Analog horror

 

Analog Horror

Warning; this subgenre can contain: Unsettling pictures, flashing messages, loud noises, and distorted figures. 

I have been wrapped up in the sub-genre called Analog Horror, and to be honest, this genre is one of the scariest, in my opinion. Analog horror can be described as found footage or internet videos. Most have cryptic messages, and low-quality but unsettling photos. The genre uses an analog video style similar to early television and analog radios, which, paired with the images, can lead to a feeling of dread. I am not going to completely summarize these series, as Analog Horror is something that has to be experienced; otherwise, it is not as exciting!

One popular analog horror series that actually led me into the rabbit hole of this sub-genre is the Mandela Catalogue. They are fake instructional videos made by the local authorities of Mandela County aid on how to avoid "alternates", aka supernatural beings that mimic people. The alternates, however, are distorted and unproportionate as they cannot copy complicated features of whom they mimic. This leaves them with unnaturally long arms or unnerving stares, aka lots of body horror. The history and origin of the Alternates become more complicated as the series continues.

Another is Local 58, which is said to have made analog horror popular. The videos are not super linear as there is no real plot, this is because it is made to be a television station that, over a long period of time, is being hijacked by an unknown group or person. While there is no plot, it is implied that the videos are in the same universe as almost every video they mention looking at the Moon and the night sky or mentioning an organization called Thought Research Initiative or TRI. Each video is different but equally unsettling as it is shot in a VHS or found footage style, adding to its surrealism. Local 58 is definitely one that has to be watched to get the right feel!

Analog horror is so scary because I feel like it falls into the uncanny valley of horror. It is the type of video genre that I can watch during the day and feel fine but at night make me run up the stairs as if someone is chasing me!