Research-Character types and narrative in paranormal horror

 Hello everyone! Welcome back to my blog. Today, I will be talking about the different character types and narratives in paranormal horror. 

Recognizable character types and narrative patterns are used in paranormal horror movies to help the viewers understand the plot. Because they have been shown to produce tension, realism, and emotion, these practices are often studied and reproduced. Paranormal horror movies can emphasize suspense and mood over detailed explanation by using well-known characters and storylines.

Character Types

To make supernatural events seem more real, paranormal horror often uses realistic, everyday characters. This is the person who rejects any idea of the existence of ghosts or spirits, and is usually the typical character. When the paranormal activity can no longer be logically explained, this character shares the audience's disbelief and expands their horror. The victim is usually a kid or a vulnerable adult who is going through hard things in their life, or a possessed person. Priests and paranormal investigators are examples of authority figures. While they try to manage or explain a supernatural threat, these characters stand for knowledge and order. These characters direct the story while repeating moral or religious themes in movies. Families, often parents,  are attempting to keep their children safe; they often use their house as a safe group meeting place, which can raise drama because now that the house is also in danger. Below is an example of paranormal investigators from The Conjuring. 

Narrative structure 

Horror stories about the paranormal typically have a logical structure that gradually builds suspense. The place and characters start off as safe and familiar at the start of the movie. Then, odd and inexplicable things start to happen, usually small at first, usually just like a sound or an item moving. The audience is kept wondering what is real by the slow disturbance, which can raise the tension. A growing sense of danger results from the character's investigation of the disturbance as the story goes on. This often proceeds from equilibrium to disequilibrium and toward a new equilibrium, according to Todorov's story theory. Overall, paranormal movies usually end in an unclear manner, basically stating that the paranormal activities will continue. This makes the audience believe that the paranormal activities will remain unbeatable. This often leads to the franchise, and they often become successful. 

Reflection:

Overall, this taught me that in order to make the supernatural seem more realistic and powerful, paranormal horror frequently uses well-known character types like disbelievers, victims, and authority figures. I also came to understand the significance of the narrative structure, particularly how the tension steadily rises from everyday circumstances into unsettling ones. In general, I discovered that these patterns are intentionally used to build tension and maintain audience interest. 

Work Cited 

Kench, Sam, et al. “Horror Writing Tips for Fiction & Film.” StudioBinder, 31 July 2025, www.studiobinder.com/blog/how-to-write-horror/.

Six Archetypal Horror Characters and Why They’re Important | the Artifice, the-artifice.com/six-archetypal-horror-characters-and-why-they-are-important/. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.