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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The History Of Horror Movies

By Adriana Noton


The evolution of horror movies is interesting and lengthy. The genre's intention is to elicit feelings of fright and fear in viewers. Scenes are devised to thrill audiences with a combination of supernatural elements combined with the macabre. The films provide safe outlets for the exploration of subliminal fears.

Often, the plots are centered around evil events, people or forces. Central themes are often based upon supernatural beings and events. Serial killers, disease outbreaks, zombies, curses, haunted houses, vampires, ghosts and werewolves are common elements in these films.

Georges Melies is credited with pioneering the genre in the 19th Century with his silent films. His 1896 release, The House of the Devil, is considered the world's first thriller. His follow-up film was the 1898 release, The Cave of the Unholy One.

The first thrillers tended to be based upon classic Gothic literature. Dracula, Frankenstein, Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde and the Phantom of the Opera are among some early releases. In 1910, a bone-chilling version of Frankenstein was released.

Hollywood studios began releasing thrillers during the early 20th Century. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, from 1923, and The Monster, from 1925, both starred Lon Chaney, Senior. He is considered to be the first American thriller movie star. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were other early American actors who built their careers around their starring roles in these types of films.

The genre gained widespread popularity in the early 1930s. One influential monster make-up artist and set-designer was Jack Pierce. He became famous for creating iconic monster masks and costumes.

Frankenstein and Dracula were released in 1931. These releases were very successful. They were followed by The Invisible Man in 1933. This film is notable for blending Gothic terror with science fiction. These themes gained their inspiration from the German expressionist films from the 1920s. Their plots thrilled audience members while incorporating more serious concepts.

The technological growth during the 1950s influenced the genre. Two sub-categories evolved, films based on demonic themes, and those centered on Armageddon. Producers believed these themes had more relevance to their audiences.

Japanese studios began releasing a stream of low-budget thrillers in the 1950s. Many experts believe they were influenced by the terrible after-affects from the nuclear bombing of World War II. These films centered on over-coming threats from alien invasions and deadly mutations of people, plants, animals and insects.

During the 1960s, film-makers continued incorporating monsters and ghosts, but they began to expand the science fiction components. The Haunting (1963) and Rosemary's Baby (1968) were early examples of this shifting trend.

Alfred Hitchcock was a well-known and highly-respected British film-maker. He began to include modern settings in his films. Rear Window from 1954, Vertigo from 1958 and Psycho from 1960 are among his most notable releases. The Birds from 1963 is an early example of his exploration of nature-gone-mad elements.

Modern horror movies continue to thrill audiences. Although advanced film-making techniques and special effects are often incorporated today, the films continue to be designed to elicit bone-tingling chills and gasps from viewers.




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