Defining Movie Genres Horror Movies

One of the most popular movie genres is thezombies. This was also the era of 3D glasses and
Horror movie, and it is also one of the oldest. Filmthe Percepto electroshock technique used on
pioneer Georges Melies made supernatural eventstheatre audiences during showings of the movie
the subject of many of his silent film shorts, hisThe Tingler.
most notable being Le Manoir du diable, or TheIn 1964, the Production Code of America fell by
House of The Devil, in 1896, which some considerthe wayside, and movies focusing on gore and
to be the first horror film.the occult began being produced, starting with
The first movie monster in a feature lengthRosemarys Baby in 1968 The Exorcist in 1973,
horror film, per se, was Quasimodo, theand The Omen in 1976. The first adaptation of a
Hunchback of Notre Dame. Before that WegenersStephen King novel, Carrie, was also released in
The Golem, in 1915, and Robert Wienes The1976.
Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and the first vampireIn the 1980s, the horror movie genre saw the
movie, Nosferatu.inclusion of films like Nightmare On Elm Street,
Lon Chaney Sr. was the first American horrorstarring Robert Englund, Friday The Thirteenth,
movie star, playing the leads in both TheChilds Play, and Creepshow, all of which spawned
Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1923 and Theseveral sequels. This trend continued in the 1990s,
Monster in 1925. He is best known, however, forand the trend of self reflective horror films, like
his title role in the 1925 version of The PhantomCarrie, continued as well with movies like
of the Opera. In the 1930s Gothic Horror filmsInterview With The Vampire, which was based on
became all the rage in Hollywood. These includedthe popular Anne Rice novel of the same name.
Dracula in 1931, starring Bela Lugosi, The Mummyself parodying movies, like the Scream trilogy
in 1932, and one of the most controversial horrorwere popular as well.
movies ever made, Freaks, based on the shortModern horror films place more of an emphasis
story Spurs by Ted Robbins. How controversial.on gore and torture than their predecessors, as
So much so that the studio burned at least thirtyevidenced by the success of the Saw films.
minutes of the films footage and then disowned itRemakes of classic horror films, such as The
completely.Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Dawn of The
The horror movie genre expanded in the 1950sDead have also gained followings in their own right.
and 60s to include movies that featured threatsThe horror movie genre is one that is both
from the outside, such as mutations, aliens, andtimeless and constantly evolving.