Welcome, Boils and Ghouls!
The Gory Glossary is The Couch Ghost’s horror movie word database.
Have you ever wonder what a prequel is? Or perhaps a threequel? Or a requel?
Every fan knows that the horror genre has a language of it’s own. Here, The Gory Glossary outlines some basic terms when talking about horror.
This library of defintions was created to help you navigate the complicated world of the horror genre.
Have you ever asked…
- What is a THREEquel?
- What is a REquel?
- What is a PREquel?
- What is the type of horror movie where crazy things happen with people’s bodies?
With the Gory Glossary, answer the above questions and learn about different types of horror movies, the subgenres to look out for, and the types of horror villains you might expect to encounter.
Gory Glossary
Where possible, each entry in the glossary has a few recommendations specific to each horror movie type or subgenre.
Types of horror films
Anthology: A film that consists of several short stories that are connected by a common theme or a framing device.
Recommendations:
- Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
- Creepshow (2982)
- V/H/S (2012)
Crossover: A film that combines characters or elements from different film franchises or genres.
Recommendations:
- Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
- Alien vs. Predator (2004)
- Sadako vs. Kayako (2016)
Prequel: A film that shows the events that happened before a previous film.
Recommendations:
- Pearl (2022)
- Amityville II: The Possession (1982)
- Ouija: Origins of Evil (2016)
Reboot: A film that restarts a film franchise with a new origin story or timeline.
Recommendations:
- Wrong Turn (2021)
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
- Pirhana 3D (2010)
Remake: A film that retells the same story of a previous film, usually with a different cast or style.
Recommendations:
- The Fly (1986)
- Dawn of the Dead (2004)
- The Ring (2002)
Remake (shot for shot): A film that recreates another film almost exactly, taking few creative liberties.
Recommendations:
- Psycho (1998)
- Funny Games (2007)
- Quarantine (2008)
Requel: A film that reboots and sequelizes a previous film franchise.
Recommendations:
- Candyman (2021)
- Jeepers Creepers: Reborn (2022)
- The Exorcist (2023)
Sequel: A film that continues the story of a previous film.
Recommendations:
- Scream 2
- Hatchet 2
- Child’s Play 2
Spin-off: A film that focuses on a character or a theme from a previous film, but is not a direct continuation of the main story.
Recommendations:
- Annabelle (2014)
- Evil Dead Rise (2023)
- Wolf Creek (TV series) (2016 – 2017)
Threequel: A film that is the third installment of a trilogy.
Recommendations:
- Army of Darkness (1992)
- A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 3: The Dream Warriors (1987)
- Saw 3 (2006)
Trilogy: A set of three consecutive films that can be viewed as a standalone story regardless of whether it is part of a franchise.
Recommendations:
- Child’s Play 1 – 3
- Fear Street: Parts 1 – 3
- The Strangers: Chapters 1 – 3
Can’t figure out what a “pre-rema-quel” is? Neither can we! We will find out when Crystal Lake arrives on Peacock in 2024!
Horror movie subgenres
Comedy horror: A film that blends horror with humor, often by parodying or subverting the tropes or the conventions of the genre..
Recommendations:
- Jennifer’s Body (2009)
- Scary Movie franchise (2000 – 2013)
- Happy Death Day (2017 – 2019)
Alien/sci-fi: A film that features extraterrestrial beings who visit or invade Earth, often with a sci-fi or a cosmic horror theme.
Recommendations:
- Alien (1979)
- Color Out Of Space (2019)
- Attack The Block (2011)
Body horror: A film that features the distortion or mutilation of the human body, often with a biological or a scientific theme.
Recommendations:
- Videodrome (1983)
- Tusk (2014)
- Society (1989)
Demon: A film that features evil or malicious entities who originate from hell or another dimension, often with a religious or occult theme.
Recommendations:
- Drag Me To Hell (2009)
- Sinister (2012)
- Insidious (2010)
Elevated horror: A film that doesn’t rely on jump scares or graphic violence, but instead focuses on stories that are emotionally and psychologically disturbing.
Recommendations:
- Hereditary (2018)
- Get Out (2017)
- It Follows (2014)
Found footage: A film that uses the style of documentary or amateur video to create a sense of realism or authenticity.
Recommendations:
- As Above, So Below (2014)
- The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- Paranormal Activity (2007)
Ghost: A film that features the spirits of the dead who haunt or possess the living, often with a vengeful or malevolent motive.
Recommendations:
- The Shining (1980)
- Poltergeist (1982, 2015)
- The Innkeepers (2011)
Killer puppet/doll: Films that revolve around murderous puppets/dolls that are alive due to possession, magic, or other something else.
Recommendations:
- Child’s Play franchise (1988 – present)
- Baby Oopsie (2021)
- Puppet Master franchise (1989 – present)
Mockumentary: A film that parodies the style of documentary or factual film, usually with a comedic or satirical tone.
Recommendations:
- Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
- Creep (2014)
- Lake Mungo (2008)
Monster: A film that features a large or grotesque creature who terrorizes or attacks humans, often with a fantasy or a folkloric origin.
Recommendations:
- The Ritual (2017)
- The Thing (1982, 2011)
- Tremors (1990)
Ozploitation: A typically low-budget film that was produced in Australia after the introduction of the R rating in 1971. Ozploitation movies are notorious for pushing the boundaries of censorship despite tiny budgets.
Recommendations:
- Mad Max (1979)
- Razorback (1984)
- Road Games (1981)
Psychological horror: A film that focuses on the mental or emotional state of the characters, often with a twist or a unreliable narrator.
Recommendations:
- Identity (2003)
- The Babadook (2015)
- Infinity Pool (2023)
Slasher: A film that features a masked or mysterious killer who stalks and murders a group of victims, often teenagers or young adults.
Recommendations:
- Halloween (1978)
- Friday the 13th (1980)
- There’s Somebody Inside Your House (2021)
Splatter: A film that emphasizes graphic violence, gore, and bloodshed, often with a low-budget or a campy aesthetic.
Recommendations:
- The Evil Dead (1981)
- Dead Alive (1992)
- House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
Vampire: A film that features immortal beings who drink human blood, often with supernatural abilities or weaknesses.
Recommendations:
- Let The Right One In (2008)
- 30 Days of Night (2007)
- From Dusk Til Dawn (1996)
Werewolf: A film that features humans who transform into wolf-like creatures, often during a full moon or by a bite.
Recommendations:
- The Howling (1981)
- An American Werewolf In London (1981)
- The Wolfman (2010)
Witch: A film that features humans who practice magic or sorcery, often with a negative or sinister connotation.
Recommendations:
- The Craft (1996, 2020)
- The VVitch (2015)
- Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Zombie: A film that features undead creatures who feed on human flesh or brains, often caused by a virus or a curse.
Recommendations:
- Night of the Living Dead (1968)
- Return of the Living Dead (1985)
- 28 Days Later (2002)
Gothic horror: A film that uses the elements of Gothic literature, such as dark settings, mystery, romance, and the supernatural.
Recommendations:
- The Others (2001)
- Elvira’s Haunted Hills (2001)
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
The Couch Ghost 