History Main / ExistentialHorror

[[folder:Anime]]

** Marina does this again before the "Chicken vs Egg" Splatfest. It's still played for laughs, albeit [[MoodWhiplash uncomfortable]] [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall laughs]].:
-->'''Pearl''':\\
'''Marina''':

* ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon 2}}'' plays this for laughs during a commentary for Inkblot Art Academy.

* Most episodes of ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' deal with this, and even sometimes plays it for BlackComedy. From the existential dread of knowing you're only [[CloningBlues one disposable version of yourself among an infinite number of universes]], to parasites that can fill your head with FakeMemories and [[ParanoiaFuel make you believe you've know them your whole life]], to the mere concept of [[DeathSeeker Mr. Meeseeks]], the show has plenty to choose from when it comes to existential nightmares.

Am I real? Why do I exist? How much control do I have over my own life? What choices do I have? Does it even matter, the choices I make? Am I even an unique individual? Are my thoughts, opinions, memories, experiences, and feelings actually my own, or are they imposed on me? If I were to suddenly die, would it matter at or all, or would my passing go by completely unnoticed and unmourned? Is my entire life pointless? Are my efforts to achieve meaning doomed to failure?

Am I real? Why do I exist? How much control do I have over my own life? What choices do I have? Does it even matter, the choices I make? Am I even an unique individual? Are my thoughts, opinions, memories, experiences, and feelings actually my own, or are they imposed on me? Is my entire life pointless? Are my efforts to achieve meaning doomed to failure?

Am I real? Why do I exist? How much control do I have over my own life? What choices do I have? Does it even matter, the choices I make? Are my thoughts, opinions, memories, experiences, and feelings actually my own, or are they imposed on me? Is my entire life pointless? Are my efforts to achieve meaning doomed to failure?

Am I real? Why do I exist? How much control do I have over my own life? What choices do I have? Does it even matter, the choices I make? Are my thoughts, memories, experiences, and feelings actually my own, or are they imposed on me? Is my entire life pointless? Are my efforts to achieve meaning doomed to failure?

Am I real? Why do I exist? How much control do I have over my own life? What choices do I have? Does it even matter, the choices I make? Are my thoughts, memories, experiences, and feelings actually my own? Is my entire life pointless? Are my efforts to achieve meaning doomed to failure?

Am I real? Why do I exist? How much control do I have over my own life? What choices do I have? Does it even matter, the choices I make? Are my thoughts, memories, experiences, and feelings in any way unique? Is my entire life pointless? Are my efforts to achieve meaning doomed to failure?

Am I real? Why do I exist? How much control do I have over my own life? What choices do I have? Does it even matter, the choices I make? Is my entire life pointless? Are my efforts to achieve meaning doomed to failure?

* Most episodes of ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' deal with this. From the existential dread of knowing you're only [[CloningBlues one disposable version of yourself among an infinite number of universes]], to parasites that can fill your head with FakeMemories and [[ParanoiaFuel make you believe you've know them your whole life]], to the mere concept of [[DeathSeeker Mr. Meeseeks]], the show has plenty to choose from when it comes to existential nightmares.

* Most episodes of ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' deal with this. From the existencial dread of knowing you're only [[CloningBlues one disposable version of yourself among an infinite number of universes]], to parasites that can fill your head with FakeMemories and [[ParanoiaFuel make you believe you've know them your whole life]], to the mere concept of [[DeathSeeker Mr. Meeseeks]], the show has plenty to choose from when it comes to existential nightmares.

* ''Film/{{Existenz}}'' is about layers of virtual reality, meta-gaming and meta-narration, conspiracy theories... and a fair amount of surrealism and BodyHorror.

* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' asks the question; "[[spoiler:would happen if a side character in a typical Romance VisualNovel was self-aware, but was also still unable to go against the fundamental constraints of the kind story/game of they existed in]]?" which of course leads into the question; "[[spoiler:do we ourselves truly have free will, or are we just as fundamentally constrained in our worldview by the society we grew up and live in]]"?

* ''LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai'': Touko Aozaki is a genius maker of ArtificialHuman body parts, whose greatest achievement was creating a process to make a perfect copy of herself. As soon as she saw the completed copy, she realized there was no longer any need for the current her, as the copy could perfectly replace her and be just as "real" as she ever was. She proceeds to make numerous copies and connect them all to a HiveMind like system that feeds them all the current her's experiences. Now, each time one Touko dies, another awakens to perfectly replace the dead her, much to the horror of anyone who finds out the fact that [[LossOfIdentity there's actually nothing about us that can't be replicated, and thus nothing that makes us a truly unique version of ourselves]].

** ''VisualNovel/MahouTsukaiNoYoru'', a prequel, makes things even darker by revealing Touko personally killed her "original" self years before ''Kara no Kyoukai'' even started.

* ''LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai'': Touko Aozaki is a genius maker of ArtificialHuman body parts, whose greatest achievement was creating a process to make a perfect copy of herself. As soon as she saw the completed, she realized there was no longer any need for her, as the copy could perfectly replace her and be just as "real" as she ever was. She proceeds to make numerous copies and connect them all to a HiveMind like system that feeds them all the current her's experiences. Now, each time one Touko dies, another awakens to perfectly replace the dead her, much to the horror of anyone who finds out the fact that [[LossOfIdentity there's actually nothing about us that can't be replicated, and thus nothing that makes us a truly unique version of ourselves]].

* ''Fanfic/TheInfiniteLoops'' can lend itself to this on occasion. The setting is explicitly a broken multiverse, with lore inconsistencies being the result of reality itself not knowing the exact details of what should and should not be; various characters have loop variable backgrounds and are just as surprised when details crop up about themselves as the viewers of their canon show. And since the setting is portrayed as an AlternateRealityGame where all the events written are actually happening, there's the question of whether the real world is in danger of becoming damaged...

* ''Film/TheMatrix'' presents the idea that people are [[PlatonicCave inadvertently living their entire lives]] inside of a LotusEaterMachine. ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' shows that the protagonists' rebellion is [[DontWeHaveATropeThatsExactlyThis accounted for and an inherent part of the system]]. ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions'' has HappinessInSlavery be the end fate of most of humanity, the HappyEnding being that humans who are unhappy with the system as such will be released to the depressing, black-skied Reality. Said reality is however put into question by the seemingly supernatural powers the protagonist demonstrates in it. Both sequels have Smith as TheVirus, hijacking people's personalities and turning them into ever more of himself, until, by the end of Revolutions, he's the only one left. Between the two sequels, Neo is stuck in a limbo where he is absolutely powerless and ineffectual. The viewer may be left to question whether they themselves are living in a constructed reality to some degree. A lot of philosophers and humanists would say yes, in a variety of ways, but not in the literal way of the films; one of them is referenced in the first film, with Neo keeping his illegal software inside a hollow copy of ''Simulacra and Simulation'' by Jean Baudrillard.

[[folder: Real Life]]

* In RealLife, perception-altering drugs can have this effect; some of them can cause [[InTheMouthOfMadness illusions that are completely indistinguishable from reality]] by the user, others can annull the sense of self and make the user feel "one with the Universe", others can paralyze you in a AndIMustScream situation... [[NightmareFuel/RealLife Sometimes, the effects can be permanent.]]
[[/folder]]

[[AC:Examples:]]

[[folder: Anime/Manga]]

* There is nothing here.

[[folder: Comics]]

* There is nothing here.

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]

* ''Fanfic/TheInfiniteLoops'' can lend itself to this on occasion. The setting is explicitly a broken multiverse, with lore inconsistencies being the result of reality itself not knowing the exact details of what should and should not be; various characters have loop variable backgrounds and are just as surprised when details crop up about themselves as the viewers of their canon show. And since the setting is portrayed as an AlternateRealityGame where all the events written are actually happening, there's the question of whether the real world is in danger of becoming damaged...

[[folder: Film]]

* ''Film/{{Existenz}}'' is similarly about layers of virtual reality, meta-gaming and meta-narration, conspiracy theories... and a fair amount of surrealism and BodyHorror.
* ''Film/{{Inception}}'' has some parallels to the Matrix, where one of the characters in-universe (and perhaps some of the audience) question which stage of "reality" they are in, and whether death or suicide will propel them upward toward a more real existence.
* ''Film/TheMatrix'' presents the idea that people are [[PlatonicCave inadvertently living their entire lives]] inside of a LotusEaterMachine. ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' shows that the protagonists' rebellion is [[DontWeHaveATropeThatsExactlyThis accounted for and an inherent part of the system]]. ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions'' has HappinessInSlavery be the end fate of most of humanity, the HappyEnding being that humans who are unhappy with the system as such will be released to the depressing, black-skied Reality. Said reality is however put into question by the seemingly supernatural powers the protagonist demonstrates in it. Both sequels have Smith as TheVirus, hijacking people's personalities and turning them into ever more of himself, until, by the end of Revolutions, he's the only one left. Between the two sequels, Neo is stuck in a limbo where he is absolutely powerless and ineffectual. The viewer may be left to question whether they themselves are living in a constructed reality to some degree. A lot of philosophers and humanists would say yes, in a variety of ways, but not in the literal way of the films; one of them is referenced in the first film, with Neo keeping his illegal software inside a hollow copy of ''Simulacra and Simulation'' by Jean Baudrillard.

[[folder: Literature]]

* Creator/FranzKafka specialized in such stories, with a [[KafkaKomedy dark comedic bent]]; the world was out to get you, no matter how good you tried to be, and any efforts you might make to clear your name or even understand what the hell is going on are going to make things worse.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' had a bit of this, and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2'' took it to maturity: the boundaries between the different meta levels of the game, the complete negation of most any character's free will, the manipulation of the protagonists' identity, the doubt cast on the very reality of the events depicted in the game ("It's like a nightmare you can't wake up from.") all contribute to this state of mind. Luckily (?) the games keep distracting you with clear objectives and a fast-paced, involved, world-at-stake narrative, so that you don't freak out ''too'' much.
* ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'' is a comedy game, but viewers report feeling distincly uncomfortable, horrified and confused by the experience. It's very hard to explain without spoiling it.
[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'' is a comedy game, but viewers report feeling distincly uncomfortable, horrified and confused by the experience. It's very hard to explain without spoiling it.
* Creator/FranzKafka specialized in such stories, with a [[KafkaKomedy dark comedic bent]]; the world was out to get you, no matter how good you tried to be, and any efforts you might make to clear your name or even understand what the hell is going on are going to make things worse.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' had a bit of this, and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2'' took it to maturity: the boundaries between the different meta levels of the game, the complete negation of most any character's free will, the manipulation of the protagonists' identity, the doubt cast on the very reality of the events depicted in the game ("It's like a nightmare you can't wake up from.") all contribute to this state of mind. Luckily (?) the games keep distracting you with clear objectives and a fast-paced, involved, world-at-stake narrative, so that you don't freak out ''too'' much.

* ''Film/{{Inception}}'' has some parallels to the Matrix, where one of the characters in-universe (and perhaps some of the audience) question which stage of "reality" they are in, and whether death or suicide will propel them upward toward a more real existence.
* ''Film/{{Existenz}}'' is similarly about layers of virtual reality, meta-gaming and meta-narration, conspiracy theories... and a fair amount of surrealism and BodyHorror.

* ''Fanfic/TheInfiniteLoops'' can lend itself to this on occasion. The setting is explicitly a broken multiverse, with lore inconsistencies being the result of reality itself not knowing the exact details of what should and should not be; various characters have loop variable backgrounds and are just as surprised when details crop up about themselves as the viewers of their canon show. And since the setting is portrayed as an AlternateRealityGame where all the events written are actually happening, there's the question of whether the real world is in danger of becoming damaged...

May overlap with CosmicHorrorStory; the horror on those relies more on the percieved vulnerability of reality as a whole, rather than the pointlessness of life on an individual scale. A ShaggyDogStory might induce this kind of feeling. Compare with {{Angst}}, which while originally referring to "existential angst", has broadened its meaning to refer to a more general form of anguish or unease with oneself. Compare with NavelGazing, which is simply in-universe philosophical contemplation, and doesn't necessarily involve horror or existential questions.

* Creator/{{Franz Kafka}} specialized in such stories, with a [[KafkaKomedy dark comedic bent]]; the world was out to get you, no matter how good you tried to be, and any efforts you might make to clear your name or even understand what the hell is going on are going to make things worse.