I am trying to categorise sub-genres of Horror. For example I have "suspense", "gore", &c.
Now I feel like one genre consists of producing an emotion that I cannot put a word to. Feeling like something paranormal or impossible is happening, and feeling fear because of it.
What is the word for a fear that directly results from witnessing something that the witness cannot explain, or that challenges the accepted reality?
Best Answer
As Dan Bron said, the proper term is lovecraftian, which actually refers to a horror sub-genre which deals with the terror of the unknown and sometimes unknowable. While it technically means related to the work of the American horror writer, H.P. Lovecraft, it usually refers to that style of horror.
However, some also use it to extreme tentacle-y, misplaced limbs and appendage style horror as well, so might not always work.
If not, paranoia might work. It sounds good enough for a genre, and it means: