The document discusses the evolution of horror films over different decades from the 1920s to the 2000s. Early horror films of the 1920s were dark, shadowy productions featuring vampires and monsters. In the 1930s, the introduction of sound allowed films like Dracula and Bride of Frankenstein to utilize elements like dialogue. Horrors of the 1940s in America featured human-animal hybrid characters, while the 1950s saw a rise in films about mutated creatures influenced by fears around radiation. The 1960s saw a shift to human monsters as reflected in Psycho, and slasher films emerged in the 1970s along with a focus on disturbed children. Gore and special effects became prominent in the 1980s. More intelligent horror

2. The horror genre has
been around for
many years but it
has had a number
of key changes...

3. THE 1920’s
One of the first ever horror films, Nosferatu was
released in 1922. Horror films in the 1920‟s were
dark, shadowy, gothic, vampiric and featured
scenes of mutilation and Nosfuratu is no
exception. The horrors of this time reflected
the fact that audiences were terrified of
mystical monsters found in literature. In the
1920‟s mise-en-scene elements such as
costume and setting were used to create a
scary effect for the audience.

4. THE 1930’s
Horrors in the 1930‟s also featured monsters, they were gothic in
style for they often featured howling, wolves, vampires, mists
and eerie castles set in far off lands. The 1930‟s was when sound
was introduced to horror films. The Bride of Frankenstein was
released in 1935 and seen to be one of the greatest horrors
ever made, it was also the first to feature a female monster. The
Bride of Frankenstein, though the film was named after her, she
was not the eponymous hero as the title suggests. The narrative
focuses around Frankenstein‟s monster. She just appears at the
end looking pretty and acting terrified of her husband. This
reflects that women were not equal to men in the 1930‟s. The
narrative focuses around Frankenstein‟s monster. She just
appears at the end looking pretty and acting terrified of her
husband. Another film released in the 1930‟s was Dracula which
starred Lugosi who was a horror star of this decade. The film
included a cape, fangs and blood-sucking, etc.

5. THE 1940’s
Horror films were banned in Britain in the 1940‟s
because of World War II so America took over. In this
decade, horrors featured characters that turned into
animals or were half man/half beast. Cat People was
released in 1942 and was one of the first to feature
film methods used today such as quick cuts and
edits. The film featured a female character again but
this time she featured more prominently in the film.
Though attractive, the „monster‟ Irena stalked the
streets in cat form, terrorising and killing. This signals
change in society as finally, a woman featured as the
main character and was actually feared.

6. THE 1950’s
In the 1950‟s teenagers were the main audience
for horror films. World War II made reality
scarier than on-screen horrors however,
audiences did fear the effects of radiation,
technological change and scientific
experimentation cue, The Fly. The Fly was
released in 1958 and was typical of the era,
with mutated creates affected by radiation.
The Blob was another film released in the 50‟s
it featured a amoeba-like creature that
petrified a town.

7. THE 1960’s
Horror historian Andrew Tudor discussed
how horror changed before and after
1960. Before, horrors had „closed
narratives‟ where the „monster‟ was
destroyed, however, post 1960, „open
narratives‟ were introduced where the
monster was not always definitely
destroyed. “The old horror was either
dead or dying; a new horror was about
to be born”...
– Peter Hutchings (The Horror Film)

8. THE 1960’s
Fears that had gripped the 1950‟s were now gone and
the 1960‟s was a period of sexual liberation, drugs,
fashion and freedom. It was a time where society
changed forever because of these things. Monsters of
the 1960‟s were now in human form and the murky
darkness of the human mind was explored, audiences
saw the monstrous potential of man. Psycho was
released in 1960, the Hitchcock classic featured a
„monster‟ that was a man! The antagonist of the film,
Norman Bates looked normal, but on the outset he was
a psycho. Hitchcock has claimed he chose the name
Norman because it sounds like „normal‟ yet Norman
was no where near „normal‟.

9. THE 1970’s
The 1970‟s was the end of optimism that came
from the 1960‟s, horrors grew in quality, while
tackling society‟s fears simultaneously. The
1970‟s was when the „slasher‟ and „Final Girl‟
were born. Now that the idyllic family of the
1950s had crumbled away, society‟s fears at
the time were to do with children and
childbirth because of the introduction of „the
Pill‟ and the birth defects caused by
Thalidomide. The idea that the enemy could
be found in your own home was reflected in
1970‟s horror.

10. THE 1970’s
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre was released in 1974
and is about five friends visiting one of their
grandfather's house in the country. The teenagers
are hunted and terrorised by a chain-saw wielding
killer and his family of grave-robbing cannibals. The
film is typical of it‟s era because as mentioned, it
was the era where „slasher‟ films were born and
Texas Chainsaw Masscre was one of the first
„slashers‟.
• The Exorcist was released in 1973, It features a child
possessed by evil, reflecting the fear society had of
disturbed children in the 1970‟s.

11. THE 1980’s
The 1980‟s was a time of technological change and
there was an increased use of special effects. VCRs
were introduced in homes so horrors could now be
watched at home. Horrors of the 80s were all about
show, they included lots of colour, SFX, brighter
lighting and a full view of gruesome killings. A
Nightmare on Elmstreet was released in 1984, it is
typical of the 1980‟s as it involves excessive gore
and brightly lit sets. The first victim, Tina, is slashed to
pieces for having sex, this is a convention of horror.

12. THE 1990’s
In the 1990‟s audiences became too clued up
on horror conventions and found them too
predictable. They were becoming sick of guts
and gore and wanted more intelligent horror.
Cue Silence of the Lambs, a disturbing
psychological horror that features a serial killer
and cannibal, Hannibal Lector. Scream was
another film released in the mid 90‟s. Wes
Craven acknowledged how genre-savvy
audiences were by having characters in the
film who were aware of and mocked horror
conventions. They still died though...!

13. The 2000’s and Beyond
The tragedy of 9/11 changed our view of
what is scary. Audiences feared the evil
that lurks in our world, especially terrorists.
Audiences are now enjoying different
kinds of horror such as psychological and
supernatural. Modern horrors often
feature a game, a race against time
(e.g. Saw) or a killing force that cannot
be seen. Remakes and spoofs have also
became popular in our era. (e.g Scary
Movie)

14. The 2000’s and Beyond
Horror films shot in a „found footage‟
style have also become popular, e.g.
Paranormal Activity and Grave
Encounters. This makes the material on
screen seem more „real‟ for audiences
and therefore more terrifying.
Possession and exorcism films have
also became popular in this era, such
as „The Devil Inside‟ and ‘The
Possession’.

15. Through studying horror through the ages I
have learned how much horror has
changed over the years. Everything has
changed and established including
costume, props, sound, use of camera and
use of edits etc. I have also learned how
horrors always reflect society‟s fears at the
time. I now know I must reflect current fears
in my narrative which I believe I have done
as stalking and kidnappings unfortunately
do happen regularly in the real world.