History of horror genre

1. History of Genre
Horror
By Victoria Paetz

2. Horror genre
Horror is a film genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from the
viewers by playing on the audience's primal fears. The macabre and the
supernatural are frequent themes, and may overlap with the fantasy,
supernatural fiction and thriller genres. Horror films often deal with with
viewers nightmares, fears, revulsions and terror of the unknown. Plots within
the horror genre often involve the intrusion of an evil force, event or
personage into the everyday world. Prevalent elements include ghosts,
extraterrestrials, vampires, werewolves, gore, torture, vicious animals, evil
witches, monsters, zombies, cannibals, psychopaths and serial killers.

3. The roots of the Horror genre
The roots of filmed horror were an
extension of a genre of literature
that got its start in the late 1700s:
Gothic horror. Developed by
writers in both Great Britain and
the United States the Gothic part of
the name refers to pseudo medieval
buildings that these stories took
place. Famous gothic writers
included Mary Shelley, Bram
Stoker and Edgar Allan Poe

4. First Horror Film 1890s
In 1896 Georges Melies went on to
create what is considered to be the first
horror film ever made ‘The Manor of
the Devil’ which had the use of bats,
castles, trolls, ghosts and a demon
played by George Melies himself. These
are all the early conventions of horror
film genre which were typically
monsters and a castle. These
conventions arose from Gothic novel
inspiration.

5. Horror in the Silent Era 1890-1900
It was from Gothic literature that the first
horror films found inspiration.. Although the
term ‘horror’ did not come into use for films
until the 1930s. Silent films in the 1920s were
still exploring the possibilities of this new
filmmaking medium. May experiments were
conducted including the first Frankenstein
adapted by thomas Edison’s studios in 1910.

6. German Expressionism 1910s
German expressionism was a style of cinema that emphasised expression over realistic
depictions of reality. German filmmakers and artists developed this unique style inside
a cultural bubble that was the result of embargo in place during World War I. The
biggest film production company was me UFA (universum-Film Aktiengesellschaft)
On the slate in 1919 was a film written by Carl Mayer and Hans Janowitz with Robert
Wiene set direct. The result would go on to be the great grandfather of all horror films:
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. UFA filmmakers decided to paint the shadows on the set
rather than try to create them naturally with electric light. This technique combined
with the sharp angles and bizarre perspective distortion created an unforgettable look
that established German expressionism both artistically and as commercially popular
style of cinema.

7. Horror and Love? 1920s
A mad disfigured composer seeks love with a
lovely young opera singer. This horror movie was
based on a novel, like every other film at the
time. It was in black and white and had static
quality which was common at the time. The film
had a man with a disfigured face and was
obsessed with a woman. A damsel in distress was
common in films during this time.

8. Horror films learn to scream 1930s
It's hard to overstate the effect that sound had on
transforming cinema in the late 1920s. It was a radical artistic
leap, and more so for horror than any other genre. With the
sound the horror movies now had a bigger impact on
audience.
Universal really took into horror, kicking off the Universal
Gothic Cycle: their first hit was Dracula, 1931, directed Tod
Browning and lensed by UFA. this film was still in black and
white, but it had sound and a orchestra playing the
soundtrack which impacted the reactions from the audience
greatly. The conventions of horror films stayed similar as
there was still use of monsters e.g. bats and dark castles as
well as a fair maiden in trouble.

9. Low budget horror films 1940s
A small division at RKO, the smallest of the big 5
studios would start to lay stylistic foundation for
low budget horror films to come. The first title of
this was Cat People 1942 directed by Jacques
Tourneur. Using leftover studio sets and creating
scares by creating mood and shadows rather that
make-up and monsters. The film also used
animation to present the monster (the cat people)
which is quite affective rather than using a fake cat
prop which would have been less effective. This
was one of the first films with a female lead
Simone Simon that acted as the seductive villain.

10. Monsters from space 1950s
Horror films went into this cold war fear
of invasion blending into the pulp
science fiction cycle a film like: The
forbidden Planet 1956. Films were now
in colour and there was use of CGI to
create scenes from outer space and some
future technology equipment. These
were that new conventions of horror
films that would become used in nearly
every horror film from that point on.
There was also a clear use of a damsel in
distress which was common in the era

11. Mutated Monsters 1950s
Monsters came not only from outer space
but from Earth as well, usually this would be
a mutated monster. Creature from the Black
Lagoon 1954, directed by Jack Arnold. This
was one of the first horror films using
underwater cameras which was a new way to
scare the audience with underwater monsters
emerging from the darkness. There was still a
us of a damsel in distress which still hasn’t
changed in the horror film industry.

12. Psychology, Sex and Gore 1960s
From the 1960s we see a massive explosion of styles
and cycles into the horror genre as it gained both in
popularity, prestige and freedom once the restrictive
censorship of the Production code was abandoned in
1964. It was 1960s Psycho that shocked audiences into
believing horror could be more than B-filmFare.
Unlike monsters from previous horror cycles this film
was rooted in reality, an everyday human on the
outside, but a psychological monster in the mind. The
film used perfect picture and sound with the newly
created 5.1 audio. This became a new hit and
convention in the horror industry.

13. The occult 1970s
Films about satan and the supernatural, were
popular big budget subjects. The Exorcist 1973
directed by William Friedkin. This film focused
on possession and exorcism which was
something new in the horror genre, the dramatic
music and extreme make-up received a good
scare from the audience .Occult became
somewhat of a sub genre that was created during
the 1970s.

14. Independant horror and the slasher 1970s
Horror has been a staple of low budget world
since Universal Creature days and as film
production technology progressed and costs
steadily declined the rise of independent
filmmakers meant a rise of new takes on horror.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974, was based
on the plot of a serial killer. This independent
film worked with a low budget, yet it produced
something incredible as one of the goriest films
at the time it scared audience to the max. This
was a development from previous horror and
adapted later in making more slasher films.

15. Kubrick fashion 1980s
The Shining 1980 defies any catagory or imitation.
The film shows lots of blood and gore which was
introduced in the 1960s as well as a use of a
psychopath. The soundtrack includes plenty of
creepy violin pieces. The film quality is still not
perfect as it has (static imagery) but the effect it
had on the audience made it popular even today.
Use of weapons buy a psycho really intensifies
fear and anxiety.

16. Hammer horror era 1980s
The film The Evil Dead 1981 was heavy on splatter
effects and stop motion gore. It was in the occult
theme as it involved the supernatural and
possession. This came on from the previous horror
movies and wasn't much of a development.
Although it had use of new technology videotape
and cable that unleashed a flood of blood.
The film A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984 used
similar effect as evil dead as both films were
equally gory and both used plenty of fake blood to
scare audience. This was a trend that would soon
end.

17. Thriller Horror in the 1990s
films turned increasingly to CGI as all the technology
became better. Psychological films were still very
popular. The Silence of the Lambs 1991 was very
popular due to its play on the audience mind as well
and the main protagonist which was a woman Jodie
Foster. The storyline is filled with enigmas which
thrilled the audience once the film came out and
moved on from the gory slasher films in the previous
decade.

18. Modern horror 2000s
Torture Porn as it is disparagingly labeled, is the
modern reboot of the splatter films. This latest
cycle emphasises intense gore, grunge and often
torturous violence The Saw franchise, the most
successful horror film franchise of all time. The
puzzles and gory murder machines make it quite
unique and scary. This horror made a breakthrough
in the early 2000s and is popular to this day.

19. Zombie apocalypse 2000s
The zombie apocalypse Horror sub genre
became more and more popular in the 2000s as
audiences were seeking originality from the
horror industry. 28 days later 2002 is a tale of
survival and heroics with nice subtext about
mankind's savage nature. This era improved from
the first horror films in both quality and
storyline and this film is a great example of this.

20. Family hauntings 2010s
The Conjuring is a film about a family haunted
by a dark presence. This type of horror became
more popular in 2000s. It says that it's based on a
true story with frightens the audience even
more. The film uses CGI to show supernatural
power, ghosts and holes in walls and more
technology has really improved from previous
horror films and it's clearly show as the film
running is smooth and in HD.

21. Summary of Horror genre
The horror genre has immensely improved throughout history. In the very beginning
horrors were inspired by gothic novels by famous writers at the time of 1890s. The first
horror film was silent and in black and white and had a static screen problem which didn't
make it the best movie, but people still enjoyed it as movies were a new entertainment at
the time. In the 1920s films had sound which made them scarier and more effective as
horrors. However colour was still missing. In the 1930-40s films had colour and this pleased
audience. Woman were shown as objects and damsels in distress. Films began looking at
more original ideas this is when occult and psychological horror was born in the 1950-60s.
As quality of video improved in the 1970-80s film makers began to add more blood and
gore. Towards the 1990 films began to take an approach of more puzzle type horror and
thriller mixes. In the 2000s horror became more graphic and gory again and the
introduction of zombie apocalypse was made. Later from that may hauntings and spirit
movies were made. Throughout all this horrors took aproach to different genre and ideas to
stay on top which is what they keep doing today.