2. When Did the Horror Genre Begin?
The Horror Genre is recorded as first coming about in 1922 in
Germany, known as the birth of the Horror Genre. It was when the
first successful vampire movie was made, Nosferatu, the
bloodsucking vampire. This film influenced many more horrors
about vampires to be made and each one continuously changed in
some way trying to gain more success, however the animalistic
makeup which was used in Nosferatu has not been replaced, even
in modern times.
2 legendary films which were influenced by Nosferatu are
Frankenstein and Dracula. These became iconic horror movies
which are instantly related to the Horror Genre as soon as it is
mentioned. Many other films leading into the 70’s onwards were
influenced by many films which were also influenced by Nosferatu
and Frankenstein, this is when Horror started and began to change
the idea of Horror.
3. What Started the Main Theme of
Horror? (Influence)
The biggest influence of Horror came from artists
impressions of their dreams or nightmares, this started
criticism that highlighted the Horror themes of the artists
paintings, this began to influence writers to write about their
nightmares in detail and this created the Horror Genre of
literature.
Peoples imaginations began to explore their own Horror
ideas without using their own dreams or nightmares and just
made up whatever they found scary or haunting. This is
when peoples imaginations began to run away with
themselves and rumors began about mythical creatures such
as Vampires and monsters under your bed.
4. Success and Change Within the
Horror Genre,
Horrors have became more successful in modern times then what they
were in past times, however this is due to the storyline adaptations
which they have gained. Unlike past horrors about vampires and manmade monsters, horrors are more likely to be based on what goes on
in your unconscious mind, with themes which have began to be
classed more as thiller horrors instead of horror alone. Films like these
have became more successful as it gives us a chance to think about
what we believe is happening in the film and keeps us on the edge of
our seat, horrors were hauntingly scary, however it is more likely for
someone to have a better opinion on a film if they were continuously
on the edge of their seat with a high heart rate throughout a film and
not hiding their face terrified of what is about to show on the screen.
Both Horror and Thriller Horror are successful, coming from films like
Nosferatu and Dracula to modern films such as The Shining and
Paranormal Activity, it shows how the Horror genre is changing
everytime a new film is released and each film made always has some
influence on the next.
