Movies, Literature, and the Unknown
- Angela Sanford
- Sep 10
- 4 min read
by Raegan Densmore
When you think of the “unknown” in media such as movies or literature, maybe the first thing that comes to mind is horror movies. For example, the main character, walking down a long, dark hallway, with every step, a creaking floorboard. They are frightened and full of worry, and you, the viewer, are being killed by the suspense. The “unknown” here, is what lies ahead for this character. The intention of the film in that moment, is to instill fear into you, to make you question that unknown and to feel it. But the unknown, while commonly pictured and represented in a physical, monstrous sense, can, and has been depicted in other ways such as the limits of science, psychological phenomenon, the human identity and trauma. These examples can be seen in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
The concept of the “unknown” has existed for a very long time and has been very prominent in gothic literature. Like in horror movies, the unknown has often been supernatural forces or monsters, portraying the human fear of the unknown Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, one of the most popular works of gothic literature explores this theme of the unknown. The monster, in this case being the 8-foot watery-eyed corpse Victor Frankenstein creates. This creature, despite being described with attractive human traits, is depicted as a monster to the human eye. His uncanny appearance scares humans away, revealing their fear of the unfamiliar.
The unknown goes much deeper than just a physical phenomenon, but also mental and psychological as well. While the “unknown” in Frankenstein can be described as the monster, it is also portrayed as the power of science to transcend nature, and in a psychological sense as well. In the book, Victor Frankenstein has a deep obsession with the mysteries of creation, going so far that he attempts to create new life himself, creating the monster, which he regrets immediately. His curiosity of this unknown led him into creating something in which he would ultimately dread. Throughout the rest of the book, the unknown, as previously mentioned, can be seen as the monster in a physical sense, as he was often lurking close by, killing the family members and close friends of Victor, but the unknown is also present in a psychological sense, where Victor recoils from his creation, thus the unknown is internalized. His guilt makes him question his own identity, what he has done, what will be the consequences, and whether the monster is actually himself.
Identity plays an important role when it comes to the concept of the unknown. In the physical, monstrous sense, the human identity has shaped what we consider monstrous. In Frankenstein, the monster is uncanny, while almost appearing human, it is ultimately more grotesque appearing, instilling fear in the humans because they have never seen nor experienced anything like that creature. But the unknown is not just a concept that lies in the horror genre. For example, the film The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a coming of age film about a teenage boy named Charlie, who begins high school and is nervous about this new life. One of the main ways the unknown in this film can be seen is through Charlie’s trauma. Throughout the film, Charlie has a fragmented memory of his Aunt Helen, who he idolizes. But he faces disturbing flashbacks that he does not quite understand. What we as the viewers, and Charlie, the character in the film know about this aunt seems to be very little, but positive. Until the end of the film, where his trauma is revealed, and the truth about the Aunt’s abuse surfaces. This unknown, like Victor, has shaped Charlie’s mental health and relationships, but unlike Victor, it was done unconsciously. This movie is an example of how the unknown is not just society’s outwardly fears, but the unknown is also within ourselves, shaping our own identity, even if we don’t realize it.
The unknown is a concept in media that reflects not only societal fear, but how it is shaped by the human identity and how it can affect people differently. The unknown seems like something scary, as seen in Frankenstein, and typically, it is. The concept is most commonly recognized in the horror genre, but is common in other genres as well, as the unknown teaches us about ourselves and our own identity. It affects us even if we don’t realize it, which is what The Perks of Being a Wallflower portrays, while also teaching us it is best to come to terms with this unknown. Overall, the unknown shapes a story in a way that creates different kinds of emotions such as fear, suspense, curiosity and even familiarity in the viewer’s mind, as the concept takes up many different forms in movies and literature.
Works Cited
Booth, Charlotte. “Uncovering the Vampire Myth.” A History of the Undead, Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2021.
Chbosky, Stephen, director. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. 2012.
Rosewood, Margaret. “Exploring the Theme of the Unknown in Literature.” LiteraryInklings, 2025, https://literaryinklings.com/exploring-the-theme-of-the-unknown-in-literature/.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 1818.
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