The History of Horror

The History of Horror

 

Where did it originate from?

The horror Genera has evolved over time starting with ghosts tale told from the beginning of time. These then developed in to novels such as Frankenstein but finally came to life in the late 18^th century in France through the technological advance of the Phantasmagoria. This was a form of theatre where adjusted magic lanterns projected visions of skeletons and demons on to sheets and smoke screens and with the magic lanterns free to move around the images would magnify and move on the screens. It did make its way across Europe by the early 19^th century.

How it developed and evolved:

However in 1896 the French director and producer Georges Melies created the first horror movie ‘The Devils Castle’, it was a silent movie and only 2 minutes long. This shows how basic the technology was in the 19^th century. Furthermore the story lines were very basic with Monsters being defeated by house hold items (Vampires vs. Garlic) and there were only good or bad characters, unlike the ones we have today who seem to walk the grey line.

In the 1910’s films seemed to develop their story lines by basing them on Horror movies which became classics and were remade on various occasions. Films like, ‘Frankenstein’ only 16 minutes long, ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ 12 minutes.

Yet during the 1920’s these films finally began to reflect and relate to the worries of the time and of the audience members themselves. For example in 1925 ‘The Monster’ which was 64 minutes long, was released; it was about a doctor in a mental asylum who was kidnapping patients. During the 20’s many people knew someone in a mental asylum and this would have played on some very real fears. 

In the 1930’s Sound was introduced to the horror genera, ‘Dracula was the First Horror movie to use sound. The films plot was based on the stage play and had a more gothic nature. ‘Dracula’ set the trend when it came to sound and horror, introducing heavy breathing, footsteps, high pitch screams and of course the tense music. In 1932 colour was also quickly added in the horror movie Dr X

As the quality of film developed so did the story lines. For example in the 1940’s horror movies were based on psychological horror. The film ‘Cat people’ is a perfect example, the heroin is terrifies of consummating her marriage because she believes she will turn in to a cat. Not only did the storylines develop but so did the Themes. In 1943 the film ‘Walking with a Zombie’ incorporated horror, drama, thriller and Romance.

During the 1950’s we enter the domain of creatures and sci-fi. ‘The Creature of the Black Lagoon’ released in 1954 was about a mutant creature that kills a crew of scientist but falls in love with one of the female ones.

In the 1960’s Horror movies became more sexually aware with films like Rosemary’s baby based on how she is impregnated with Satan after her husband joins a cult.

In The 70’s Horror movies looked at the issue of broken families and the horrific potential of children, in such movies as ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘Halloween’.

During the 80’s film had developed yet again further, this time in the way of special effects. The evidence of this is in the films, ‘The shinning’ and ‘Gremlins’.

In comparison the 90’s focused on the theme of serial Killers in films like Se7en and the silence of the lambs.

As we come up to the millennium anything goes we see the horror genera encroach on comedy, romance, thrillers and everything else, anything goes.

The Cutting edge example of The Horror Genera:

The most cutting edge horror movie of our time at the moment for me would be ‘The Women in Black’ it was brilliantly remade in 2010 staring Daniel Radcliff. I think that the success of this movie comes down to the director James Watkins adoption of the Psychological horror of the children actually killing themselves and the 80’s special effects that allowed the woman in Black to suddenly appear.

Target Audience Research

Secondary

 

Who watches these films these films?

Horror movies are instinctive to humans; various samples of research has shown how the monsters and murders in horror movies have developed from the primal evolutionary fears of, animal teeth, the unknown of the dark, the poisonous spider or snake and the idea of being eaten. These primal fears have developed the monsters such as zombies, vampires and cannibals, which are all very common in today’s culture. One reason for the occurrence of such creatures in our movies can be explained by the theory of social fears. During the 2000’s we fear the possibility of nuclear disaster or a viral pandemic resulting in a zombie apocalypse.                                              

In todays culture horror films are targeted more and more on adolescents. For example according to the BBFC the majority of films released in 2013 where certified as a 15 and some (more than I would of expected) at a 12.

I think that teenagers are lured in to watching horror movies through:

1.      Tension, teenagers are more inclined to search for strong sensations such as fright and that sudden jump.

2.      Relevance, filmmakers began to use younger actors and base their films around younger people this meant that younger audiences found it easier to relate to the characters and the events of the story. By aiming their films at the subgroup of teenagers they managed to make their movies more personal.

3.      Unrealism, this is where my own movie comes in, the use of black comedy, multiple camera angles and sound tracks allow the audience to realize the lack of authenticity. I think our film achieves this by our twist on allowing the audience to empathise with the monster.

It is also believed that men responded better to horror movies. There’re and many reasons for this:

·         Men are the main gamers in our culture and they are continually bombarded with horrific and violent images, meaning they are more prone to respond to them.

·         The heroes in many horror movies are men, meaning there is more of a personal relevance and this is the same for the monster or murder.

·         Finally the portrayal of women is practically always consistent. They are shown as the damsels in distress, running around half naked relying on the men to protect and save them. This is therefore very attractive to the male sex.

A study was taken to see how young people in couples responded to and enjoyed horror movies. Adolescent boys were seen to enjoy the movie far more when their female companion was scared compared to when they weren’t; this was the opposite for the girls they preferred it when their male companion was brave and unafraid. This shows that young couples like to watch horror movies together as well.   

How do the institutions target their audiences?

The best example I could fine of how the institutions target there audiences, is the Women in black, this is a film that was released a few years ago starring Daniel Radcliff. Now Radcliff’s involvement sparked a serious debate about how films in this country are certified. Women in Black only received a 12A Certification which meant people did not agree with. Following Radcliff’s earlier success in the Harry Potter movies he was very attractive to younger audiences and the production Company Hammer field Productions wanted to exploit this popularity and really pushed for the BBFC to give it a 12 rating. Although the production company had to darken and, shorten and cut out a few scenes they still only achieved a 12A certification. This shows how some production company’s aim there horror films at younger and younger people and how they don’t only use their story lines and characters to draw people in but also the actors that play them.

Institution research

Institution research

I’m researching the Media Production company Summit Entertainment who produced the Film Warm bodies in 2013 which is in the same genera as our own film. Summit Entertainment was taken over by Lions Gate Entertainment in 2012.

In 2006 with the involvement of Rob Friedman Summit Entertainment became a fully independent film studio and preceded to gain the most lucrative media financing deal ever, it was headed by Merrill Lynch and involving other investors. The deal equalled the sum of $1 billion.

Merrill Lynch was said to be the orchestrator of the deal bringing together different investors. The deal was interesting in how investors were asked to invest in only one aspect of the film making process e.g. The production of the movie or only it’s advertising on release. So this deal was its main form of funding, it help finance major development in the company’s production, acquisitions, marketing and distribution branches.

The film conglomerates DreamWorks Studio’s and Lions Gate entertainment Corp. were Summit Entertainments main competitors. DreamWorks is part of the Viacom family and produces many movies which are often marketed and released by Disney.

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. are an independent distribution company, one of their best known films is the Hunger games. Surprisingly in 2008 a merger between Summit and Lions Gate was on the cards but nothing came of it during 2008, in 2009 however it was announced that Lions Gate would acquire Summit; however this deal fell apart two days after it was revealed. Finally Lions Gate did Acquire Summit entertainment for $412.5 million in 2013.   

Summit Entertainment’s main achievement was the production of The Twilight Saga between 2008- 2012. When the film Twilight was first realised in 2009 it made $408,773,705 worldwide, and that was only during the first weekend of its release.

The internet has made the realising of films far easier, if not cheaper. Film Trailers can be advertised on Facebook and You Tube, included on online reviews and just on random websites. Cinema bookings can be made in advance of the film’s release via cinema websites, and the sound track from the film is realised on line along with the film. Online shopping also makes it easier to buy the film itself with Amazon offering ‘pre order’. Articles on the film and its actors can be displayed on line for example on Facebook one of my favourite book series Fallen is being made in to a film and they are continuing posting gossip about the casting and the actors involved.

 

There are also You Tube Channels and all in all I think it’s had a positive effect on the releasing of films it’s made the process easier for film makers and far easier for viewers we can find out details on the movie we want to see through loads of different mediums when we want and need to not when it’s released in newspapers and on the TV.

I think that the internet also plays a huge role in the watching of movies, older films you can find on You Tube and other web sites. You can also watch and buy films in the ITunes store or download them on to your devises. However I feel that there is still a majority of people who enjoy watching films at the cinema of at home on the Television. 

Analyse of Film Titles/Openning