Seeing the Unseen: Using Active Audience Theory in Psychological Horror

When developing my psychological horror film opening, I started to think about how audiences interact with media. Instead of just presenting a story for consumption, I want my viewers to engage with my film on a deeper level, questioning what they see, seeing things differently, and maybe even feeling like they're part of the mystery. That's where Active Audience Theory comes in.

What is Active Audience Theory?

Active Audience Theory suggests that people don't just absorb media like sponges. Instead, they interpret and react to it based on their own experiences, beliefs, and emotions. As stated in library.fiveable.me(2025), "This concept emphasizes the role of the audience in interpreting, questioning, and responding to media messages, suggesting that individuals bring their own experiences, beliefs, and social contexts to their viewing experiences." This means that two people can watch the same film and walk away with completely different understandings of it. In horror, this can be especially effective because fear is so personal, that what scares one person might not to another. According to Daniel Stoddart(2015), "Some social groups may be scared of things that other groups are not, this may depend on their hobby or interest, for example, a gamer would be more scared of zombies that a rabid horse. The things closest to us tend to be the most scary when utilised in the right way, the producer can easily do this by analysing the target audience and what they find most scary."

How it Applies to My Film Opening

Since my film is a psychological horror, I want the audience to feel unsettled, not just by what's happening on screen but by what might be happening. Instead of giving them all the answers, I want to create gaps in the story that force them to think.

Here are some ways I plan to use Active Audience Theory in my film opening:

1. Unreliable Perspective- The film might make the audience question whether what they're seeing is real or not by the character's mental state. This makes them active participants in figuring out the truth.

2. Minimal Information- Rather than giving out information, I want to leave certain details unexplained, which will allow viewers to piece things together by themselves.

3. Sound Design Tricks- Audio can make people feel unease without them even realizing why. I plan to use subtle eerie sounds to make the audience aware of every sound.

Why it Works for Horror

Horror isn't just jump scares, it's about making people feel something long after they've finished watching As stated in Sociology.Plus(2022), "The elements that interact with media consumption include prior experience, present beliefs, family, employment circle, and friends." By using Active Audience Theory, I can make sure my film isn't just something people just watch, but something they experience and interpret in their own day. I want them to leave them questioning what they saw. 

Sources:

Active Audience - (Intro to Film Theory) - Vocab, Definition, Explanations | Fiveable. (2024). Fiveable.me. https://library.fiveable.me/key-terms/introduction-to-film-theory/active-audience

Active Audience Definition & Explanation | Sociology Plus. (2022, October 8). Sociology Plus. https://sociology.plus/glossary/active-audience/

St       Stoddart, D. (2015). Audience Theories in Relation to the Horror Genre: Prezi.com. https://prezi.com/4zut-gylwj1m/audience-theories-in-relation-to-the-horror-genre/