What scares you the most. The ocean, the dark, death, being alone? Maybe you have a fear of dolls, or demons. Maybe, you're scared of your closest friend.
Starting off; What Is Analog Horror? Analog horror is a type of horror thats seated in reality, and presented in a way that seems normal. The effect this creates is a confusion in the mind that makes you question if what you're seeing isn't actually real. Your common sense says, "Of course this isn't real, thats ridiculous!", but another part of you isn't as sure. Analog horror is typically portrayed as govermental warnings, infomercials, or even just home video. Typically the video is given a sort of vhs effect to make it seem dated and real. Most times the environment is unsettlingly quiet, too calm, too safe. Then you may hear the recording audio warp, this calls you back to attention, demands your attention. You can't stop watching, or else you may miss them in the darkness.
Next is the Uncanny Valley. The Uncanny Valley is how similar another thing, or creature, is to a human. Humans have an instinctual, natural, fear of thins that look like them. Dolls, mannequins, statues, paintings. For some reason humans, in the right setting, look at them as too similar. The fear more than likely comes from unknown intentions. Why does this thing imitate humans? What are it's plans? Who is it? What is it?
When you combine analog horror with the uncanny valley you get a terrifying found footage feeling. A great example of this would be the Mandela Catalogue, a documentary about the Alternates. Alternates can copy humans almost perfectly. The keyword there is almost. Typically they have an exaggerated feature, or look like a human warped in eternal agony. But it laughs and begs and pleads and forces you to let it in. In the documentary, it explains how Alternates integrate themselves into human society, by taking the place of the human. What happens to the orignal human is unkown. What happens when a community is invaded by Alternates is unknown. What happens when they fully take over, is yet to be seen.
So now, I propose a few questions. What do you believe is the most terrifying aspect. Why do you think humans are truly scared of creatures similar to us. And, finally, will you let us in?
Replies
Really interesting topic Dominic. It made me go out and seek more information about analog horror. Overall, I was still a bit confused after reading your summary but also intrigued enough to go out and seek more info(I'm a huge horror fan).
I believe the most unsettling aspect of this is in fact analog horror. Most videos I've seen seem too real for their own good. I think we as humans are so scared of seeing something that looks like us because we want to believe the human race is the most "powerful" creature to walk the earth.
I feel that the most unsettling part of this is analog horror because I have seen a few videos of it they all seem realish but there is obviously something wrong but I can't tell what. I think that we are scared to see something humanoid because it sets a known unfamiliarity between us and them.
I think it is really scary when something imitates and trys to be something. Things like dolls and robots that imitate things can be really intimidating because it is unexpected. I am most interested in what happens to the person when an alternate takes its place. But how does the alternated really change how things work because it is similar to a clone.
The alternate isn't a clone, it's another creature entirely. Not human, but close enough to possibly be considered one. They want to take the place of the person they mimick, after that, they may help other alternates or do nothing
I think that the scariest aspect is that the "thing" imitates the human. Begging and pleading for the person to let it in is also a frightening thing to think about. After the creature takes over the human, does it stay in the same person or does it change to others?
The goal of an alternate in these videos is to replace the person it mimicks, it only mimicks one person. After that, nothing else is known.