as media

2. Horror films affect individuals in a
range of ways, from an unsettling
feeling to a frightened feeling,
panicking and alarming feeling.
Moreover these feeling vary with
what conventions and micro
elements that are used. Horror
films are able to bring out
individuals worst fears, in addition
it often effects the audience when
something terrifying but captivating
takes place by the use of sound,
editing and more. Films of the
horror genre deal with individuals
fears such as nightmares,
vulnerability, terror of the
unknown, fear of death, loss of
identity, as well as fear of sexuality.
The Horror Genre:
Horror should be able to frighten the audience, scare as
well as startle individuals by producing elements that will
cause feelings of horror and terror. Furthermore it creates
an eerie as well as frightening atmosphere, for example
graveyard are associated with dead therefore it was set
an unsettling tone. Horror can be either supernatural or
non-supernatural dependant on what sub genre it is.
Different sub genres:
• Action horror
• Comedy horror
• Gothic horror
• Psychological horror
• Science fiction horror
• Slasher films
• Zombie film
• Monster film

3. Origins
Horror had to start from some where…. But where?
One of the first supernatural novels to be released was ‘The Castle of Otranto’ by Horace
Walpole – 1764. By this novel being written the title of horror came around, moreover it became
fashionable to create novels of the horror genre that many other writers began to adopt the idea
of horror.
1796 – Matthew Gregory Lewis also adopted the horror genre and published a book called ‘The
Monk’. This novel that consisted of the gothic horrific conventions took the horror genre to the
next stage.
Over time the horror genre became extremely popular and well liked , therefore many
individuals took Horace Walpole’s original idea but made it their own, or better.

4. Within the early 1800s many more individual such as Mary Shelley
published books based on the famous new horror genre. Moreover Mary
Shelley is the well know author of the ‘Frankenstein’ novel that was
published in 1818. The character of Frankenstein has a lot of meaning
and history behind his character therefore he’s an iconic character. He's
an iconic character due to the fact that the story explains stages used to
create life and the outcome of the life. The book portrays how a scientist
who created Frankenstein so that he was a bad guy made to cause havoc.
Destruction within a city, however the book and film portray him to be of a
kind and gentle nature. Therefore he became iconic as other individuals
wanted to take on this sort of character, in addition that’s one reason why
the image of vampires has changed, moreover now they are seen as
beautiful creatures when back in the 1800’s they were seen as monsters
of the dark who society feared.

5. The 1800s
The nineteenth century was the period where the horror genre was
produced in film content, further meaning that short lengthen films of the
horror genre were being produced however there was no sound… they were
silent. Theses silent films varied from:
• Spirit Photography
• Le Squelette Joyeux
• Le Manoir Du Diable
• Cabinet Of Dr Calligar
• The Golem
1860s – this was the era where Spirit
Photography was extremely popular, it was also
one of the first film experimentations to come out
at the time. In addition they consisted of
doubling images to portray the feel of there
being a ghost like image in the specific frame of
the film.
1895 – after the creation of Spirit
Photography, Le Squelette Joyeux came
about. Moreover this type of film created
by the Lumiere brothers caused viewers
to be very interested in the new film
production. This type of film had skeletal
images, which was different and new that
the time.
1896 – within this year, history was
changed and developed as the first
horror genre film was released, and
the audiences went wild. The film
released was a French production
that only lasted the time period of
three minutes, due to the fact it was a
French film its name was Le Manoir
Du Diable. Conventions such as
ghosts, spirits, witches, the devil and
dark colouring. Additionally these
conventions are still commonly used
today in the 21st century horror genre
films.

6. 1915-1920 – more films came
out during this time period, the
new version of film to come out
was called The Golem. The
Golem consisted of varied
camera work as well as mise en
scene, which impacted the genre
of horror massively as the
conventions began to influence
other films that came out in a
later day.
1919 - the recent films that came out
moved the audience however the
audience was completely changed when
Cabinet Of Dr Calligar was produced due
to the fact it had such a brilliant impact on
the audience. Moreover one reason why
Cabinet Of Dr Calligar was so popular
was because of the use of non-diegetic
sound that was used, to cause dramatic
eerie scenes. For example it was used to
emphasises a killing the would have been
next.

7. 1930s
The 1930’s was a time where silent films no longer existed due to the fact that diegetic and non-diegetic
sound was added to the films produced.
1931 – Dracula was released. This was a very successful horror film with the sub genre of action
horror as it has supernatural elements. Moreover the mise en scene that the director used was
unique and different as it had never been used or seen before. Therefore when locations, costumes
and conventional iconography’s were used it single the film out, which had a successful review from
the audience. Another famous film Frankenstein was also released in 1931, this film also included
mise en scene which the audience really liked. Dracula is still popular today as film has a brilliant
combination of superstition and tradition with technology and science that make up the vision of
vampire
1935 – The Werewolf of London was released. The Werewolf of London was a horror film produced
by Universal Pictures, a well know horror producer. Stuart Walker was the director of the film and got
good viewers from the audience due to the fact that he created an eerie realistic werewolf by having
extremely good make-up skills. Therefore it was another horror film success.
1935 – A sequel to the film Frankenstein was released, it
was called The Bride Of Frankenstein. This film included a
combination of elements from other genres, moreover this
film not only had horror but it also had comedy.

8. 1940s
1941 - The Wolf Man is an American drama horror film written by Curt Siodmak and
produced and directed by George Waggner. There are many legends of the werewolf,
however this film tired to stay as true to the conventional way the audience sees a
werewolf. Moreover the film is the second Universal Pictures werewolf movie due to
the fact another werewolf film was released six years earlier. In addition it was the
commercially, successful film, Werewolf of London (1935). The location used made the
film eerie therefore the audience enjoyed the film, just like they did with the 1935
werewolf film. Moreover the film also worked hard on perfecting make-up due to the
fact without good make-up the werewolf wold of looked scary therefore the audience
then wouldn't of been effected by the film.
1945 – Dead Of Night is a British portmanteau horror film that consists of the gothic or
horror anthology. It was made by Ealing Studios and directed by Alberto Cavalcanti,
Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden and Robert Hamer. Due to the films brilliant gothic
feel the film is seen to be one of the best remembered films all because of the creepy
ventriloquist's dummy episode with Redgrave. A common iconography now are dolls
and puppets as they have become a convention for many horror films, therefore if one
appears in a film the audience usually always links the genre to horror.

9. 1950s
Horror films during the 1950s were created via the help of cultural forces The Cold War as it
fed fears of invasion, nuclear proliferation as it fed to visions of rampaging mutants, as well
as scientific breakthroughs led to mad scientist plots which helped develop the ideas and
designs of many horror films at the time.
1954 - Godzilla a Japanese film was released however those film was different due to the
fact that the fil had amazing special effects for the time therefore it produced a new standard
for other film to now compete with. This film is similar to The Bride Of Frankenstein because
there are different genres within the film, moreover the film has the horror and SCI-FI genres
entwined.
1957 - I Was a Teen-age Werewolf was co-written and produced by
the a film producer called Herman Cohen. Moreover the film is
seen by the audience to be one of the most successful films that
was released by the American International Pictures.
1959 – House On Haunted Hill, produced with a low
budget was released and was considered a good film
considering the low cost that were there to produce it.

10. 1960s
During this period of time the horror genre films were more edgy as well as featured more
controversial levels of violence which the audience approved of as the 50s pasted therefore they
were older and wanted more realistic horror film to come out, that they could relate to more.
1963 - At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul is a Brazilian horror film that was
directed b José Mojica Marins. The plot of the film is of a local who
dislikes religion and emotion as well as believes the only thing that
matters is the ‘continuity of the blood’ therefore he focuses on the
finding of a perfect woman so that he can have a superior child who will
be immortal. The audience liked this change in film as it focused on
other aspects of the horror genre, that’s seen as being more realistic u
to a certain extent.
1963 - Blood Feast directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis was the first
splatter film to be released, it was a successful film and is still watched
today. Additionally at the time it was a film that inspired other directors
like John Carpenter for example. Considering the films low budget, the
film was very successful and widely looked upon, one factor for this
could be because it was the first sub-genre of splatter that was
produced.

11. 1970s
The 1970s was a period of time when social issues at that time were tackled. Moreover from sexism, to
consumerism, to religion and war. All theses issues were commonly used in the 1970s to produced a story
to the film. Other things the films at the time included were graphic sex scenes for example I Spit on Your
Grave – 1978, and violence The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – 1974.
1974 – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre directed by
Tobe Hooper was a very past paced movie in specific
places, such as the killing scenes. In addition if no
murder was taking place the film would drag slowly
building tension for when the next dead will occur.
Additionally when the next dead scene occurs the film
takes a dramatically turn and all the gory horror
happens quickly.
1976 - The Omen was a high budget film that was seen as a very good horror film that
was directed by Steven Spielberg. In addition this director managed to create dramatic
tension however in comparison to The Exorcist – 1973, was seen as the best film out
of the two as the audience felt more affected and afraid of The Exorcist.

12. 1980s
Horror in the first half of the 1980s consisted of sub-genres of slasher like Friday the 13th for example and then
half way through the genre changed due to the fact that films were being produced but were mixing in the comic
elements within films like The Return of the Living Dead for example. Moreover these new films that were being
released could now incorporate (extreme) close up camera shots as new ways of applying make-up made the
monsters used in the film look realistic therefore closer shots of them could now be done.
1981: An American Werewolf in London is an American
horror comedy film written and directed by John Landis.
Moreover it was released in the United States on August
21 1981 and outrageously produced $30.56 million at
the box office. Furthermore t he film also won the 1981
Saturn Award for Best Horror Film as well as an
Academy Award for the most Outstanding Achievement
in Makeup.
1984 – A Nightmare On Elm
Street was another film that
was also released in the
1980s. This film is diverse in
comparison to other horror
films due to the fact that the
film has a number of murder
scenes, however these
murder scenes, different from
other horror films tell a short
story itself which intrigued the
audience making them want
to carry on watching with
anticipation.
1986 – Child’s Play was released. A
doll was made to be a killer in this
film, by this film having its main focus
on a killer doll it meant that the
producers of the film were able to
create their own genre conventions.

13. 1990s
Old ideas for the horror genre were starting to bore the audience therefore by the end of the 1980s new
conventions were being thought of. Moreover individuals were trying to create monsters that were more
realistic.
1991 – Silence Of The Lambs was the third film to win an
academy award in five categories, in addition these categories
were in best picture, best actor and actress, best director and
writer. This film is unique as it has a mixture of elements a
range from horror to crime. This film brought about a new
monster – humans. Humans are seen as ‘normal’ however they
became scary in the 1990’s due to the fact that they had a
mental illness, they were psycho therefore making humans act
unconventional. Which makes them scary making society class
them as a type of monster who they feared.
1996: The Craft is an American supernatural film directed for the
ages of teenagers. The film was directed by Andrew Fleming,
moreover his film plot evolves around a group of four teenage
girls who practise witchcraft as well as aid the use of sorcery to
gain their own wishes. The film was released on May 3 1996, by
Columbia Pictures.
1994 – New Nightmare,
directed by Wes Craven
was released, in
addition it was a
distinctive film as the
actors, producers,
writers play themselves
on and off the films set.

14. 2000s – 2010s
During the 21st century there are many great edgy and original material that
hasn’t been in the horror genre before. For example a conventional way for
vampires to die is id they went in the sun however the film Twilight changed
that perspective as they thought of the idea that the vampire would sparkle in
the sun.
2000 - Ginger Snaps is a Canadian horror film directed by
John Fawcett. Furthermore the film focuses on two
teenage sisters who have an obsessive fascination with
death. Moreover the name of the film is a pun on only for
Ginger due to the fact that the – snap is relating to Ginger
losing her hard-core self-control turning her into a quick
minded aggressive individual that just wants to bite
people.
2002 - The Ring is an American psychological horror film
that is directed by Gore Verbinski. Moreover this film
consist of dread, dark horror film conventions that leave
the producers on edge hoping nobody in the audience
laughs, because the film staggers right on the edge of
ridiculousness as it’s not realsitc.

15. Why did horror change the way it did over the decades?
The reasoning why the horror genre dramatically changed over time is due to
the fact that individuals needed change in society and life therefore, the film
structure had to change to because of new technology and development that
takes place over the years. Furthermore the horror genre also changed
because the screening had to become more realistic otherwise the audience
wouldn’t be satisfied as they would be expecting more or something different.
An example of a film that used change is ‘The silence of the lambs’ due to the
fact that the type of horror changed as humans who were seen as normal
were made to be a monster who the audience feared, this type of horror film
was a psychological horror therefore the genre of horror changed as new
sub-genres were being created over the decades which had a positive impact
on the audience. By changes taking place it means the audience will still be
unsure and sacred as they don’t know what to expected as the genre
changes. In addition another way horror changed is by the changing of
society therefore films changed from black and white to colour, no sounded
films to films with sound and more realistic monsters as the audience,
growing in age also wanted the horror genre to grow with them hence to
changes in make-ups.