There are several sub genres within horror which include Slasher, Supernatural, Terror in the water, Torture and horror of personality.
Horror films strive to play on the emotions or fear and terror of the viewers. Their plots frequently involve themes of death, the supernatural or mental illness, also horrors tend to have a central villain or enemy. They have evolved since the earlier horror films from the 1890’s which were largely based on classic literature such as Dracula or Frankenstein to the more recent, more effective personality horror films such as Psycho which would’ve been unheard of in the earlier days of the media due to the psychological effects and sheer terror that would’ve been introduced to the people that had not been desensitised by other medias like the current population of today.
1896 – the, what is usually referred as, first horror film is released, Le Manoir du diable (The house of the devil)
1910 – Edison studios produced the first film version of Frankenstein; thought lost for many year, film collector Alois Felix Dettlaff found a copy and had a 1993 re-release
1910’s-20’s – Many horror films were introduced by German Expressionists, these films greatly influence the horrors of recent Hollywood films. The very first Vampire film was also release, F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu in 1922
1931 – Universal Pictures Co. Inc. In America produced Dracula and Frankenstein
1932 - The, what is regarded as, first Zombie film was released, ‘White Zombie’
1949 – The first Indian horror film was produced, Mahal. This is also the first recorded film based on reincarnation
1950’s – advances in technology made the tone of horror films switch from gothic horror into one of three categories; horror of personality, horror of Armageddon and horror of the demonic
late 1950’s – British company Hammer Film Productions had huge international success when making full Technicolor films involving classic horror characters such as Dracula, Frankenstein and the Mummy
1968 – Rosemary’s Baby is the first film to make the Devil a flesh and blood character. Night of the living dead was also released, this was deemed culturally, historically and aesthetically significant enough to be preserved by U.S. National Film Registry
1970’s – films usually included the devil as the main evil supernatural being, these included The Omen and The Exorcist
Late 1970’s – Slasher films became more popular following the success of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Halloween
1980’s – Because of the above fact films such as Friday the 13th and Halloween sequels were released
1984 – Silent night deadly night was released. It failed at cinema and was then removed from distribution due to its unsuccessfulness, it is claimed that this is due to its subject matter; A killer Santa Claus
1990’s – Horror films started to die out during this period due to the repetitiveness of constant Slasher films being released and because of the new technological releases creating a new window for more impressive sci-fi features which captured audiences.
2000’s – There was a massive increase in Zombie horror releases, these included the Resident Evil series, 28 days later and 28 weeks later, A dawn of the dead re-make, comedy horror Shaun of the dead and then George Romero returned with Land, Diary and Survival of the dead
The BBFC classify films as needed by reviewing certain aspects of features. The following is taken from the BBFC website to show exactly how they classify a horror film;
The use of frightening elements which might scare or unsettle an audience is part of a long tradition of storytelling and film making. Many children enjoy the excitement of scary sequences, but, where films are targeted at a younger audience, classification decisions will take into account such factors as the frequency, length and detail of scary scenes as well as horror effects, including music and sound, and whether there is a swift and reassuring outcome. Older audiences often pay to see horror films because they like being frightened or shocked and such works are classified at an appropriate category to ensure that the young and vulnerable are protected from too intense an experience.
To find out about target audiences we again looked at the BBFC website to see how we should classify our clip and therefore see what we could include, the following is how the BBFC classify a film using other factors as well as horror.
15 Classification
Discrimination
The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behavior.
Drugs
Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
Horror
Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualized.
Imitable behavior
Dangerous behavior (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorized.
Language
There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.
Nudity
Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
Sex
Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behavior, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
Theme
No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.
Violence
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualized violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.
18 Classification
In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:
• Where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behavior, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualized violence which might, for example, eroticize or endorse sexual assault
• Where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category. In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.
Sex education at ‘18’
Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted.
Sex works at ‘18’
Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only materials which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’ category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.
An American Werewolf in London Transformation
Opening sequence of Bride of Chucky
Resident Evil 5 Teaser Trailer - Is for a game but includes some good shots
