As soon as film tchnology was avaliable directors began to make horror movies. For example, George Melies' "The Haunted Castle" from 1896 is credited as the first horror film. However the big influences to horror were from the German expressionist movements* of the 1920s.
*(German expressionism - defined as a rejection of western conventions and distorted for emotional effect. Expressionists were less concerned with aesthetiocally pleasing work, they looked at societies relationship with art done through architecture, paintings and film.
Expressionist filmis based on the idea that film is art but only to the extent that the film image differs from our reality. We can see expressionist influences to famous directors from the 20th century like Hitchcock and Tim Burton.)
This includes films such as 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' a classic expressionist film.
Many studies suggest that horror movies follow what is happening at the time. In 1920's Germany times were uncertain and expressionist films portrayed this anxiety. The director of 'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari' ,Robert Wiene, hired expressionist painters Walter Reimann and Hermann Warm to create the sets for the film. They created a world of nightmares, paths that lead to nowhere, jagged lines and warped walls. Representing unease and distrust in Germany at the time.
Around this time production of American horror movies was on the rise with films such as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "The Phantom of the Opera" and "The Monster" and of course, "Jekyll and Hyde" these were knwon as Gothic or melodrama films. Just like in the literature decades earlier. Setting the paving stones for the dominance of Hollywood starting in the '30s
- Hollywood classics like Frankenstein and Dracula
- Usually reflected what was happening in real life such as the war.
- Horror was mostly shown as B-movies
- Produced and directed by Tod Browning- About a 'scheming trapeze artist who seduces a midget for his money, and then tries to insinuate herself into the ranks of the circus “freaks”' (Movie review from The Guardian)
- People with genuine abnormalities
- Considered too shocking and was cut from 90 minutes to 60 minutes. The original version does not exist
- In the film, the physically deformed "freaks" are trusting and honorable people, while the real monsters are two of the "normal" members of the circus who conspire to murder one of the performers to obtain his large inheritance.
This shows how a horror movie reflects real life. Horror is based on the idea that we are scared of monsters. But these re often our social anxiety disguised as monster. 'Freaks' demonstrates how anxieties around people who were different and the prejudice towards these individuals may have been misplaced and the real monsters are people we see everyday
40's
The success of Univeral horror movies began to die in the 40s with the release of less successful sequels and combining characters in the same movie. This made room for other studios to get in on the horror action. For example, 'cat people'
50's
- Hammer horror in the UK
- This was a famous movie studio that re-released versions of the early horrors like Dracula
Horror movies in the 1950's were clearly influenced by society.In the US, the cold war created fears of invasion therefore, the creation of movies such as 'the blob' and ' invasion of the body snatchers' and this tied into movies of mutants generated from fears of nuclear war.
In the 50's the introduction of TV was deterring moviegoers. Films then started using gimmicks most famously the use of 3D in the horror movie 'House of Wax' created a hype around cinema again.
The UK's competition with Hollywood was Hammer Horror studios. This was explicit, technicolor violence
Hammer horror productions is a British Film production company, best known for their Gothic horrors made from the 50s-70s. Hammer Horrors reintroduced characters like Frankenstein, The Mummy and Dracula in vivid colour. Hammer dominated the horror film industry in their peak
It wasn't just the UK and USA who were making horrors. Before psycho, their was classic French suspense film 'Diabolique'. In the movie a cruel headmasters wife and mistress conspire to kill him; after the murder is committed, his corpse disappears, and strange events begin to plague the two women.
- Psycho changed the game
- Counter culture
- Gore and violence
The 60's marked the start of a revolution, movies were bloodier, sexier, edgier and more violent than ever before. Classic movies like 'Peeping Tom' and 'Psycho' paved the way for future slashers. With the new suspense techniques from Hitchcock audiences were shown a whole new side of fear - fear of real ordinary people
Another game changer movie was 'Night of the Living Dead' by George Romero. The first zombie movie as we know zombie movies now. It was described as being a 'step beyond gore' leaving audiences terrified. Tackling subjects like the cold war and racism (even if unintentional as George Romero states Duane Jones just gave the best audition)
- Prolific time for horror
- Era of the slasher
The 70's pushed boundaries even further than the 60's. Social issues like sexism and religion were tackled in movies at this time. The Final Girl theory is highly applicable here. This states that there is always a woman as the last survivor who is a stereotypical 'good girl' (no drugs or drink, typically brunette and a virgin) It also tackled the nihilism at the time surrounding the Vietnamese war and society and government in general.
There was also an increase in exploitation movies. Disregarding moral conventions - graphic sex (featured in movies like 'I Spit on your Grave') and violence demonstrated in zombie and cannibal movies
The shock factor involved in the horror movies of the 70's frightened audiences and drove films like 'Jaws' and 'The Exorcist' to blockbuster success
The modern slasher was also born here. Including 'Halloween'
There was also an increase in exploitation movies. Disregarding moral conventions - graphic sex (featured in movies like 'I Spit on your Grave') and violence demonstrated in zombie and cannibal movies
The shock factor involved in the horror movies of the 70's frightened audiences and drove films like 'Jaws' and 'The Exorcist' to blockbuster success
The modern slasher was also born here. Including 'Halloween'
Horror in the 1980's was all about the slasher film in the first half of the decade - 'Friday the 13th' and 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' for example. These movies were unrestricted by societal taboos often cheap with literally unbelievable special effects satisfied the gore fanatic - More is definitely better in the 80s slasher. They idea was to make money and they attracted audiences by franchising the hell out of the masked characters and naked ladies.
The second half of the 80's took a stab at mixing comedy with films.
Stephen King was a famous face in horror at the time, his book adaptations became infamous in the 80's especially 'The Shining'
Honourable mentions:
- 'Child's play'
- 'The Evil Dead'
- 'Poltergeist'
and even the likes of 'Ghostbusters' and 'Gremlins' come under the horror category
90's
- Based in truth, films that were made to look like a home video camera was recording it like paranormal activity
In 1996, the success of 'Scream' rekindled the slasher movie creating similar films like 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' but the huge surprise success of 'The Blair Witch Project' demonstrated the anxiety around the start of the 'big brother' age. The start of the found footage represents the fear around the improving technology and constant surveillance that is to come.
2000s-10s
Much of the movies made at this time were remakes but newer movies tried to innovate and came up with 'torture porn' such as 'saw' and 'hostel' these are films which are focused on the torture of individuals rather than the quick slashing of the previous decades.
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