History of Horror


The Periods of Horror:
1930: Horror not known as Horror, but rather 'gothic' or 'melodramatic.'
1930-40's: Hollywood classics came to light, with the likes of 'Frankenstein' and 'Dracula.'
                    B-Movie horror (the movies before the main film) became more popular
                    Real world themes i.e. War and past atomic age reflected in horror
1950's: Height of Hammer horror
1960's: Counter-culture now prominent, going against the norm now the new norm, gore and violence were now popular.
1970's and 80's: Prolific horror i.e. slasher era.
90's to today: There was a lull in production of horror films in the the 90's and 2000's. The most popular are now the films based on truth or realistic situations. 

Iconic horror films through the ages

"The Haunted Castle" -1897
  • It was based on gothic literature, due to the term ‘horror’ not coming into use in film until in 1930s. In 1896 George Melies would go on to create what is regarded as the first horror film,‘The Haunted Castle’. His next film was “The Manor of the Devil”, which featured bats, castles, trolls, ghosts and demons, and other stereotypical ghouls and props seen in classic horror, all typical tropes of early gothic horror.

"Dracula" -1931

  • Seen as Universal pictures first big horror hit, which started their cycle of early mainstream horror films, that we now see as classics. It was directed by Todd browning and lensed by Karl Freund, with Dracula played by Bela Lugosi.

“Cat People” - 1942
  • Cat People sparked the beginning of more psychological horrors, such as the the likes of 'shutter island' and 'The Machinist' . It only cost $141,000 to make, but bought in $4 million; low budget horrors gradually beginning to make an impact in the industry, Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity now seen by some as the best.  It was directed by Jacques Tourneur and photographed by film noir veteran Nicholas Musuraca.


“Godzilla” - 1954

  •  Godzilla was one of the first Sci-Fi films, featuring fictional, futuristic horror influences. It was the first to feature a large creature as the antagonist, such as in 'Cloverfield' but something that has now decreased in recent years. 

”Psycho” - 1960
  • Directed by the famous horror aficionado Alfred Hitchcock. Psycho broke the stereotype that horrors are B-Film Fare. It played on the audiences fears based in the home - a typically safe place, creating a lack of trust of what the audience knew to be safe.


“The Exorcist” - 1973
  • Part of The Occult era, (films based on satanic influence to scare the viewer in a supernatural way) It had a massive shock factor and was incredibly taboo at the time.


“The Shining” - 1980
  • Directed by Stanely Kuberick, it won him a Razzle nomination for worst director and was a box office flop, however its success has grown and is now seen as a horror must see.


“Halloween” - 1978

  • Produced on a budget of $325,000, it has grossed almost $240 million as of 2012. It started the ‘slasher’ sub genre of horror film.
“The Blair Witch Project” - 1999
  •  One of the first mainly POV shot (footage inspired) horror films. It was marketed solely through the internet, unusual for 1999, but hugely common nowadays. Take 'Unfriended', a horror film based around social networks and filmed through Skype. Blair Witch inspired horror films to come such as Paranormal Activity.


Shaun of the Dead - 2004
  • The first time horror films have featured a comedic sub genre. It mocked the influx of zombie films in the early 2000’s, inspired by financial meltdown.


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