Psychological thrillers are all about creating tension, suspense, and emotional intensity. By using elements borrowed from horror, including horror novels and horror films, writers can stand to add a sense of dread, fear, and unease that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Horror tropes, when used effectively, could be the key to transforming a good psychological thriller into one that hits harder than expected and lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.
In this article, we’ll explore 20 ways to use tropes from the horror genre to add some punch and make your psychological thriller more thrilling, intense, and unsettling, including illustrative examples from both literature and cinema.
1. Unreliable Narrators
An unreliable narrator is one of the most chilling tropes in both horror stories and psychological thrillers. This trope creates confusion and mistrust, as readers are left questioning the truth of the story. By using an unreliable narrator, you can blur the line between reality and perception, making your thriller even more intense. The reader is never sure whether what they’re reading is the truth, which can build a sense of horror as the story unfolds.
Have your protagonist or a key character become less reliable as the story progresses. This could be due to trauma, mental illness, or manipulation by another character. The growing doubt about what’s real and what isn’t keeps the tension high.
Example: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. The narrator’s reliability unravels throughout the novel, leaving readers unsure of what’s real until the final shocking twist.
2. Isolation
Isolation is a classic horror trope that works wonders in a psychological thriller. Whether your character is physically isolated in a remote location or emotionally cut off from others, this sense of being alone amplifies the psychological pressure. Isolation can make your characters more vulnerable and heighten their fear, which also boosts the tension in the story.
Set your thriller in a remote location—like a cabin in the woods, an isolated mansion, or a desolate town. Cut off all means of escape, whether through a storm, a locked room, or even a technological blackout.
Example: Misery by Stephen King. The protagonist is held captive in a remote house by a deranged fan, creating an intensely isolated environment that heightens the thriller’s psychological tension.
3. Haunted Locations
Haunted locations are a staple of horror, but they can be just as effective in psychological thrillers. A setting with a dark, tragic past or a place with unsettling history can contribute to a growing sense of unease… and as the story progresses, it can become a character in itself.
Incorporate an old house, a long-abandoned asylum, or a desolate hospital where strange things start happening. This creates an eerie atmosphere where the supernatural and psychological tension intertwine, leaving readers to question whether the haunting is real or all in the character’s mind.
Example: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. The haunted house in this story plays a significant role in the psychological unraveling of its inhabitants, mixing both physical and mental terror.
4. Body Horror
Body horror is a subgenre of horror that focuses on the grotesque transformation or mutilation of the human body. While it’s often associated with physical horror, this trope can add a psychological layer to a thriller when characters experience psychological or emotional breakdowns that manifest physically, like through unexplained illness, scars, or self-harm.
Use body horror to mirror a character’s psychological state. This could involve physical symptoms of stress or trauma, a character becoming obsessed with their appearance, or someone experiencing strange, disturbing changes.
Example: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. This novella uses body horror to illustrate the protagonist’s psychological descent as he transforms into a giant insect, reflecting his alienation and inner turmoil.
5. Psychological Manipulation
Psychological manipulation is a potent horror trope that can be integrated into a thriller to create an atmosphere of growing dread. Characters who manipulate others mentally—whether through gaslighting, deceit, or emotional control—can turn a thriller into a psychological nightmare.
Introduce a manipulative antagonist who twists reality, making the protagonist doubt their own perceptions and sanity. The antagonist could use gaslighting tactics, making the protagonist question their memory and judgment.
Example: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. The manipulative dynamics between the husband and wife create a chilling, unreliable narrative full of twists and betrayals.
6. The Creepy Child or Figure
The eerie child or figure is a staple of horror, but in psychological thrillers, it’s even more unsettling. The juxtaposition of innocence with malevolence can be truly disturbing, as the audience becomes unsure whether the child or figure is dangerous or if they represent the protagonist’s deteriorating mental state.
Introduce a seemingly innocent child, but create a sense of dread surrounding them. Maybe the child behaves strangely, speaks in cryptic phrases, or shows an unnatural ability to manipulate others. This introduces psychological tension and a creeping sense of horror.
Example: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. The children in this classic ghost story are both innocent and sinister, leaving the narrator—and the reader—uncertain about the truth.
7. Psychological Trauma & Its Effects
Horror often explores the trauma of its characters, and this trope can be incredibly effective in a psychological thriller. When characters are deeply affected by past traumatic events, their psychological state can become just as terrifying as any supernatural force.
Integrate past traumas—such as abuse, loss, or betrayal—that affect how the protagonist interacts with the world. As their psychological wounds surface, they might start to lose control or experience hallucinations, nightmares, or breakdowns that increase the story’s tension.
Example: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. The protagonist’s psychological trauma, stemming from her broken marriage and blackouts, creates a suspenseful, mind-bending narrative.
8. The “Final Girl” or Survivor
The “final girl” trope originates from slasher horror films, but it can be equally effective in psychological thrillers. A protagonist who fights back against an evil force or manipulative antagonist creates a tense narrative as they struggle for survival—mentally and physically.
Create a protagonist who seems like the typical victim at first, but who ultimately fights to survive and confront their antagonist. This can keep the reader on edge, waiting to see how far they’ll go to overcome their fear and make it out alive. This can also tie to the Isolation trope in a psychological thriller, adapting from horror so that the character isn’t literally the last one alive, but most certainly feels like they’re alone, separated from any personal support.
Example: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. The protagonist is a psychiatrist trying to solve the mystery of a patient who shot her husband, but as he digs deeper, he realizes he may be a part of the mystery himself.
9. The Unseen Monster or Threat
Not showing the threat or monster directly is a common horror technique that can work brilliantly in a psychological thriller. The fear of the unknown, when left to the imagination, can be more terrifying than any physical threat.
Introduce an unseen or mysterious antagonist or force. Keep the audience guessing about whether the threat is real or a product of the protagonist’s deteriorating mental state.
Example: The Others by Alejandro Amenábar. The fear of the unseen supernatural threat builds a tense atmosphere, and the eventual reveal is all the more shocking.
10. Gothic Elements
Gothic horror is all about atmosphere—decaying mansions, dark secrets, and a sense of inevitability. Using gothic elements in a psychological thriller adds an eerie, oppressive feeling, perfect for keeping readers on edge.
Incorporate settings like old, decaying houses, family secrets, or characters haunted by their past. These elements provide a rich, foreboding atmosphere that deepens the psychological impact of your thriller.
Example: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The gothic atmosphere of the mansion Manderley, with its hidden secrets and oppressive atmosphere, is key to creating the tension in this classic psychological thriller. Ruth Ware also plays quite impressively with gothic elements in The Turn of the Key, building a discomforting gothic tone within the confines of a modern, high-tech smart house.
11. The Jump Scare
Ah, good old jump scares—a staple of horror movies. The jump scare is a sudden, startling moment designed to shock the audience. In horror films, it often involves a loud noise or a frightening visual appearing abruptly. But what about in horror genre literature? While you can’t exactly replicate the impulse response to a sudden, loud noise, you can still replicate the shock effect of jump scares somewhat by introducing a quick, shocking surprise that suddenly interrupts the flow of the prose.
Whether it’s through suddenly stopping a dreamlike flow of description to point out an unexpected element such as an eye peering through a gap, or cutting off a character’s stretch of dialogue as a corpse plummets from above and crashes through a coffee table, taking the “jump scare” approach can add a nice jolt of adrenaline to any thriller.
On a more psychological level, this trope can be adapted to create moments of sudden realization or revelation rather than pure fright. Instead of a monster jumping out, consider a character stumbling upon a crucial piece of evidence or experiencing a flashback that changes their understanding of events.
Example: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The protagonist experiences a psychological “jump scare” when she suddenly realizes the true nature of the relationship between Maxim and Rebecca. This revelation dramatically shifts her understanding of the entire situation, creating a shock for both the character and the reader.
12. Monstrosities
In horror, a monstrosity is usually depicted as some otherworldly monster or other entity that embodies fear and disgust. They’re typically supernatural or grotesquely deformed beings that pose a direct threat to the characters. Beyond rampaging creatures, though, monsters can be used to much more subtle psychological effect.
For a psychological thriller, you could transform these monstrosities into human antagonists with monstrous qualities. Focus on their actions, motivations, or psychological states rather than physical appearance. The “monster” could be a seemingly normal person whose true nature is gradually revealed. Alternatively, your characters could “see” monsters in various circumstances. Never quite clear, always at the edge of sight. Are they real, or the mere conjurations of a fragmented mind?
Example: The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. Despite his refined manners, Hannibal Lecter’s cannibalistic tendencies and manipulative nature make him a psychological monstrosity, far more unsettling than any physical monster. In cinema, Adrian Lyne’s psychological horror Jacob’s Ladder torments its protagonist with strange and alarming visions of monstrous forms which we’re never sure are either real or hallucination.
13. The Relentless Stalker
Almost everyone knows the standard archetype of the stalker in slasher horror movies—an unstoppable, sometimes supernatural force that pursues the protagonist. Think the likes of Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees.
In a psychological thriller, transform this into a more realistic, subtle threat. The stalker could be someone from the protagonist’s past, an obsessed admirer, or even a figure of authority abusing their position. Focus on the psychological impact of being constantly watched or pursued, rather than the immediate threat of physical violence—the antagonist always seems to be there, somewhere, even if they aren’t stomping around with a machete.
Example: The film Cape Fear exemplifies this trope in the thriller arena. Max Cady is a relentless stalker who psychologically torments a family, creating tension through his persistent presence and implied threats rather than outright violence or gratuitous body count.
14. Forbidden Knowledge
In horror, forbidden knowledge often involves dark magic, eldritch truths, or information that drives people insane. It’s typically supernatural in nature and dangerous to possess.
For a psychological thriller, this trope can be adapted to focus on real-world secrets that are dangerous to know. This could involve government conspiracies, corporate cover-ups, or hidden crimes. The danger comes not from supernatural forces, but from the foundation-shaking truths the knowledge reveals, and those who want to keep the information secret. Think of different spins on this, too, such as new technology that allows your characters to see hidden truths about the world around us, like a modernized rendition of John Carpenter’s They Live.
Example: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. The protagonists uncover hidden religious and historical information, putting them in danger from powerful organizations that want to suppress this knowledge.
15. The Sinister Small Town or Community
Horror books and horror movies often feature isolated towns or communities hiding dark secrets, usually involving cults or supernatural phenomena.
In a psychological thriller, this trope can be adapted to explore the darker aspects of seemingly idyllic communities. Focus on the psychological pressure of conformity, the weight of unspoken rules, and the consequences of being an outsider. The threat comes from the collective behavior of the townspeople rather than supernatural forces.
Example: The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin. The seemingly perfect suburban community hides a disturbing secret, creating psychological tension as the protagonist gradually uncovers the truth.
16. Plagued by Nightmares
In horror, nightmares often foreshadow supernatural events or are directly caused by malevolent entities that seek to undermine the characters’ sanity.
For a psychological thriller, use nightmares to explore the protagonist’s subconscious fears, repressed memories, or psychological trauma. The dreams can provide subtle clues to solving a mystery or expand our understanding the character’s past, blurring the line between dream and reality. Psychological thrillers (and psychological horror) play with (of course) psychology—and persistent nightmares and the resultant lack of sleep are strong signals of a character’s past, present, and potential future given the psychological impact of each.
Example: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. The protagonist’s strange dreams and nightmares distort and combine reality and imagination, providing cryptic clues to the mystery he’s trying to solve.
17. The Reluctant Descent Into Violence
A seemingly ordinary character is pushed to extreme violence by circumstances or psychological pressures, highlighting the dark potential lurking in all of us.
In a psychological thriller, this trope can be adapted to explore the moral and psychological consequences of violence. Focus on the internal struggle of a character forced to cross ethical lines, perhaps to protect themselves or loved ones. The violence should be more grounded in reality, with lasting psychological impacts.
Example: David Fincher’s Se7en demonstrates this trope effectively. Detective Mills’ final act of violence is the culmination of an extremely dark psychological journey, driven by the manipulations of the film’s antagonist.
18. The Cursed Object
In horror, cursed objects are often supernatural items that bring misfortune or unleash evil forces upon their owners. Yes… they’re actually cursed.
For a psychological thriller, transform this into an object that carries psychological weight rather than supernatural power. It could be evidence of a crime, a memento of a traumatic event, or an item that triggers obsessive behavior. The “curse” comes from the object’s significance to the characters and its ability to influence their actions. You could also set up a “fake curse” narrative, which can also serve as a great source of tension as the audience sits on edge with expectation of the supernatural, only for the answer to lie rooted in a more human explanation.
Example: In Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller Vertigo, Carlotta’s necklace serves as a kind of cursed object. While not supernatural, it plays a crucial role in the psychological manipulation at the heart of the film’s plot.
19. Contamination & Infection
Horror often uses the fear of contamination or infection to create visceral terror, usually zombies, parasites, or viruses that transform people into monsters.
In a psychological thriller, this trope becomes tangentially related to the Cursed Object trope. Here a character could become obsessed with the idea that something or someone is “tainted” or infectious, leading to irrational behavior, paranoia, and breakdowns as their mind spirals. You could also focus on how ideas, obsessions, or paranoia can spread through a group or community. The “infection” is psychological rather than physical.
Example: The Lord of the Flies by William Golding. The boys’ descent into savagery can be seen as a form of psychological contamination, spreading through the group and corrupting their civilized natures as paranoia spreads and warring tribes form.
20. The Shattering Legacy
A staple of the Cosmic Horror subgenre, the Shattering Legacy trope includes a slow build to a devastating revelation that the protagonist is actually being manipulated or confined by powers outside of their recognition or control. In essence, nothing they do truly matters—their fate is written in the stars, always has been, and it isn’t good. They either face destruction, or must take up their role in the continuation of a dark legacy.
In a psychological thriller, this trope remains almost as-is, except for the removal of supernatural elements and otherworldly forces. Your protagonist could be brainwashed, amnesiac, trapped in a simulation, or anything else that pulls unseen strings to manipulate the rules of their world in ways they simply can’t recognize until the truth is revealed.
Example: Christopher Nolan’s Memento. Without giving away the full nature of this film’s famous, genre-affecting twist, the truth behind the death of Leonard’s wife and Teddy’s manipulation comes as a shocking hammer blow to both the audience and Leonard… only for the established legacy to continue as an inevitable result of Leonard’s anterograde amnesia.
Horror Tropes: A Great Thriller Crossover
Using horror tropes in your psychological thriller can make the narrative more immersive, gripping, and intense. By blending psychological tension with elements from horror stories, you create a heavier atmosphere that can help keep nerves frayed and knuckles white. Horror and thriller make for great bedfellows, and sometimes there’s a very thin line between—so, whether you’re employing unreliable narrators, psychological manipulation, or eerie settings, these horror tropes should help you craft a more thrilling and unforgettable story.
Don’t be afraid. If you’ve ever felt like that psychological thriller you just read (or wrote!) needed a little more heft, or a little more punch, to be truly memorable, the answer may lie just beyond the darker doors of the horror genre.
For more discussion of genre tropes, and ways you could cross creative lines to knockout effect, be sure to check out our other articles on sci-fi tropes, action adventure tropes, thriller tropes, and even our guide to turning classic tropes on their heads in your storytelling.
