This document provides an overview of the horror genre in film. It discusses the history and origins of horror films from the 1930s onwards. It also examines the various subgenres of horror like slasher, psychological horror, zombie films etc. and common conventions like settings, props and themes. The document analyzes audience profiles, ratings and why people are drawn to watching horror films for thrills and excitement.

1. Horror Genre
By Eboni Birchall

2. The history of horror
• Horror is a film genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from
viewers by playing on the audience's primal fears. Inspired by literature from
authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley,
• Horror films often play on their viewers nightmares such as the supernatural,
monsters, the un dead, aliens, gore, psychological, animals. Horror films were
purposely made so it would give a thrill.
• In the tightly controlled Hollywood studio system of the 1930s, there was one
studio that would be responsible for the first cycle of horror films – Universal
Pictures. Universal was responsible for the few achievements in American horror
most notably The Phantom of the Opera and Hunchback of Notre Dame both
starring Lon Chaney. But in the 30s, Universal really sunk their teeth into horror,
kicking off the Universal Gothic horror cycle:
• Universal’s Gothic Monsters added sex and gore. Shot in full colour which was a
huge outbreak in the film industry.
• Prevalent elements include ghosts, aliens, vampires, werewolves, demons,
gore, torture, vicious animals, evil witches, monsters, zombies, cannibals, and
serial killers.

3. The genres of horror
• Action Horror-the intrusion of an evil force, event, or supernatural personage of
horror movies with the gunfights and frenetic chases of the action genre. Themes or
elements often prevalent in typical action-horror films include gore, demons, vicious
animals, vampires and, most commonly, zombies. This category also fuses the fantasy
genre.
• Body horror –graphic destruction or of the body. Other types of body horror include
unnatural movements, or the anatomically incorrect placement of limbs to create
'monsters' out of human body parts.
• Comedy horror – Combines the elements of comedy and horror fiction.
• Gothic horror – Gothic horror is a type of story that contains elements of goth and
horror. usually suspenseful. Some of the earliest horror movies were of this sub-genre.
• Natural horror – A sub-genre of horror- mutated beasts, carnivorous insects, and
normally harmless animals or plants turned into cold-blooded killers .This genre may
sometimes overlap with the science fiction and action/adventure genre.
• Psychological horror – Relies on characters' fears, guilt, beliefs, eerie sound effects,
relevant music, emotional instability and at times, the supernatural and ghosts, to
build tension and further the plot.
• Science fiction horror – Often revolves around subjects that include but are not
limited to killer aliens, mad scientists, and/or experiments gone wrong.
• Slasher film – Often revolves around a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a
sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner, mainly with a cutting tool such as
a knife or axe. Slasher films may at times overlap with the crime, mystery and thriller
genre.
• Splatter film – These films deliberately focus on graphic portrayals of gore and graphic
violence. they tend to display an overt interest in the vulnerability of the human body
• Zombie film – Zombie films feature creatures who are usually portrayed as either
reanimated corpses or mindless human beings.

4. History
• From the 1930s,the American movie universal studies started a gothic horror series, and the classic films such as
Frankenstein and Dracula were made.
• Film industry's started hiring make up artists to make their monsters more realistic.
• Films with the theme of alien invasions and deadly mutations to people, plants, and insects started to come around and
sequels of films were more common.
• Filmmakers continued to merge elements of science fiction and horror over the following decades.
• During the later 1950s, Great Britain emerged as a producer of horror films. The Hammer company focused on the genre for
the first time, enjoying huge international success from films involving classic horror characters which were shown in color
for the first time.
• Ghosts and monsters still remained a frequent feature of horror, but many films used the supernatural premise to express
the horror.
• The psychological insight to gore moved the genre even further away from the gothic horror trends of earlier eras and
brought horror into everyday life.
• "Evil children" and reincarnation became popular subjects.
• Two main problems pushed horror backward during this period: firstly, the horror genre wore itself out with the nonstop
Slasher and gore films in the eighties. Secondly, the audience which feasted on the blood and morbidity of the previous
decade grew up. Which dint make horror movies as popular.
• To re-connect with its audience, horror became more self-mockingly ironic , especially in the latter half of the 1990s
• Films such as Hollow Man, Orphan, Wrong Turn, Cabin Fever, House of 1000 Corpses, helped bring the genre back to
Restricted ratings in theatres. Comic book adaptations like the Blade series, and Hellboy (2004) also became box office
successes.
• Finally with the arrival of Paranormal Activity (2009), which was well received by critics and an excellent reception at the
box office, horror movies(more of supernatural) were seen as a hit.

5. Conventions…

6. Setting
The setting in horror films are usually based in the same places, isolated places with random
house or large open fields are used to create an eerie feeling and make the audience feel
vulnerable.
Often places with dark history such as abandoned houses, hotels and mental asylums are
used in films to do with slasher film or zombie films
Setting such as water, attics, often everyday houses, woods, graveyards, places with fog,
churches, or unknown roads and villages are used in the psychological films, supernatural or
Slasher film
Props
Props always depend on the character in the film so the props vary, Props such as dolls would
be used in films such an Annabelle and chucky, where as props such as knife would be used
by the characters in Friday the 13th.
Narrative Structure
Classical narrative structure can either be left for closure or left for a sequel and enables the
audience to feel uncomfortable and always want the audience to watch the next film.
There's almost always a hero or in some horror films such a paranormal activity the evil over
takes the good.
In some horror films there is a survivor and some don’t which always moves away from the
typical conventions of a movie.
Themes
Good vs. evil - depression - religion - childhood issues - revenge - supernatural - beyond
death - science - zombie apocalypse - nightmares - madness -insanity - lust - envy -
suicide

7. Audience profile
• Horror films are usually for any type of audience and can be for either
males or females, the age range is based usually on 16+ due to horror
films usually being to graphic and appeal to people that like the
frightening aspect of the films
• The main gender for horror films is males due to the stereotypical fact that
men like to dominate and be seen as the leader .Violence is usually
associated with films that appeal to men with the scenes of blood and
gore, therefore horror films are attractive to boys as they seek the thriller
side.
• Horror films usually appeal to middle/ working class people who like
having family time and nights in, these type of audience have some time
on their hands and enjoy the thrill.

8. BBFC Rating
• The BBFC rating for horror films ranges from 12 up to an 18 depends on
the content of the film, Films based on the age rating of 12 would usually
appeal to the younger target audience and not as much an older target
audience due to the fact that it suggests the film doesn’t include as much
horror factors in it, compared to if it was an 18. If the film was an 18 it
wouldn’t appeal to as much as a wide audience however appeal to the
older, more interested audience because it would be clear that their
would be a lot of horror conventions in the film . The idea that a film
would be an 18, would create more of a feeling and stir ,despite the fact
it might not hit a mass audience.
R18-The R18 category is a special and legally-restricted classification
primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material
involving adults.
12A and 12-Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain
material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one
younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an
adult. Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should
consider whether the film is suitable for that child.

9. Audience Theories
In horror films The Vladimir Propp theory is usually changed by the
villain winning and being the one who wins at the end ending of
the film. The hero of the film is usually the one frightened and the
vulnerable one through out the beginning middle and end. There
isn’t usually a helper or princess in horror films and the whole film
is based on the person or thing creating the horror.
Horror films usually base around the desensitisation theory. Horror
films expose the people watching the films and this causes people
to find the violence and thriller aspect non effective after watching
multiple films with it in ,this thrill and fear can turn into
excitement.

10. Trends
Top 10 UK independent films worldwide, 2012

11. Popular horror film actors &actresses
Tony Todd
• Candyman, Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh, Candyman: Day of the Dead
• 2. Ben in Night of the Living Dead
• 3. Final Destination, Final Destination 2, and Final Destination 5
Anthony Hopkins
• The silence of the lambs
• Hannibal
Sigourney Weaver
• Alien
• Cabin in the woods
• Ghost busters 1&2
• Snow white; a tale of terror
• The village

12. Why do people watch horror films?
• Some people want to watch something that addresses their archetypal fears,
while others just want to go along for the psychological ride.
• The study authors found that although all participants expressed similar
levels of fear at the end of the clips, those who reported being horror movie
lovers expressed more happiness than those who were horror movie haters.
• men want to feel more masculine and brave
• According to Glenn Sparks PHD any positive emotions you experience – like
having fun with friends – are intensified, he said. Instead of focusing on the
fright you felt during the film, you recall having a great time. And you’ll want
to come back for more.
• about 10% of the population enjoys the adrenaline rush that can come from
watching a horror movie.
• Women enjoy watching a horror movie on a date due to the closeness
caused.
• Keeps their mind of problems.

14. Insidious
The use of black in the low key background contrasts with the danger , as well as the black
and white house which shows that danger is approaching. However the red writing can
show love or represent blood which can foreshadow the further events in the film.
The silhouette makes the audience on edge because it shows someone or something is
there, By doing this it doesn’t give to much away at the start but lets the audience know
that the film Is mysterious.
The way the music follows the frames lets the audience in the story behind the films and by
showing scenes of the house, it allows the audience to see the mise en scene that the film is
based on. This gives the audience the feeling that this could be a true story and because
the film could be based in a house makes the film more personal.
Non diegetic sound that
follows the story of the
scenes.

15. The woman in Black
The use of earthy colours make the setting seem old fashioned which
foreshadows the rest of the films and the base of the story. The way the audience
don’t know who the girls are looking at makes the silence more ere and creates
more suspense for the audience to experience.
The mise en scene props of dolls which relates the children, also makes the
audience on edge because the audience wonder what event is going to take place
up on the children