Choreographing fear : a Laban movement analysis of survival horror gameplay in Resident Evil

Abstract

This dissertation examines how choreographed movement contributes to fear and player immersion in survival horror video games through an analysis of selected boss encounters from the Resident Evil series. Using Laban Movement Analysis as the principal analytical framework, the study explores how movement functions as an expressive and affective mechanism within video games. While existing scholarship on survival horror often focuses on environmental design, this research argues that movement is central to the construction of fear and embodied player experience. Focusing specifically on the boss encounters against Lady Dimitrescu and Jack Baker, the analysis explores how these antagonists generate different forms of kinaesthetic unease through choreographed movement. The methodology combines qualitative movement interpretation with quantitative data collection through the logging of recurring LMA elements observed within recorded gameplay footage. The findings demonstrate that movement patterns significantly shape player perception and emotional response within survival horror gameplay. Lady Dimitrescu creates instability and disorientation, while Jack Baker evokes claustrophobia and oppressive tension. By combining dance studies methodologies with game studies scholarship, this dissertation contributes to interdisciplinary discussions surrounding digital performance and survival horror game design. Ultimately, the research proposes that choreographic analysis offers valuable insight into how fear is communicated within video games and demonstrates the potential for movement-based methodologies to inform future horror game development.