Liminal horror (genre)

Liminal horror, also known as Ethereal horror is a subgenre of horror fiction that is intended to deliver fear, liminality, claustrophobic triggers and nostalgia. Liminal horror can be both psychological and gore/visual focused. However, liminal horror doesn't only define the horror part of it. Liminal horror can be used across all genres where a movie takes place in a liminal setting

Liminal horror
Other names	Threshold horror, Ethereal horror
Features	Liminal space settings, colorful visuals and a nostalgic feel
Popularity	Low, constant rate
Formats	Film, TV shows, literature
Subgenres
Liminal body horror
Related genres
Horror fiction, Dreamcore, speculative fiction

Origins

Internet culture, especially through sites like 4chan and Reddit, has played a large role in the development of liminal horror as an aesthetic. In 2019, a viral creepypasta titled The Backrooms surfaced. It described a seemingly endless maze of empty rooms characterized by yellowed walls and fluorescent lights-a perfect definition of a liminal space. The story resonated with many users online, inspiring a wave of similar imagery such as the 2022 web series Backrooms which is the inspiration for the upcoming liminal horror film The Backrooms.

As these images of the eerie environment went viral on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, they coalesced into a shared understanding of what was considered liminal horror. By November 2022, several groups that shared the pictures on various platforms had garnered followers in large numbers, evidence that interest in the aesthetic is increasing.

The genre of liminal horror, which is based on traumatic experiences and the uncanny, has also found expression in contemporary film and literature. The picture Skinamarink with its low-angle shots and sparse presence of characters in strange rooms within homes, appears to best demonstrate this practice — the creation of meanings. Other writers practicing the genre have also written works focusing on the theme of isolation in damaged, but recognizable places within the narrative.

To conclude, the antecedents of liminal horror originate from the anthropological perspective of liminality, the psychological paradigm known as the uncanny valley, spooky images that emerged as a result of internet culture, and the directors’ works in movie and literature with the relevant topics.

History

While liminal horror is a fairly new genre, the psychological underpinnings of liminal horror can be linked to Sigmund Freud’s notion of the uncanny, which describes experiences that are both familiar and foreign at the same time. This duality creates a sense of unease, as familiar settings become unsettling when they appear distorted or abandoned. The uncanny valley theory also plays a role here; it suggests that entities resembling humans but not quite achieving realism elicit discomfort. In liminal horror, spaces like empty hallways or deserted buildings evoke similar feelings due to their familiar yet altered nature.

The rise of liminal horror as a distinct aesthetic is closely tied to internet culture, particularly through platforms such as 4chan and Reddit in the late 2010s. A pivotal moment occurred in 2019 with the viral creepypasta known as The Backrooms. This narrative depicted an endless maze of monotonous rooms characterized by yellowed walls and buzzing fluorescent lights—a quintessential representation of a liminal space. The Backrooms captured widespread attention and sparked interest in similar themes across various online communities.

As users began sharing images and stories related to these eerie environments on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, a collective fascination with liminal horror emerged. This led to the creation of dedicated communities focused on exploring and sharing content related to these unsettling spaces.

See also

• The Backrooms
• The Backrooms (film)
• Backrooms (web series)
• Horror fiction
• Liminal space (aesthetic)