Psychic Abilities Horror
Explore books, themes, and recommendations in Psychic Abilities Horror.
What is the Psychic Abilities Horror Subgenre?
Also known as paranormal horror, psychic abilities horror is a subgenre where typically human characters display powerful supernatural or psychic abilities. These gifts can include the ability to see the past or future, the ability to communicate with one's mind, the ability to move objects with one's mind, or even the ability to set objects on fire with one's mind. Often, this subgenre shares crossover properties with science fiction as the supernatural powers may be given a scientific explanation as opposed to an otherworldly explanation. In the science fiction genre, however, these abilities are often explored and used as a force for good, but in horror, psychic powers are a source of terror. In many examples of psychic abilities horror, the protagonist is a child or teenager who is cursed with these powers that they have no way of understanding or controlling. In this case, it is the human character that is the protagonist and the powers themselves that are the antagonist.
Other examples of psychic abilities horror are more closely related to supernatural horror. In these types of stories, the character possessing psychic abilities, the antagonist is in full control of their powers. In this type of horror, the antagonist may be a human or may be a supernatural creature whose psychic abilities are part of their powers. Often, this subgenre will contain a mix of the two plot elements.
Psychic Abilities Horror Characteristics
Level of Plot: Plot level varies in this subgenre depending on how closely the work aligns with its source material.Some types ofPsychic Abilities Horror draw elements from myths and legends, while others are retellings of a particular myth or legend. Generally, however, plot levels will be low.
Level of Characterization: Characterization will be low to moderate in mythic fiction horror as the aim of the subgenre is to draw parallels to plots and characters in already familiar myths and legends.
Level of Supernatural: Using folklore and myth for source material means that a high level of supernatural will be found in this subgenre.
Level of Scary: Because Psychic Abilities Horror consciously incorporates familiar myths and legends, the scares will be moderate to low for those familiar with the source material.
Level of Violence; Violence inPsychic Abilities Horror is variable, depending on the level of violence in the source material.
Typical Setting: The typical setting ofPsychic Abilities Horror is the human world, often during modern times. Some works may be set in the past when a particular myth or legend has taken place.
Related Horror Subgenres
Supernatural horror is the most closely related subgenre to paranormal horror. In fact, the two are often confused for one another. This is because of the presence of supernatural powers in the paranormal subgenre. Another subgenre that is easily related to psychic abilities horror is cross-genre horror, particularly when the genre crossed is science fiction. This is because of the often scientific explanations given for a character's psychic abilities.
Don't ReadPsychic Abilities Horror If You Dislike…
Violence against children. Often the main characters in this subgenre are children or teenages with supernatural abilities, and these characters are often subjected to violence as a result of these abilities. If this is something that bothers you, this may not be the subgenre for you.