch holds a knife close to Samuel and the audience is terrified that she may kill a baby.
The second element King mentions is horror, which he classifies as the second most important element and describes it as “that emotion of fear that underlies terror, an emotion which is slightly less fine, because it is not entirely of the mind. Horror also invites a physical reaction by showing us something which is physically wrong” (King, 2010, p. 20). The Witch makes use of horror by using imagery that elicits a physical reaction from the audience by showing them something wrong and unnatural. The most obvious scene where this occurs is the possession scene in which Caleb writhes around uncontrollably as his family watches in horror. He first spits out a bloody apple and then begins to scream and move in a way that disturbs the audience before he passes away. The audience recognises this as physically wrong and is how the horror is crafted.
The final and least important element to King is revulsion, he finds it to be the least important element because it relies on shock and disgust rather than the horror being carefully constructed to scare the audience. Yet despite this, he still says that “the truth of this can’t be argued; it’s bad enough to see a gelatinous crab-thing spread over some fellow’s face, but the infamous “chest-burster” scene which follows is a quantum leap in grue” (King, 2010, p. 20). Much like how King does not like to rely on revulsion to create horror, The Witch is very light on moments intended to gross the viewer out and as mentioned, builds its horror slowly and does not reveal a lot to the audience. But it is still utilised within the film with can be seen when small glimpses of blood and violence do appear in the film. It is not overly gratuitous but still enough to gross out the audience, the most blood and gore appears when Thomasin kills her mother with a cleaver and begins to hack away at her. Covering herself in her own mother’s blood. It shocks the audience which completes the usage of King’s three elements of horror in The Witch.
References
Eggers, R. (2015). The Witch [Film]. A24.
King, S. (2010). Danse Macabre. Everest House.
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