Horror films aim to elicit fear and terror in viewers. They frequently involve themes of death, the supernatural, or mental illness. The first horror film was made in 1896. In the 1960s, horror film budgets rose and films became more gruesome. While some argue horror films influence violence, research shows they allow viewers to confront fears. Horror films typically use certain techniques like music, settings, characters, and themes to create fear and suspense.

1. HorrorBY LAURA NORRIS

2. WHAT IS HORROR?Horror is an intense and profound fear, something that inspires dislike. Horror films are movies that strive to elicit the emotions of fear, horror and terror from viewers. They can have the effect of mental paralysis, working their way into the minds of viewers often making us feel frozen, unable to move. Their plots frequently involve themes of death, the supernatural or mental illness. Many horror movies also include a central villain.

3. THE HISTORY OF HORROR.The first horror movie was the silent short film ‘Le Manoir du Diable’ directed by Georges Mèliès in 1896. It was the first horror and the first vampire film. The movie only lasted two minutes, but audiences loved it, and Mèliès took pleasure in giving them more horrors.As horror film budgets rose significantly in the 1960’s, public fascination with horrors led to a series of serious, supernatural-themed, often gruesome horror movies. The Exorcist (1973) broke all records for a horror film and is, still today, said to be one of the most feared movies to watch by audiences.

4. COPYCAT THEORYHorrors have been said to influence some people to imitate the brutal methods of the killers portrayed on screen. However according to years of research into the criminal, psychological side of the mind, horrors have been shown to have the opposite effect on normal people. Watching horror films lets us encounter our secret fears, share them with other viewers and eliminate the terror by meeting it head-on.

5. SO WHAT IS IT THAT SCARES US?This is open to interpretation. However, ever noticed the high-stringed music at particular points in the film like the one playing in the background at the moment? Observe a clip in a film and think about the effects with the music playing, and then mute it, see the effects without the music playing...

6. SO WHAT IS IT THAT SCARES US?Maybe its the camera effects and costume and make-up we are able to create with today’s technology.

7. CHARACTERThere are always certain characters which we expect to see in a horror movie. Ghouls, monsters, zombies, murderers, psychiatric patients, mentally disturbed, convicts, animals and even the environment or as demonstrated in final destination, fate.

8. Dumb character who falls straight into the trap or gets captured at the very beginning to provide entertainment for the audience.

9. Clever character that figures out clues or how to escape the clutches of the killer.

10. Always a main character or main set of characters that are hunted down.

11. The rescuer who helps out.

12. The girl who gets to the end and defeats the killer.VISUAL STYLEClothes are often torn or dirty. If there is a killer in the horror then they are sometimes wearing things to disguise themselves such as masks. For example, Michael Myers in Halloween wears a boiler suit and a white mask.

13. Weapons are often used such as bloody knives, guns, clubs and general household objects.SETTINGCan be set daytime or night but the action in horror movies traditionally occurs in the night.

14. Often dark places, old and creaky perhaps. Abandoned, ‘middle of nowhere’ buildings. Damaged structures Crumbling or run-down buildings.