Background & History of Horror

Horror films have changed over time in order to appeal to the audience's preferences as they changed along with happenings in their everyday world. By understanding this I will be able to see what my audience expects from a horror film presently. From research it is clear to see that today's audience is most scared of supernatuirual horros as this is the main thing our advanced world doesn't understand.

 

1920-30

In the 1920's horror films were mainly of the gothic genre involving vampires, werewolves and dark eerie shadows. The most noted and well known movie of this time was Nosferatu by F.W Murnau. The way in which Murnau percieved vampires later formed Count Orlock created by  Max Schreck. Usually tha ntagonist is male leaving the a female as the damsal in distress

In the 1930's Dracula was released with the audience experiencing sound along with a film at the same time. Films around this time were influenced by the 1920's seen in the Gothic appearnce of many.

1940

During the 1940's Britain was involved in war which meant horror films were banned. This allowed America to take over. This is when the monster was introduced, with one of the most noted films of the time being Cat Woman with a female as the antagonist.

The war influenced societies fear of nuclear war in the 1950's creating films like The Blob which played on the idea of mutations.

1950

1960

Societies view of sex, drugs and freedom change within the the 1960's leaving room for the potential of man to influence the next phase of horror with most using male human antagonists for the first time. For example Psycho.

1970

Defects in children and pregnacies became extremly feared by women with the introduction of contraceptive pills in the 1970's. This created films such as The Exorcist with a child being the antagonist.

As technology began to become more advanced the horror films of the 1980's began to use more gore and brightly lit sets to emphasise the effects used. Like Nightmare on Elm Street.

1980



1990

During the 1990's audience's began to become bored with gore and bloody scences and wanted something that played with the mind a bit more as they felt that horror had become to predictable. Scream played on this by creating horror conventions to become highly ironic throughout the film.

2000

The 2000's brought the era of found footage with filoms like Paranormal Activity. All types of were being enjoyed with remakes and spoofs becoming increasingly popular. The use of a game such as in Saw and defeating a demonic force become heavily involved in 2000's horror films.