The Horror Genre - Narrative Structure

Although there are many types, or sub-genres, of horror film they often follow a similar narrative structure; the three-act-structure.

A basic narrative structure (according to Aristotle's theory, which was developed by narrative theorist Todorov) has the story begin with equilibrium (though this is often short lived in the horror genre with the early killing of the 'first victim'), followed by a disruption to that equilibrium, before the film ends with a new equilibrium (often with the defeat of the 'monster'). 

Based on this three-act-structure we can outline a basic horror film narrative structure, which is: 

• The protagonist(s) is faced with a threat 
• They struggle to defeat the threat and are put in danger 
• Finally, the threat is defeated or the protagonist escapes the danger 

Looking at the film 'Black Swan' as an example here is this structure in play.

The threat here is that she can’t dance the black swan as well as the other dancers.

She struggles with the threat and, over time, becomes crazed with the idea of being perfect. 

She defeats the threat of the other dancer.

Depending on the sub-genre there are narrative elements that are added or taken away from this basic structure. For example, in a slasher film the typical structure begins by establishing the normality of the setting or characters, before the killing starts and one by one the characters are murdered by the 'monster' character. 

Finally, the remaining characters have to use the monster's weakness against them to kill it or to escape.

In the psychological horror sub-genre the equilibrium is established, however it is also revealed to the audience early on that the main character's view on the world and what is happening around them is flawed, and that the audience can’t trust them. 

As a result, once the threat is revealed the viewer is unclear whether the threat is real or imagined by the protagonist. Finally, there is a twist usually concerning the threat.

The narrative premise for a horror film is often relatively simple, for example: 

• the top student in an FBI training academy goes to interview a violent psychopath in order to help a case but she ends up finding more information that she expected ('The Silence of the Lambs')
• a woman leaves her music career to pursue a career in acting, however, her crazed stalker makes it harder for her to cope ('Perfect Blue') 
• a shy girl is bullied by her classmates, before her powers manifest beyond her control ('Carrie')

In the second act of the film, the characters realise the severity of the threat as the stakes and tension rise. It is here that the narrative becomes much more sinister and threatening.

In the third act of the film there is usually a turn around for the character and they fight with the skills they have acquired over the course of the film. In many horror films there is a narrative twist, for example the ballerina realises she has stabbed herself and not her rival ('Black Swan') or the protagonist remains trapped in the cave ('The Descent').