First, Hospitals are good from a level design angle. They are sprawling, multi level buildings with long corridors and varied rooms.

But digging deeper, the nature of the design is creepy. In real life, hospitals feel safe because they are full of people. But when the hallways are dark and empty they can be nerve-racking.

From a strictly horror standpoint, the thought of surgery leads to the fear of unnecessary surgery. And from there it’s only a quick jump to mutilation and human experimentation. These are primal fears. They are utilized in horror movies as much as they are used in games. For supernaturally-inclined stories, cruel, patient-mutilating “doctors” create narrative opportunities for dark motives, ghosts and demons.

Halloween II takes place in a hospital. And it’s one of the best horror movies ever made. It capitalizes off the eerieness of empty corridors, and the idea that death is so nearby in a place of healing.

Hospitals make people uncomfortable because they are places where people stare consequence in the face. They see the lifelong smoker hooked up to oxygen tanks. They see the unbeatable effects of aging and diseases they’ve never even thought of. They see the chance involved in life and feel less in control. And they feel petty for their small complaints when they see others facing mortality.

Childbirth excluded, Hospitals are places where you only go if something is seriously wrong with yourself or a loved one. Hospitals are places where people occasionally die. Where you can hear and see people’s grief echo down the hallways.

And I agree 100% Betheo, all that boils down to the shattering of our illusion of control. Nice article.