Interior design might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of sitting down to watch a scary movie, despite some of the most iconic sets having come from the horror and thriller genres. But we’re not just talking about creepy graveyards and creaky haunted houses – the most effective scares are brought about when the world built around them is carefully constructed, and often juxtaposes the typical “scary” aesthetic.
“Effective set design in horror films goes beyond simple visual appeal, it’s a powerful tool for heightening the audience’s emotional experience,” says Chia Rahayu, the curator behind the Instagram account @interiorsandfilms. “A well-crafted horror interior manipulates colors, shadows, textures, and spatial dynamics to transform the ordinary into something unsettling and the unfamiliar into a chilling reality. Great horror set design immerses us in a psychological labyrinth, amplifying the dread of unseen threats lurking just beyond our perception.”
Rahayu, …