2. Sources:
http://www.horrorfilmhistory.com/index.php?pageID=early
Facts about Horror
Horror came from myths about demons and darkness, which
came from the Abrahamic and Egyptian worlds were they
talked about the sprit world and some spirits that were
feared.
Horror is an ancient art.
Stories range from ancient worlds to modern urban myths
such as supernatural events and the end of the world
Audiences love to go and see horrors and get scared
witless.
Horrors have served two purposes for a long time both,
scaring us whilst also telling stories about the dark side of life.
3. Conventions or Horror
Setting is usually rural, isolated and places where the area connotes the people
are alone with no one close by.
Handheld shots are common in horror movies to give a sense of realism within the
film also giving the audience a feel of not knowing what's happening.
Fast paced editing is used to give of the sense of panic and freaking out due to
the events taking place.
Characters are usually Devils, Demons, Monsters, Zombies, Strangers and
sometimes linked with Science Fiction characters for example Frankenstein and
Aliens
Start off with an innocent middle class family and then things get torn apart.
Themes can be to do with Religion, Supernatural, Insanity or Undead coming back
among many others.
4. Timeline
1986 – The First ever horror film was 1922 – the first vampire themed
called ‘Le Manoir du diable’ or was horror film came in 1922 called
also known as ‘The Haunted Castle’ ‘Nosferatu’ This was an unauthorised
by Georges Méliès who made adaptation of Dracula written by
many films through out the 1890s. Bram Stoker.
These were all silent short films about
supernatural events.
1900s – in the early 1900s the first 1920s – in the 1920s Hollywood
monster appeared in a horror movie started to use the horror genre to
who came from the book ‘Notre produce films such as The
Dame de Paris’ written by Victor Hunchback of Notre Dame and The
Hugo. The Hunchback of Notre Monster starring Hollywood's first
Dame featured in many movies ever horror actor, Lon Chaney.
over this period such as Other films from the 1920s were ‘Dr.
Esmeralda 1906, The Jekyll and Mr Hyde ‘, ‘The Phantom
Hunchback 1909, The Love of a of the Opera’ and ‘London after
Hunchback 1910 and Notre-Dame Midnight’.
de Paris 1911.
5. Timeline
1931 – This was the year that two popular horror 1950 – Transition from Gothic Horror to
books were adapted into films, both Technological and demonic Horror, from the
‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Dracula’ were released in 1950s horror films started changing towards the
1931 by Universal Pictures. fear of Armageddon and supernatural, this was
because of what was happening in the world at
the time, the threat of cold war people were
scared about the radiation and nuclear warfare.
This brought us films about aliens, mutations of
humans into deadly species. Examples of films
1930s – Blending Gothic Horror with Science from this era were ‘Godzilla’ and ‘The Thing from
Fiction, this was the year they started linking another World’
horrors with Sci-Fi with films like ‘The Invisible Man’
which was a German film with a mad scientist
staring in it. 1970s –the 1970s saw a move towards the
supernatural, devil and demon type of horror
films. These would consist of possessing and deals
1930s – Frankenstein, in the 1930s the Frankenstein with the devil or women getting impregnated by
series was introduced by Universal Pictures and a demon/devil. These were normally low budget
starred Bob Karloff. There were three films, films that done well at the box office. Films such
‘Frankenstein’, ‘Bride of Frankenstein’ and ‘Son of as ‘Live and Let Die’ and ‘Alice, Sweet Alice’
Frankenstein’.
6. Timeline
1979 – Alien was a combination of Sci-Fi and Horror, it 1950 – Transition from Gothic Horror to Technological
used the modern day graphical violence and and demonic Horror, from the 1950s horror films started
naturalistic acting teamed with the plots of monster changing towards the fear of Armageddon and
movies from the previous decades. supernatural, this was because of what was
happening in the world at the time, the threat of cold
war people were scared about the radiation and
1990s – In the 1990s films linked with Halloween were nuclear warfare. This brought us films about aliens,
released that were still following the style and themes mutations of humans into deadly species. Examples of
of the decade before. Films like ‘Nightmare on Elm films from this era were ‘Godzilla’ and ‘The Thing from
Street’, ‘Halloween’ and ‘Friday the 13th’ were all another World’
released and sequels were released later in the
decade. Films in the 90s pushed the horror genre back
due to the sheer amount of the films following the 1970s –the 1970s saw a move towards the
slasher type of theme from the 1980s, there was no supernatural, devil and demon type of horror films.
leap forward from the previous decade. These would consist of possessing and deals with the
devil or women getting impregnated by a
demon/devil. These were normally low budget films
2000s – The 2000s spawned many film series such as that done well at the box office. Films such as ‘Live
Saw, Final Destination and Paranormal Activity which and Let Die’ and ‘Alice, Sweet Alice’
use various types of horror such as torture, unfortunate
events and paranormal and supernatural events.
These were very successful and made many sequels.
2000s – Return of the living dead. In the 2000s there
were many Zombie films such as ’28 days later’, ‘Shaun
of the Dead’ and ‘Resident Evil’
