2. ABOUT HORROR
• Horror Films are unsettling films designed to frighten and
panic, cause dread and alarm, and to invoke our hidden
worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, while
captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a
cathartic experience. Horror films effectively center on the
dark side of life, the forbidden, and strange and alarming
events.
Some of the best horror films are:
• The Shining
• Alien
• Scream
3. HISTORY OF HORROR
• Horror films go back as far as the onset of films
themselves, over a 100 years ago. From our earliest
days, we use our vivid imaginations to see ghosts in
shadowy shapes, to be emotionally connected to the
unknown and to fear things that are improbable. Watching
a horror film gives an opening into that scary world, into
an outlet for the essence of fear itself, without actually
being in danger. Weird as it sounds, there's a very real
thrill and fun factor in being scared or watching
disturbing, horrific images.
4. KEY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE BEST
HORROR MOVIES
DIRECTORS:
• Wes Craven – Scream, The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare on Elm Street
• John Carpenter – Halloween, The Thing, They Live
• George A. Romero – Night of The Living Dead, Dawn of The Dead, Day of The Dead
• Sam Raimi – The Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, Drag me to Hell
• Tobe Hooper – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist, Salem’s Lot
ACTORS:
• Kane Hodder - starred in: Jason X, Hatchet, Friday the 13th
• Ken Foree – starred in: Dawn of the Dead, The Devil’s Rejects, From Beyond
• Janet Leigh – starred in: Psycho, The Fog, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
• Jamie Lee Curtis – starred in: Halloween, The Fog, Terror Train
• Tony Todd – Candyman, Wishmaster, The Crow
5. KEY FEATURES OF A HORROR FILM
• Never, never show the horror in full. Just allow us the tiniest of glimpses
• Close off all avenues of escape and potential of rescue one by one until there is
no hope left
• Make an internal conflict driving the group apart, or the individual insane
• Make many things in dialogue and environment just a bit 'off'. Be subtle
• Jump scares are cheap, but they are useful. Don't overuse
• Make the audience know that the rules don't apply and anything could happen.
For example, kill of a main character early
6. AWARDS FOR HORROR
THE SPOTLIGHT HORROR FILM AWARDS
• Platinum Awards
• Gold Awards
• Silver Awards
• Bronze Awards
