It was in the early 1900’s that we were first exposed to the genre ‘horror.’ Forever changing how we perceive the film world, horror films are commonly known to provide us with thrill, fear, excitement and chills in a way to keep us craving more. Think back on a time you watched a scary movie and how that made you feel. Whether you were 5 years old or 70 years old, most people will recall at least one scene from a particular movie that scared them in a way they will not forget. These films are designed to frighten and awaken the darkest parts of our imagination, leaving us open to believe in any possibilities the world may have to offer. The idea of being able to fear without being in danger and to connect on an emotional level to something unknown, uncertain, or that does not exist is the true art of horror films. We get to absorb the feeling of the adrenaline rush, fear, shock, vulnerability and excitement when the film is made correctly.
Throughout time the scary stories once told as a myth, folktale, fable, etc. evolved onto our screens and led our imagination to not only expand on the idea of these stories, but now we can visually see them, leaving us breathless of what’s to come next. When we look back and observe the history behind these terrifying films, it began with one style called ‘Gothic.’ Gothic is known for its creepy settings and evil supernatural creatures. Anything from dark mysterious places like old castles, mansions and dark alleys to zombies, ghosts, vampires and the possessed, can be found within this style.
“Le Manoir Du Diable” (The Haunted Castle) is a silent 3-minute film (the time length was a big deal in this time era) about a bat that transforms into Mephistopheles, who is an incarnation of the devil and makes two assistants appear as they harass two cavilers with creepy things and pranks before a large crucifix sending Mephistopheles the devil to disappear. Even though “The Haunted Castle” is referred to as a horror movie because of the transformation of human to bat, it was originally aimed to strike curiosity instead of fear, but the fear is what helped drive more motivation because it was such a hit.
As the film industry grew, so did the demands for more exciting horror movies. After many cycles of differently-themed horror and scary movies, the reality of them became alive too. With technology advancing over the years, the product of these movies became more and more real throughout time as well. When society watches the latest movie, they expect to be able to believe and relate so that they feel emotionally invested and connected to what’s playing on the screen. The more we advance technology and expand our imaginations, we can achieve this for our audience. If you look back at older films and compare them to what is being released now, you can experience the increase of detail, imagination and reality of these films for yourself.
In today’s world, how realistic and relate-able a movie is will make or break it. Many stories by various authors such as Stephen king, Edgar Allen Poe, H.P Lovecraft, Bram Stoker have written famously known stories that have made it onto our movie screens. Not only does it take a good author, but a good producer and crew to make words come to life and make the world believe in the story.
The next time you are in the mood for a fearful, emotion packed film, go see the latest horror movie. This time watch for all the details that make this movie better then ones you've seen before. Look for all the realistic parts that made you believe the movie actually took place, and appreciate the work it took behind the scenes to convince, entertain and spook you. After all, horror films are what peak our imagination and lead us into an imaginary world of uncertainty.
Citations
Harris, Mark H. "A Timeline History of Horror Movies.& quot; N.p., n.d. Web. 07
Horror Films." Horror Films. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Sept. 2015.
