Research in the genre of Horror

1. T H E H I S T O R Y O F
H O R R O R

2. The Horror genre was originally an
extension upon ideas which were
bought about by 18th century literature.
The monster started off as being
monsters, murderers, demons and
beasts. GOTHIC HORROR was born.
Films began to be produced around
1895, however the first horror film ever
made was considered to be the Manor
of the Devil created by Georges Milies.

3. In both the United states and Britain, GOTHIC HORROR
was set in often gloomy and eerie settings: forests,
dungeons and secret passageways.
More examples of GOTHIC HORROR films from this
time are also: Frankenstein (1910 by Tom Edison’s
studios) , Dante’s Inferno ( 1911 by Giuseppe de
Liguoro)

5. • The First World War played a massive part in the
progression of Horror. From the ashes of Germany
rose GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM. This was a style of
cinema which valued and emphasised expression
rather than realism.
• To start off with this was only a small movement in
Europe however, quickly grew to create the Universum
Film Aktiengesellschaft (UFA)

6. One of the first noticeable products of Germany was the
Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) written by Carl Mayer and
Hans Janowitz.
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM could be distinguished by
the use of painted sets and shadows, sharp angles and
perception distortion.
Films such as: The Golem (1920) and Nosferatu (1922)

8. Paramount and MGM together with the UFA created the
Parufamet Distribution Company. This basically bought
German Expressionism into Hollywood.

9. SOUND was a massive change to horror films. In
the 1930’s Universal launched their first sound
horror film Dracula (1931).
However, parodies of original films such as The
House of Frankenstein (1944) saw the decline of
horror popularity. RKO, the smallest of the big 5
studios, tried to resuscitate horror, by creating small
budget horror films for $150,000. The first of its kind
being Cat People (1942) by Nicholas Musuraca.

11. These productions used leftover sets and studios, with
mood and shadows to create scars, rather than makeup
and monsters. This was perhaps the beginning stages of
the psychologically scary era of the horror genre. For
example films like Cat People (1942). These sorts of
films set the mile stones for the low budget horror films
which could make millions of dollars worth of budget (Cat
People brought in $4 million in the first two years).

12. Due to the abolishment of the production code in 1964, in
the United States, began the era of Psychology, Sex and
Gore. Which would of course not be where it is today without
Alfred Hitchcock. 1960’s Psycho which started the train of
thought in audiences that horror could be more than just a ‘B
Grade’ film. Hitchcock also later produced The Birds (1963)
This introduced a monster to the audience, which could be
the woman living next door to you.

14. Meanwhile in the UK, Hammer films were all the rage.
This was basically the gothic horror genre, with a bit of
sex and gore added in. In full fledge colour Hammer Film
Productions launched The Curse Of Frankenstein
(1957). Over the next 7 years, 27 hammer films were
made.
Hammer Horrors could pretty much be summed up in all
its glory in the Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

16. Following this major development in horror, came a
series of different sub-genres of horror.
First was the Occult Horror genre, focused on satan and
supernatural beings, were popular with big budget film
companies. The most well known production being
William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973).

18. Creature horror then followed with Steven Spielberg’s
Jaws (1975). This not only lit the flame for shark themed
horror but also the ‘summer blockbuster’ style of film.
Brian De Palmas’ Carrie (1976) explored the teen and
summer cycle fantastically. Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979)
went back and mixed horror and science diction which was
also done in John Carpenter’s remake of The Thing
(1982). It may not have won awards or broke the box
office, but this film stood the test of time, being one of the
most terrifying special effect films ever made.

20. Spielberg returned in 1982 with the Poltergeist, based on
ghost stories, as well as his other hit ET which was
released a couple of weeks later.
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) is one horror film
which defies any category or genre of horror.

21. Independent films such as Toby Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw
Massacre (1974) was based on true events. It did not create a
mass profit, but inspired many teen horror slashers to come.
Other films such as John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) was on
of the most successful independent films. With only a budget of
$325,000 it grossed a profit as of 2012 of nearly $240,000
million.
The film was set inside every day suburbia which added to the
scare and terror factors for audiences. Known as terror in the
back yard. The Evil dead (1981) was an independent film which
didn't follow the slasher genre, rather the splatter and stop
motion gore.

23. The 90’s and modern horror:
Scream (1996) began a brand new teen horror cycle, which was
then responsible for I know what you did last Summer (1997) and
Final Destination (2000).
New monster films were now being produced which weighed
heavily on CGI, such as Anaconda (1997).
Psychological horror still remained popular in the 90’s and 2000’s ,
producing the Silence of the Lambs (1991) and The Others (2001)

25. However, Torture Porn was the most recognisable sub
genre of the 2000’s. Its a reboot of the splatter films
which go back to the hammer era. It consists of intense
gore, grunge and torturous violence. The Saw Franchise
(2004) is a great example of this.
The Blair Witch Project (1999) was the first ‘found
footage’ horror film. It used first hand footage, and this
technology was again used in 2007 to create Paranormal
activity.

27. Finally Zombies is the most recent cycle of films. It began
in 1968 with George A Romero’s Night of the Living
dead. It was reborn with 28 days later in 2002. These
films feed off of the fear of a medical pandemic.
This is still doing well and has produced films such as
World War Z (2013) and television dramas such as The
Walking Dead (2010). However, this may be on its way
out as films such as Shaun of the Dead (2004) poke fun
at it.