HISTORY OF HORROR

Horror is an ancient art form.

They are designed to terrify people with tales which trigger

the less logical parts of their imaginations for as long as

stories have been told.

Audiences willingly offer themselves up to sadistic

storytellers to be scared witless, and they are happy to pay for

the privilege.

Theories as to why this is are that we gain basic thrills from

triggering the rush of adrenalin which fear brings, or the

question that do horror stories serve a wider moral purpose,

reinforcing the rules our society and those who don’t obey.

Horror movies have long served both theories.

They deliver many thrills, as well as telling us

stories of the dark, forbidden side of life (and

death) - cautionary tales for grown ups, they also

provide a revealing mirror image of the anxieties

of their time.

EXAMPLES

Nosferatu (1922) is not simply a tale of vampirism, it

also offers heart-rending images of a town harassed by

premature and random deaths, echoes of the Great War

and the Great Flu Epidemic fatalities.

On the other hand..

Blade (1998) is not just a tale of vampirism either, but

reflects a fear of the powerful yet irresponsible elements

in society, echoes down the corridor indeed of the

seemingly unexpected behaviour of those at the top.

Early creation myths in all cultures are populated by demons and

darkness.

Early Abrahamic and Egyptian mythology echoes with tales of a world

beyond the physical, a realm of the spirits, to be revered and feared.

Classical mythology includes monsters - Cereberus, the Minotaur,

Medusa, the Hydra, the Sirens, Cyclops, Scylla and Charybdis to name

but a few- and heroes must navigate safely through the land of the dead

on frequent occasions. Ancestor worship and the veneration of the dead

begins with the Zhou dynasty in China, 1500 years BC.

THE WOMEN IN BLACK

The Woman in Black is a 2012 horror, thriller film

directed by James Watkins and written by Jane

Goldman, and is based on Susan Hill’s. It was

produced by Hammer Film Productions. The film

stars Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer,

Sophie Stuckey, and Liz White. It was released in the

United States and Canada on 3 February 2012 to

generally positive reviews, and was released in the

United Kingdom on 10 February 2012.