Horror Lighting

What are the historical, aesthetic, and psychological reasons for lighting from below in horror films?

    There are a variety of reasons for lighting from below in horror films. Historically, this has been used throughout the past, both in and out of film. One example is using a flashlight under your face while telling a scary story. Another reason may be that it may symbolize light coming up from Hell, which contrasts the symbolism of light coming down from Heaven. Aesthetically, lighting from below distorts the features of the face, which is credited to being the primary reason why it appears scary. Lighting from below also has psychological effects because it creates and uncanny look. Instinctively, humans are designed to identify other human faces, so when the face is distorted, such as in uplighting, it appears disturbing because of the unnatural feeling.