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History of horror

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Charlie Corcoran
Charlie Corcoran

The document provides a history of horror films from the early 1900s to the 2000s. Some key points: - The first horror films emerged from Germany in the early 1900s, including The Golem (1913) and Nosferatu (1922). - Universal Studios had great success in the 1930s with classic monster films like Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Mummy. - In the 1950s, alien invasion films became popular as fears grew about threats from outside Earth. - Groundbreaking films in the 1960s like Peeping Tom and Psycho used human monsters instead of supernatural ones. - The Exorcist (1973) was a major commercial success and led to

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History Of Horror By Charlie Corcoran
1900’s 1900sIn the early 1900's German filmmakers created the first horror-themed feature films, and director Paul Wegener enjoyed great success with his version of the old Jewish folk tale Der Golem in 1913 (which he remade -- to even greater success -- in 1920). This fable about an enormous clay figure, which is brought to life by an antiquarian and then fights against its forced servitude, was a clear precursor to the many monster movies that flourished in Hollywood during the Thirties.
1920’s 1920sThe most enduring early German ] horror film is probably F.W. Murnau'sNosferatu (1922), the first feature-length vampire movie. But one movie paved the way for the "serious" horror film -- and art cinema in general -- Robert Wiene's work of genius The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, still held up as an model of the potent creativity of cinema even to this day. Early Hollywood drama dabbles in horror themes including versions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) starring Lon Chaney, the first American horror-film movie star.
1930’s 1930sIt was in the early 1930's that Universal Studios, created the modern horror film genre, bringing to the screen a series of successful gothic-steeped features including Dracula, Frankenstein (both 1931) and The Mummy (1932) -- all of which spawned numerous sequels. No other studio had as much success with the genre (even if some of the films made at Paramount and MGM were better).
1950’s 1950sIn the nuclear-charged atmosphere of the 1950's the tone of horror films shifted away from the gothic and towards the modern. Aliens took over the local cinema, if not the world, and they were not at all interested in extending the tentacle of friendship. Humanity had to overcome endless threats from Outside: alien invasions, and deadly mutations to people, plants, and insects. Two of the most popular films of the period were The Thing From Another World (1951) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). Horror movies became a lot more lurid -- and gorier -- in the late Fifties as the technical side of cinematography became easier and cheaper.
1960’s The early 1960's saw the release of two films that sought to close the gap between the subject matter and the viewer, and involve the latter in the reprehensible deeds shown on screen. One was Michael Powell's Peeping Tom, the other was a very low-budget film called Psycho, both using all-too-human monsters rather than supernatural ones to scare the audience.
1970’s 1970sWhen Rosemary's Baby began ringing tills in the late Sixties, horror film budgets rose significantly, and many top names jumped atthe chance to show off their theatrical skills in a horror pic. By that time, a public fascination with the occult led to a series of serious, supernatural-themed, often explicitly gruesome horror movies. The Exorcist (1973) broke all records for a horror film, and led to the commercial success of The Omen. In 1975, Jaws, directed by a young Steven Spielberg, became the highest grossing film ever. The genre fractured somewhat in the late 1970's, with mainstream Hollywood focusing on disaster movies such as The Towering Inferno, while independent filmmakers came up with disturbing and explicit gore-fests such as Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
1980’s 1980 - 1990John Carpenter's Halloween introduced the teens-threatened- by-superhuman-evil theme that would be copied in dozens of increasingly violent movies throughout the 1980's including the long running Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street series. Horror movies turned to self- mocking irony and downright parody in the 1990's -- the teenagers in Scream often made reference to the history of horror movies. Only 1999's surprise independent hit The Blair Witch Project attempted regular scares. So go ahead, take a stroll through these favourite horror movies of all time. But pick your way very carefully, this walk is not for the faint of heart. And if you happen to hear what sounds like some subdued whispering or soft creepy grating sounds, just pay no attention to it. It's probably only the wind.
2000’s 2000’sThe Exorcist is given a cinema release The US looks to Japan for inspiration, resulting in The Ring Freddy Vs Jason sees the 2 main protagonists of Friday 13th and Nightmare On Elm Street in a monster mash The Grudge is the next Japanese horror to be Americanised The Saw franchise is launched Sub-genre ‘torture porn’ is born Remakes are released, including The Hills Have Eyes and Halloween. Monsters and psychopaths were gone as it was thought they were too reminiscent of bin laden and reminders of 9/11/12. Horror films now are mixtures of things from gore, psychological thrillers, the ending of the world and monsters.

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History of horror

  • 1. History Of Horror By Charlie Corcoran
  • 2. 1900’s 1900sIn the early 1900's German filmmakers created the first horror-themed feature films, and director Paul Wegener enjoyed great success with his version of the old Jewish folk tale Der Golem in 1913 (which he remade -- to even greater success -- in 1920). This fable about an enormous clay figure, which is brought to life by an antiquarian and then fights against its forced servitude, was a clear precursor to the many monster movies that flourished in Hollywood during the Thirties.
  • 3. 1920’s 1920sThe most enduring early German ] horror film is probably F.W. Murnau'sNosferatu (1922), the first feature-length vampire movie. But one movie paved the way for the "serious" horror film -- and art cinema in general -- Robert Wiene's work of genius The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, still held up as an model of the potent creativity of cinema even to this day. Early Hollywood drama dabbles in horror themes including versions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) starring Lon Chaney, the first American horror-film movie star.
  • 4. 1930’s 1930sIt was in the early 1930's that Universal Studios, created the modern horror film genre, bringing to the screen a series of successful gothic-steeped features including Dracula, Frankenstein (both 1931) and The Mummy (1932) -- all of which spawned numerous sequels. No other studio had as much success with the genre (even if some of the films made at Paramount and MGM were better).
  • 5. 1950’s 1950sIn the nuclear-charged atmosphere of the 1950's the tone of horror films shifted away from the gothic and towards the modern. Aliens took over the local cinema, if not the world, and they were not at all interested in extending the tentacle of friendship. Humanity had to overcome endless threats from Outside: alien invasions, and deadly mutations to people, plants, and insects. Two of the most popular films of the period were The Thing From Another World (1951) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). Horror movies became a lot more lurid -- and gorier -- in the late Fifties as the technical side of cinematography became easier and cheaper.
  • 6. 1960’s The early 1960's saw the release of two films that sought to close the gap between the subject matter and the viewer, and involve the latter in the reprehensible deeds shown on screen. One was Michael Powell's Peeping Tom, the other was a very low-budget film called Psycho, both using all-too-human monsters rather than supernatural ones to scare the audience.
  • 7. 1970’s 1970sWhen Rosemary's Baby began ringing tills in the late Sixties, horror film budgets rose significantly, and many top names jumped atthe chance to show off their theatrical skills in a horror pic. By that time, a public fascination with the occult led to a series of serious, supernatural-themed, often explicitly gruesome horror movies. The Exorcist (1973) broke all records for a horror film, and led to the commercial success of The Omen. In 1975, Jaws, directed by a young Steven Spielberg, became the highest grossing film ever. The genre fractured somewhat in the late 1970's, with mainstream Hollywood focusing on disaster movies such as The Towering Inferno, while independent filmmakers came up with disturbing and explicit gore-fests such as Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
  • 8. 1980’s 1980 - 1990John Carpenter's Halloween introduced the teens-threatened- by-superhuman-evil theme that would be copied in dozens of increasingly violent movies throughout the 1980's including the long running Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street series. Horror movies turned to self- mocking irony and downright parody in the 1990's -- the teenagers in Scream often made reference to the history of horror movies. Only 1999's surprise independent hit The Blair Witch Project attempted regular scares. So go ahead, take a stroll through these favourite horror movies of all time. But pick your way very carefully, this walk is not for the faint of heart. And if you happen to hear what sounds like some subdued whispering or soft creepy grating sounds, just pay no attention to it. It's probably only the wind.
  • 9. 2000’s 2000’sThe Exorcist is given a cinema release The US looks to Japan for inspiration, resulting in The Ring Freddy Vs Jason sees the 2 main protagonists of Friday 13th and Nightmare On Elm Street in a monster mash The Grudge is the next Japanese horror to be Americanised The Saw franchise is launched Sub-genre ‘torture porn’ is born Remakes are released, including The Hills Have Eyes and Halloween. Monsters and psychopaths were gone as it was thought they were too reminiscent of bin laden and reminders of 9/11/12. Horror films now are mixtures of things from gore, psychological thrillers, the ending of the world and monsters.