The History Of The Horror Genre

By Matthew Adair

1890’s-1920’s

• The first horror film was created in the late 1890’s by George Meiles.

• In 1910 Edison studies produced the first film version of Frankenstein.

• In 1922 the first vampire move was made callled Nosferatu

1890’s-1920’s

• Cabinet of dr. caigari was as the best horror film of the silent era.

1930’s-1940’s

• In 1931 the first count Dracula film was made by universal studios.

• Sound was added to create extra tension or signal something happening.

• The hunchback of Nostradame became the first film with a visual monster.

1930’s-1940’s

• Sound such as monsters growling and dialouge was added into the film to kept the audience on there feet.

• The invisible man was also created which was seen as one of universal studios greatest creations.

1950’s-1960’s

• Two sub genres were introduced which were Armageddon films and demonic films with things like aliens or mutants being used more often.

• Classic horror films was showed in colour for the first time.

• The first slasher film was made by alfred hitchcock and was called psycho.

1950’s-1960’s

• Frankenstein was released in colour.

• The first Dracula film was released were Dracula actually had fangs.

• Blood and gore was starting to be introduced more.

1970’s-1980’s

• More films involving devils were made for example the exorcist.

• In the 1970’s we saw the first alien film made.• The 1980’s saw a huge rise in gory films like

sam rami.• the exorcist was banned from release from

1973 until 1999 when it was released as to how horrifying it was.

1970’s-1980’s

• In 1978 wes craven made the nightmare of elm street while john carpenter made haloween these were the most popular slasher films at the time.

• Jaws was released and it became the highest earning film at the time along with there still know sound track

1990-2000s

• Scream was released but used different conventions than a normal horror film.

• The horror genre wore out due the the amount of gory and slasher films made.

• There wasn’t many new horror films made at the start of the 2000s just remakes.

• Zombie horrors finally made a comeback with films like 28 days later and resident evil.

1990-2000s

• Tourture films also started to become popular with films like saw which made 7 other ones

• Asian horror films had been remade into American ones such as the ring and the grudge.

• Comedy horrors also started in the 2000’s with films like scary movie and shaun of the dead.