2. Gothic Horror of the 19th century
• Gothic horror is a genre of
literature that has elements
of both romance and horror.
Although it is sometimes
confused with paranormal
romance, according to some
horror writers, gothic horror
is considered a more
atmospheric type of
literature. The films are often
dark and are based around a
venerable female who
becomes involved in a
mysterious man, with a dark
past, who eventually turns
out to be a vampire or
another supernatural evil
being.
3. Horror of the silent era-
German Expressionism
This was a creative movement in Germany
prior to World War 1 in art, film, and music.
It main theme was reaction and emotion.
Reality was distorted for emotional effect.
German Expressionism conveys strong
emotions, such as pain, unhappiness and
terror. It has very rich fusion of colours.
Although, due to the time period, films
which used German Expressionism were in
black and white.
They were mainly only shown in Germany
because the country was secluded because
of the first world war, they were relatively
unpopular and they faded out after only a
few years.
4. MONSTERS AND MAD SCIENTISTS of
the 1930’s
• The era of monsters and mad
scientists included famous films such
as Frankenstein, Dracula and Dr Jekyl
and Mr Hyde. The films of this era
often included inhuman monsters
which often drew audiences into the
cinema. These films brought sound
and music into the film industry.
Music was used to increase suspense
at important moments, to try to scare
the audience, and sound was
introduced so the actors could be
heard talking, allowing the audience
to understand the storyline
better, and more importantly so the
audience could hear the screams of
the actors, which increased the terror
and made the audience more scared.
5. The primal animal within;
WEREWOLVES AND CAT PEOPLE 1940’s
• The 1940’s saw the rise of animal
people in the film industry and
films often included cat people or
werewolves. People would
transform into the animals ad
often cause death and
destruction The reason for the
popularity of such stories in that
era is unclear. What is clear is that
man into animal stories are a
noted part of that era's popular
culture. It is also clear that The
Mad Monster was a typical
product of its time. Which
featured the main character
transforming into a werewolf.
6. MUTANT CREATURES AND ALIEN
INVADERS 1950’s
• The 1950’s saw the introduction
of Alien invasions and creatures
from another world into the film
industry. The earliest horror film
which included aliens was called
‘A thing from another world’
After WW2 people wanted more
than just human faces in horror
films and the alien horrors
thrived at the time. Most of the
alien horror films were black and
white at the time which was
quickly dying out but they
formed a cult in later years. The
sci-fi period mainly took over the
horror industry but there was
still a small gap for films like
Dracula.
7. GHOSTS, ZOMBIES, SATANISM AND
YOUR FAMILY- 1960-70’S
• The 1960-70’s was an era which saw the
introduction of films including the living
dead, for example, zombie movies, and
ghost stories. They reflected the general
mood of society at the time after a
successful 50/60’s There was also an
introduction on demonic and evil
children in horror films, such as
Rosemarys Baby when the child is able to
manipulate and control adults to the
point of death. Possesed children were
very often used. Peoples opinions of
what was horrible changed after the
Mason family murders and the family
orientated horrors started to flourish.
Satanism was also important in this era
and it produced some very well known
films such as ‘The Exorcist’. There
seemed to be a Satan fearing opinion in
the industry at the time.
8. HAMMER HORROR- A BRITISH
SUCCESS
• Launched in 1934, Hammer's first production was The
Public Life Of Henry The Ninth and, following a period
of inactivity during WW2, the first picture from the
newly incorporated Hammer Film Productions Ltd.
was 1949's Dr. Morelle: The Case Of The Missing
Heiress which was very successful and has been said
to be one of the most important horror films of its
time. The new company's first colour film was The
Men Of Sherwood Forest in 1954, and in 1955 the
success of The Quatermass Xperiment led to
Hammer's move into horror films including The Curse
Of Frankenstein in 1957 and Dracula in 1958. The
Production company was very successful with these
films and the production company was launched into
the film world. In later years Hammer Horror films
comtiued to make films including Journey To The
Unknown and in the 1970’s To The Devil A Daughter.
However the company stopped making films for a
period of time, but returned to the industry in 2008
with Beyond The Rave and also made Woman In Black
starring Daniel Radcliffe.
9. SLASHER MOVIES AND BODY HORROR/GORE IN THE
80’S AND THEIR DESCENT INTO POSTMODERN PARODY
(SCREAM)
• Slasher movies were very popular in the
1980’s. They mainly included one main
character who had psychopathic
tendencies. He would often stalk and kill
his victims in sequence in a very violent
and graphic manner. He would often use a
violent weapon such as an axe or a
cleaver. One of the most popular and well
known slasher films would be Friday 13th
and many other films used the same kind
of features as this, a “Youth camp in the
woods” idea, with venerable people who
are eventually brutally murdered. The
main psychotic character was also often
masked. This added to the fear In the
movie, just like in Friday 13th.
10. FEARS AND MORAL PANICS
• Fears and moral panics in film have
always been important in the media
especially films because they
convey peoples worries and panic.
People want to find out about their
concerns and things their worried
about. An example of a film about
moral panics in modern terms
would probably be about terrorism
due to the fact many people are
concerned about this topic in
society at the moment. The 1980’s
began to use many special, visual
effects and film makers were trying
to make as many special effects as
possible. Like in films such as An
American Werewolf In London and
Ghostbusters.
11. GORE VENGANCE RETURN 2000’S
• The turn of the century saw the introduction of
gore films which are basically just many different
ways to kill people and directors tried to make
the most disgusting ways of doing this. One
example of a gore horror film would be the Saw
series which show victims trying to escape from a
situation and along the way, many of the victims
get killed and mutilated. The main point of the
films is the disgusting ways people die and the
blood involved when they try to escape the life or
death situation. The films have been very
successful due to the lust for blood and gore that
people seem to have, as people like to scare
themselves and seem to like to see the blood and
gore. Cannibal is arguably the best gore film ever
made. They continue to be successful however
hand held camera films seem to be becoming
more popular now, such as Paranormal activity.
