Images

If I have ever been moved by an image, it is usually from images of "creepy" places such as this one. The hallway is completely dark except for light coming in from doorways to the side and at the end. To me, this creates a sense of apprehension or dread as if something terrifying could suddenly appear through or walk by one of the doorways.


Unlike the previous image where it was the light coming in from the doors, in this image it is the darkness at the bottom of the stairs that evokes feelings of paranoia. The light coming in from above the stairs is funneled into blackness at the bottom, and it feels as if something could emerge from that blackness at any moment.


I also like images like this one that convey the idea of a deranged mind (which is why The Joker is one of my favorite villains of all time). This image of a room with sharp angles and abstract shapes conjures the image of a mind with a severely distorted perception of reality. The flat lighting and almost angry images on the walls add to this effect.



The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is an example of this style in cinema. An Expressionist film, the sets built for it featured a number of irregular and distorted buildings and plants which were designed to give the impression of an insane mind's take on reality. These irregular sets created irregular shadows when lit, which served to deepen the effect.