This paper explores how the horror film subgenre has been used to depict societal fears and anxieties during specific time periods through its tropes. The introduction briefly outlines the history of horror films, presents some of the most renowned titles over the decades, and discusses their themes and characteristics. In the following chapter, I will demonstrate the sociological significance of these films and explain why we enjoy horror despite its intense nature. Next, I will describe the psychological impact of horror films and, by analyzing various scientific and psychological studies, show how watching horror films can provide a pleasurable and positive experience, while also highlighting their negative effects. Horror films often employ various philosophical concepts to further emphasize their narratives and the messages they aim to convey, which I will analyze and interpret in the next chapter. The continuation of the paper presents the social and cultural context of horror films and, through brief analyses of specific titles, shows how their creators reflected the fears of their time. The penultimate chapter offers an overview of the most famous tropes in horror films and provides context for understanding them through specific examples. The final part of the paper provides an extensive analysis of modern horror cinema, using Get Out as a prime example that employs many tropes specific to the genre to convey societal fears regarding the rising wave of racism in America.