Genre Paper

Mari Magazzu

March 17, 2010

COM 232: Visual Literacy

Film Genre: Horror

Horror films- the reason we’re afraid of the dark, the cause of our nightmares, and the root to our biggest fears. These unsettling films are designed to frighten and panic its viewers, and to entertain them at the same time. They primarily focus on the dark side of life, the prohibited, bizarre and disturbing events. Horror films have the greatest range of all the genres, seeing that horror takes place in every location imaginable, and it has no boundaries; film makers’ creativity and expertise ensure that anything goes. (Frank) Furthermore, horror is the most powerful film genre, making it possible to feel all the emotions of our greatest fears, without having to experience any danger. (C G Jung) Although many believe that horror films are dangerous, the genre continues to thrive throughout today’s society. Most people, not including myself, enjoy the thrill that comes along with being scared, which is why horror films are so popular.

Horror films originated in Germany in 1895. They were derived from several sources including witchcraft, ghost stories, ancient myths, fables, and Gothic or Victorian novels. The term ‘horror’ was first coined in 1764 with Horace Walpole’s novel, The Castle of Otranto, which was a melodrama. (Horror Film History) It started a new trend and gave rise to the gothic style of writing. Better authors down the road took the form to new heights of thrills and suspense, increasing the genres popularity. George Mêlées, also known as the Wizard of Montreuil, discovered the capabilities of the camera and established the staple themes of fantasy horror. (Frank) Furthermore, “Paul Wegener with his three films on the theme of the man-made monster, the Golem, in 1914, 1917 and 1920 established all the major traditions of the horror film” (Alan Frank 16). By 1930, the American film industry was established and consisted of Universal, Paramount, MGM, United Artists, Warner Brothers, RKO, and Columbia. (Frank) Before long, the American film producers popularized the horror film and spread screams of fear throughout the audience.

Horror films have developed and evolved a great deal overtime, however, the initial intention still remains- to generate fear. The American horror film, which was greatly influenced by Germany, blossomed in the 1930’s. Before long, ghosts became popular in horror films and great serials grew to be a major trend. Comic strips such as Flash Gordon inspired these serials. (Frank) In addition, sound in film had a huge impact on the horror genre. The visual representation of horror was replaced with sounds of horror- monsters groaning or howling, suspenseful music, and the echoing of footsteps. (Horror Film History) The first classic horror was based off Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein. It was silent, other than moans and grunts from the monster, and appeared in black and white. This film set the pattern for horror movies to come; they mostly consisted of fictional monsters in the 1930s. In the nineteen forties, horror films began to deal with more realistic issues. They dealt with fundamental fears and socially and religiously determined interdictions. After World War 2, horror films developed a new type of monster- those who were adapted specifically for survival. Films such as Mutant Madness and The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms were created at this time. After the sighting of unidentified flying objects, also known as UFO’s, many horror films were based on extraterrestrial beings. Today we still see a great deal of movies that deal with other life forms.

In the 1960’s, after cases such as the Manson Family murders, monsters were replaced by corrupt human beings. Psycho, which was about a serial killer, illustrated the new image of what the public believed to be horrific. The horror genre became more realistic, more believable, and dealt with the issues one faced in the real world. Children manipulation became a popular fear in the 1970’s. The Exorcist, which dealt with a girl who was possessed by the devil, was created at this time. This film was banned from video release in the UK until 1999. (Horror Film History) Jaws and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre also came out in the seventies. Towards the end of the seventies, and through the eighties and nineties, Halloween became a very popular horror series. Rather than focusing on blood and gore, this film relied on shock and suspense. By the end of the eighties, horror became dependent on gross-out gore. Horror films in the 1990’s were often classified as thrillers. During this time period, many directors began to remake films because they ran out of ideas for new ones. The attack on September 11 of 2001 changed the global perception of what is frightening. By 2005 the horror genre was as popular as ever. (Horror Film History) Overtime, horror movies became more graphic with the help of color, special effects, technology, and more liberal censorship. Each generation needs something to be afraid of, and the development of horror films clearly illustrates the change of society’s fears.

Although there are many different types of horror films, there are certain themes and motifs that continue to appear throughout the genre. In many scary movies, the character who teases their friends for being afraid usually finds death sooner than the others. Also, when a victim is running from a murderer at full speed, the murderer continues to walk and still manages to keep up. Music almost always signals danger in horror films, which is clearly illustrated in both Jaws and Halloween. In addition, wrong turns are very common in horror movies. The characters always end up in vacant or sketchy places, just from one wrong turn. Although all of these conventions are very predictable, audiences generally love it and horror movies continue to thrive.

After looking at statistics, I found that the horror movie genre is at its peak in today’s market. Although horror itself has increased overtime, it is not necessarily the most popular movie genre. The top five popular horror films at the US box office for 2009 are: The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Paranormal Activity, Zombieland, Obsessed, and The Final Destination. Although other types of films may be more popular, horror is the most powerful genre. Fear is our easiest emotion, and we are all moved by it.

Bibliography

1. Frank, Alan G. Horror Films. London: Hamlyn, 1977. Print.

2. Horror Film History Introduction. Web. 15 Mar. 2010.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4KCTPU_w5M