| 1 | %% |
| 2 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1607202405091630500 |
| 3 | %% Please don't change or remove without starting a new thread. |
| 4 | %% |
| 5 | [[quoteright:348:[[WebVideo/Local58 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_screenshot_1_9.png]]]] |
| 6 | [[caption-width-right:348:''[[AC:Your [[HumanoidAbomination destination]] will be in 300 feet.]]'']] |
| 7 | %% |
| 8 | |
| 9 | ->''WE SEND SIGNALS TO OURSELVES\ |
| 10 | THRU THEIR DOMAIN\ |
| 11 | DID WE REALLY BELIEVE\ |
| 12 | THEY WOULDN'T ADD THEIR OWN'' |
| 13 | -->-- '''''WebVideo/Local58''''' |
| 14 | |
| 15 | Some old audio tapes and videotapes are better left untouched. Especially ones you find in an AbandonedArea or a grainy, glitchy EmergencyBroadcast that comes in on an old TV in an [[HellHotel abandoned hotel]]. If you find an old VHS tape hidden under a floorboard in a NoTellMotel, don't put it in the VCR! |
| 16 | |
| 17 | Analog Horror is a {{Horror|WebOriginals}} WebOriginal subgenre of {{found footage|Films}}. As the name implies, Analog Horror typically revolves around emulating the look of analog media in the late 20th century, such as [[Platform/{{VCR}} VHS tapes]], FM radio, cathode-ray tube televisions, ''et cetera''. Unlike most found footage films, it's far rarer for Analog Horror to feature visible characters recording the footage. Instead, the footage is often made to resemble "official" (albeit often local) media, such as television broadcasts, employee training tapes, and police archives. If human protagonists are present, they're often the ones who are ''finding'' the footage, deciding to share it with the audience with their own commentary. Many Analog Horror series invoke an unnerving atmosphere through footage being corrupted or hijacked (such as through [[EmergencyBroadcast government interference]] or sometimes [[HauntedTechnology more supernatural means]]), and some feature [[BreadEggsMilkSquick eerily casual descriptions of unnerving phenomena]] as a core element. A common theme of Analog Horror is to begin a video [[DisguisedHorrorStory relatively normally]] and slowly reveal more disturbing elements as it continues. Unlike most [[DisguisedHorrorStory Disguised Horror Stories]], though, it's usually made very clear from the beginning that something is "off" in order to build suspense. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Channels that host Analog Horror videos may pose as a number of things. ''WebVideo/Local58'' and ''Channel 7'' both pose as their [[TheNamesake namesake]] TV channels, ''WebVideo/GeminiHomeEntertainment'' poses as a distributor of VHS tapes, and ''WebVideo/TheMinervaAlliance'' and ''WebVideo/AnalogArchives'' pose as organizations that collect anomalous footage. Some creators, like [[WebAnimation/HarmonyAndHorror Battington]] and [[WebAnimation/TheWaltenFiles Martin Walls]], have decided to simply upload their series under their own name, forgoing that specific [[AlternateRealityGame ARG]] element entirely. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | Despite its obvious predecessors being FoundFootageFilms like ''Film/TheBlairWitchProject'', Analog Horror also has origins in {{Creepypasta}} and [[AlternateRealityGame Alternate Reality Games]], such as ''ARG/TheWyomingIncident'' and ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets''. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | DigitalHorror uses many of the same storytelling techniques of Analog Horror, but with a setting based on the internet of the late 2000s and early 2010s as opposed to the 80s and 90s. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Because videos of this genre often rely on [[AmbiguousSituation ambiguous storytelling techniques]], Analog Horror is a big magnet for WildMassGuessing. |
| 26 | |
| 27 | ---- |
| 28 | [[foldercontrol]][[folder:Examples of Analog Horror series]] |
| 29 | [[index]] |
| 30 | If a series has its own TV Tropes page, then the links are to that. If not, the links are to the Platform/YouTube channel (or whatever video hosting site it's on) |
| 31 | |
| 32 | * ''WebVideo/AnalogArchives'' [[superscript:†]] |
| 33 | * ''WebAnimation/AngelHare'' |
| 34 | * ''WebVideo/KanePixelsTheBackrooms'' |
| 35 | * ''[[https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvMQgpOx8WMIXnTOc9ydoIev3ExSyGEzG&si=bKhTlBTywcQdxk5D Basswood County]]'' |
| 36 | * ''VideoGame/BlackMesa'': Its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVYJ9o6Bddo Steam Launch trailer]] is an UrExample featuring many of the genre's now-common tropes. |
| 37 | * ''Film/TheBlairWitchProject'': The movie itself wouldn't count (analog horror is an Internet-based genre), but its official website ''would'', making it a [[UrExample precursor to the genre]]. The creators marketed the movie as real FoundFootage and uploaded downloadable videos onto the website, including the protagonists' [[https://web.archive.org/web/20160919152426fw_/http://www.blairwitch.com/project/legacy.html final footage]] and the [[https://web.archive.org/web/20160919152423fw_/http://www.blairwitch.com/project/aftermath.html public search]] for the missing filmmakers. |
| 38 | * ''WebAnimation/TheBlueChannel'' |
| 39 | * ''WebAnimation/{{Boisvert}}'' |
| 40 | * ''WebVideo/BritishCryptids'' |
| 41 | * ''WebVideo/BritishHomeEntertainment'': A British parody of WebVideo/GeminiHomeEntertainment and other popular analog horror media. |
| 42 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCpcoNKGHbQCqwz_36QrVJhMqWzcHgrpw The Campbell Reels]]'' [[superscript:†]] |
| 43 | * ''WebOriginal/CivilEmergencyDefenseAgency'' |
| 44 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpBrNm2PC24iHZFeybxk48Q CH/SS]]'' |
| 45 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5l7whVcZw Channel 7]]'' [[superscript:†]] |
| 46 | * ''Series/CheckItOutWithDrSteveBrule'' |
| 47 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK_pzeB4Xa6iZbPHHmvYWLg/videos ChezzKids Archive]]'' |
| 48 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeFLsCuv5rDjQ2qbOsSoF5rNTEgJ5VlZM The Chimpy Chippa Tapes]]'' |
| 49 | * ''WebVideo/CornerFolklore'' |
| 50 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfrzQl622DmJ_iIkn5hRL5Q CRT Anomalies]]'' |
| 51 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsMnvO54xH3Gpt8wUX0ObjA Crystalview Records]]'' |
| 52 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWkb80VGt63_Er5qMUXDg3Q Doctor Nowhere]]'' |
| 53 | * ''[[https://youtube.com/@DogNightmares Dog Nightmares]]'' |
| 54 | * "[[https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLigin1KJB84IPXa6HKu_CKzBuBgWU9aIh&si=_AOvRl-iLkJpOSaJ Doors]]" |
| 55 | * ''WebVideo/DreamsOfAnInsomniac'' |
| 56 | * WebVideo/EASScenarios: A predecessor to Analog Horror with a largely similar aesthetic and plotlines. |
| 57 | * ''WebVideo/{{Eckva}}'' |
| 58 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiC_xc-OQf1wwWoCratfA-Q Employee Tapes Archive]]'' |
| 59 | * ''WebVideo/EmpyreanRings'': An AU of ''THE MONUMENT MYTHOS'' that has now grown to be its own thing. |
| 60 | * ''WebOriginal/EnginesOfEight'' |
| 61 | * ''WebVideo/EventideMediaCenter'' [[superscript:†]] |
| 62 | * ''[[https://youtube.com/@TheFallmooreEvent The Fallmoore Event]]'' |
| 63 | * ''WebVideo/FarawayLogs'': A [[FanSequel fan prequel]] of ''VideoGame/{{Omori}}'' |
| 64 | * ''WebAnimation/FiveNightsAtFreddysVHSRemake'': A re-imagining of ''WebAnimation/SquimpusMcGrimpus''' tapes. |
| 65 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PebiaYNR-_s The Game Of Mush]]'': A one-off that predates the analog horror boom. |
| 66 | * ''WebVideo/GeminiHomeEntertainment'': A TropeCodifier. |
| 67 | * ''WebVideo/GilbertGarfield'' |
| 68 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLztoGaRfuxR8S8zQ0LyqtVFHjzXcmKclO The Goldman Case]]'' |
| 69 | * ''WebVideo/TheGreylockTapes'' |
| 70 | * ''WebVideo/TheGrizzcoTapes'' |
| 71 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/@GUUUBY GÜBY & Friends]]'' |
| 72 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/@thisplaceisnothappy6278/featured Happy Meat Farms]]'' |
| 73 | * ''WebAnimation/HarmonyAndHorror'' |
| 74 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-ZA1MCA5FY The Hartwin Archives]]'' |
| 75 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/@heykidsstudio5933 Hey Kids! Studio]]'': An adaptation of ''Literature/CandleCove''. |
| 76 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/@HypnagogicArchive Hypnogogic Archive]]'' |
| 77 | * ''WebVideo/LiminalLand'' |
| 78 | * ''[[WebAnimation/LittleRedsTransfer Little Red's Transfer]]'' |
| 79 | * ''WebVideo/Local58'': The TropeMaker and TropeNamer. |
| 80 | * ''WebVideo/MandelaCatalogue'': A TropeCodifier. |
| 81 | * ''WebVideo/TheManInTheSuit'' |
| 82 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQSCUffqtXgYNBQL3DD5Qg Midwest Angelica]]'' |
| 83 | * ''WebVideo/MikaeliHittingMetal'' |
| 84 | * ''WebVideo/TheMinervaAlliance'' |
| 85 | * ''WebVideo/TheMonumentMythos'' |
| 86 | * ''WebVideo/MorleyGrove'' |
| 87 | * ''WebVideo/MushroomLand'': Predates the establishment of the genre yet hits enough of the same beats to be considered an [[UrExample early instance]]. |
| 88 | * ''WebOriginal/MysteryFleshPitNationalPark'' |
| 89 | * ''WebVideo/Needlem0use'' [[superscript:†]] |
| 90 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWwIJWKob-WhtXQXUK2TWgdFylhAJbfaP NIGHT OWL 102.8 FM]]'' |
| 91 | * ''WebVideo/TheNingen'' |
| 92 | * ''WebVideo/NixonverseAntiverse'': A fanseries of ''The MONUMENT MYTHOS''. |
| 93 | * ''WebVideo/TheNixonverseRetold'': Another fanseries of ''THE MONUMENT MYTHOS''. [[superscript:†]] |
| 94 | * ''WebVideo/NocPlus10'' |
| 95 | * ''ARG/TheNoedolekcinArchives'' |
| 96 | * ''WebVideo/TheOldestView'' |
| 97 | * ''[[https://youtube.com/@thebaroquehour?si=ZxKgx3dKErezmDeV ORPHEUS]]'' |
| 98 | * ''WebVideo/ThePainter'' |
| 99 | * ''WebVideo/ThePowerStarArchives'' |
| 100 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpUMX5-HgSk6t9B_BVFdC7g Public Access Project]]'' [[superscript:†]] |
| 101 | * ''WebVideo/RedactedSMP'' |
| 102 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/@TheRedSunArchive The Red Sun Archive]]'' |
| 103 | * ''WebOriginal/SheaScientificFilms'' |
| 104 | * "[[https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm6vTruXUq8BbFdYxE2BQ1v47b--Qihyk&si=f8i_KFEgWgBW1wOx Sins of the Past]]" |
| 105 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/@sisterhoodofsalvationllc Sisterhood of Salvation, LLC]]'' |
| 106 | * ''WebVideo/SkyCorpHomeVideo'': Plays around with the analog aesthetic with [[SurrealHorror surreal]] and [[BlackComedy dark humor]]. |
| 107 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk5KvJPikK00VYqS2eUicu0bk2RXRy1DB Slaughter Valley Public Information]]'': A series of shorts created by WebVideo/AtomicShrimp. |
| 108 | * ''WebVideo/SmileTapes'' |
| 109 | * ''WebVideo/SneakysSnackBar'' |
| 110 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-reNw0oYj--RYyY_xeVh3A Socroft Records]]'' |
| 111 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlseu3Z40f_YSfkEP4S-PQ Somnium DreamViewer]]'' |
| 112 | * ''VideoGame/SonicCdVHSTapes'' |
| 113 | * ''WebVideo/SonicLimitedEditionTheLostCartridge'' |
| 114 | * ''WebAnimation/{{Soulcorp}}'' |
| 115 | * ''WebAnimation/SquimpusMcGrimpus'' |
| 116 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/@TheSuitmationTrials The Suitmation Trials]]'' |
| 117 | * ''WebVideo/SurrealBroadcast'' |
| 118 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZr5caAAF9RDHNFevpbAAQ They Don't Know They're Born]]'' |
| 119 | * ''WebVideo/{{TMK}}'' |
| 120 | * ''DarthWiki/TownOfVeins'' [[superscript:†]] |
| 121 | * ''WebVideo/TheTrinityDeskProject'' [[superscript:†]] |
| 122 | * ''[[https://youtube.com/@tryredwitnessarchives5472 Tryred Witness Archives]]'' |
| 123 | * ''[[https://youtube.com/channel/UC_UVUlpwYOtWXzHoPVT2yOQ TV67 WOPX-TV]]'' |
| 124 | * ''WebVideo/ValleVerde'' |
| 125 | * ''WebVideo/TheVanishingOfSSWillie'' |
| 126 | * ''WebVideo/VintageEight'' |
| 127 | * ''WebVideo/VitaCarnis'' |
| 128 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/@walkercreek Walker Creek Broadcast Station]]'' |
| 129 | * ''WebAnimation/TheWaltenFiles'' |
| 130 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91lr31Ptlq0 Warding12 Television]]'' |
| 131 | * ''WebOriginal/WellBeRightBack'' |
| 132 | * ''WebVideo/WhiteStagEducation'' |
| 133 | * ''WebVideo/WinterOf83'' |
| 134 | * ''WebVideo/WormwoodInstitute'' |
| 135 | * ''[[https://youtube.com/@wxfhmunroefalls4017?si=SSVLf3HVPCOIWkaT WXFH Munroe Falls]]'' |
| 136 | * ''ARG/TheWyomingIncident'': The UrExample. |
| 137 | |
| 138 | ---- |
| 139 | [[superscript:[†] ]]''Series is no longer available to be watched.'' |
| 140 | [[/folder]] |
| 141 | [[folder:Tropes commonly found in Analog Horror]] |
| 142 | * AmbiguousSituation: Many circumstances surrounding the footage is kept vague. |
| 143 | ** In the ''[=Local58=]'' video "Contingency," is the video telling people to [[spoiler:kill themselves]] out of sheer pride and patriotism, or is it because it's a genuinely better alternative than whatever the invading nation's military force will do to them? |
| 144 | ** In ''The Minerva Alliance'' video "Unusual EAS," is the thunderstorm really a thunderstorm? Is it a BrownNote weather event that people must not look at? It could be anything they don't want you to see. |
| 145 | * ApocalypseHow: Some videos deal with the world ending or transforming into something unrecognizable. |
| 146 | * ApocalypticLog: Pretty much every video of this genre inevitably turns into one. |
| 147 | * BlackMarket: [[WebVideo/EASScenarios EAS Scenario]] creator Harvester's video ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaUObk1igsQ The Service]]'' has this played out to a shocking degree; a criminal syndicate based in the South of England is using a modified version of MediaNotes/{{Teletext}} to conduct their dealings, including the trafficking of children, distribution of illicit films, and the sales of medicines, recreational drugs and, worryingly, the chemical weapon Cyclosarin. Scarier still, this syndicate's operating almost in plain sight, with the footage shown only being possible because a viewer happened to be watching television with a dodgy satellite dish, allowing them to accidentally gain access to the Teletext system the syndicate uses. |
| 148 | * BrownNote: Many videos are said to contain harmful stimuli. ''[=Local58=]'' has looking at the moon at the wrong time, ''The Minerva Alliance'' video "Game Show Spectacular" is said to have killed a boy who watched it, ''Analog Archives'' has "spectral frequencies" of light that are harmful to humans (typically red), etc. |
| 149 | * CosmicHorrorStory: A common source of the strange occurrences in every analog horror series are cosmic threats beyond mankind's grasp. |
| 150 | * DecadeThemedFilter: Most commonly TheNineties with DeliberateVHSQuality, but occasionally older-style filters will be used, such as film grain for things made in TheSixties. TV channels found in analog horror would also have different {{vanity plate}}s, music and visuals for different decades. |
| 151 | * DeliberateVHSQuality: This is the most common filter applied to videos of this genre, since many videos are set in the TurnOfTheMillennium or before. |
| 152 | * DoNotAdjustYourSet: Interruptions are quite common in analog horror, and videos without them are in the minority. |
| 153 | * DownerEnding: Any analog horror series that ''does'' have an ending won't really end with a happy one. |
| 154 | * EmergencyBroadcast: Given that a major part of the media that founded the genre includes WebVideo/EASScenarios, a large number of analog horror videos and series feature at least one emergency broadcast; ''WebVideo/Local58'' has "Weather Service," ''WebVideo/TheMinervaAlliance'' has "Unusual EAS," and so on. |
| 155 | * ExtremelyShortTimespan: Most videos show a single broadcast, with nothing to suggest it goes on for longer than the video's duration. |
| 156 | * FacialHorror: ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td2x8s9GZlo BLUE_CHANNEL: THALASIN]]'' by Gooseworx features this trope in spades, thanks to the 'original emotions' being peddled by the creators of the titular Thalasin and Thalasin Plus drugs, especially in the case of [[MonsterMouth Nage]], [[ShadowedFaceGlowingEyes Dorcelessness]], [[MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily And]][[NestedMouths ric]], [[EyelessFace Trantive]][[EyesDoNotBelongThere ness]], [[HumanoidAbomination Onlent]] and [[NothingIsScarier the one]] [[ImMelting after Loric]][[note]]which is called "Naritrance", according to WordOfGod[[/note]]. |
| 157 | * FreezeFrameBonus: Many things show up too fast to see, most often in the form of UnreadablyFastText. |
| 158 | * HauntedTechnology: This is what causes many of the broadcast intrusions. |
| 159 | * InUniverseCamera: The only cameras in analog horror, due to being a subgenre of FoundFootage. |
| 160 | * MadnessMantra: A (usually threatening) line being shown repeatedly all over the screen, or a voice saying it over and over again. |
| 161 | * MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: This ambiguity is present in many videos. |
| 162 | * MayContainEvil: A common type of analog horror videos are commercials for products that either have horrifying side effects or are dangerous even if used correctly. |
| 163 | * MissionControlIsOffItsMeds: For Analog Horror videos that center on emergency broadcasts or newscasts or otherwise are meant to speak with any kind of authority, this is ''very'' common. Seemingly normal videos will often degrade into nonsensical advice that at best wants to help despite its surreal nature, and is at ''worst'' completely incomprehensible and/or taken over by the villain of the series. |
| 164 | * MoodWhiplash: Any video that looks innocent or ordinary will inevitably get worse. |
| 165 | * NightmareFace: Some series flash these on screen with varied intervals and sounds (or lack thereof) used. |
| 166 | * NothingIsScarier: Analog horror rarely shows much of what's causing interruptions and chaos. |
| 167 | * ObscuredSpecialEffects: It's rare to get a really good look at the special effects in an Analog Horror series. Part of it is to emphasize the NothingIsScarier feel, but it's also because these series are typically made with very low budgets that can't achieve the kinds of detailed FX found in Hollywood movies. This is also the reason for the nearly ubiquitous use of DeliberateVHSQuality, as the visual filter makes it even harder to see FX flaws. |
| 168 | * OffTheShelfFX: It's common for analog horror series to make images with free image-making software and website such as Artbreeder. |
| 169 | * OminousVisualGlitch: These are quite common, often signaling greater horrors to come in the video. |
| 170 | * ParodyCommercial: A few videos are commercials for fictional products, including drugs (like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td2x8s9GZlo Thalasin]]), food (like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFFZKW_jD6I Life Meat]]), and technology (like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez3lTdYPx8U Neurocast]]). |
| 171 | * RealityHasNoSoundtrack: Music only appears when it logically should appear. |
| 172 | * {{Retraux}}: Most videos have this visual style applied to them. Usually in the video era (mid-1980s to mid-2000s), but occasionally prior eras will show up. |
| 173 | * SilenceIsGolden: Spoken dialogue is surprisingly rare in this genre. The vast majority of these words are on screen. Any spoken words may be distorted beyond comprehension or spoken with a text-to-speech voice. |
| 174 | * SoundtrackDissonance: As most footage takes the form of either local TV broadcasts or instructional videos, most soundtracks consist of easy listening stock corporate music, which definitely does not match the incoming horror. TV broadcast videos in particular have a predilection for the work of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HOSM-ap6BI&list=PLffqbXFpg0u4JJNwy5JP3KP6MidAK6slM Trammell Starks]] (former primary composer for The Weather Channel) or similar. |
| 175 | * StrictlyFormula: A major criticism of the genre, as nearly all analog horror videos involve VHS effects, "cryptic" imagery, [[AlternateRealityGame ARGs]] and ambiguity about the subject matter. In addition, lot of analog horror videos involve fake emergency broadcasts that may or may not have been hijacked by a third party. |
| 176 | * VanityPlate: These are shown to make it look like a fictional company made these videos, or are receiving interruptions. |
| 177 | * WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties: A common thing to say when a TV station regains control of its broadcast. |
| 178 | [[/folder]] |
| 179 | |
| 180 | ---- |
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