The history of horror movies spans more than a century. Designed to provoke feelings of fear, they often startle audiences with combinations of supernatural and macabre forces. These films provide safe methods for viewers to examine their inner fears.
Often, the plots are centered around evil events, people or forces. Central themes are often based upon supernatural beings and events. Serial killers, disease outbreaks, zombies, curses, haunted houses, vampires, ghosts and werewolves are common elements in these films.
Georges Melies is regarded as the earliest pioneer of thrillers. His first silent film was The House of the Devil. This 1896 release is considered the world's first thriller. His subsequent release was The Cave of the Unholy One, in 1898.
The early thriller films were based on elements from Gothic literature. Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, Dracula, the Phantom of the Opera and Frankenstein are among the most historic thrillers. Edison Studio's 1910 production of Frankenstein was regarded as bone-chilling.
Hollywood studios began releasing thrillers during the early 20th Century. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, from 1923, and The Monster, from 1925, both starred Lon Chaney, Senior. He is considered to be the first American thriller movie star. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were other early American actors who built their careers around their starring roles in these types of films.
The genre gained widespread popularity in the early 1930s. One influential monster make-up artist and set-designer was Jack Pierce. He became famous for creating iconic monster masks and costumes.
The 1931 releases of Dracula and Frankenstein were hugely successful. A 1933 release, The Invisible Man, blended science fiction with Gothic fright. Many films from this time-period were inspired by the German expressionist films from the 1920s. These plots were designed to thrill audiences, but also incorporated more serious elements.
The advances in technology during the 1950s spurred evolutions in this genre. Two sub-categories were developed, demonic and Armageddon. The producers from that period believed those themes would be more relevant to their viewers.
Japan entered the global thriller market with a stream of releases during the 1950s. These low-budget films focused on themes connected to the horrific effects of World War II's nuclear bombs. Deadly transformations to people, animals, insects and plants, as well as threats from aliens were common elements in these films.
During the 1960s, film-makers continued incorporating monsters and ghosts, but they began to expand the science fiction components. The Haunting (1963) and Rosemary's Baby (1968) were early examples of this shifting trend.
The notorious and prolific British producer, Alfred Hitchcock, began incorporating modern back-drops to films. Some of his early notable productions include Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), and Psycho (1960). His 1963 production of The Birds is considered to be the earliest example of nature-gone-mad themes.
Today's horror movies have a rich and lengthy history. With the evolution of time, the themes tend to develop in order to remain meaningful to audiences. Although modern films incorporate more special effects and advanced film-making techniques, the themes are still designed to provoke chills and thrills from viewers.
Often, the plots are centered around evil events, people or forces. Central themes are often based upon supernatural beings and events. Serial killers, disease outbreaks, zombies, curses, haunted houses, vampires, ghosts and werewolves are common elements in these films.
Georges Melies is regarded as the earliest pioneer of thrillers. His first silent film was The House of the Devil. This 1896 release is considered the world's first thriller. His subsequent release was The Cave of the Unholy One, in 1898.
The early thriller films were based on elements from Gothic literature. Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, Dracula, the Phantom of the Opera and Frankenstein are among the most historic thrillers. Edison Studio's 1910 production of Frankenstein was regarded as bone-chilling.
Hollywood studios began releasing thrillers during the early 20th Century. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, from 1923, and The Monster, from 1925, both starred Lon Chaney, Senior. He is considered to be the first American thriller movie star. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were other early American actors who built their careers around their starring roles in these types of films.
The genre gained widespread popularity in the early 1930s. One influential monster make-up artist and set-designer was Jack Pierce. He became famous for creating iconic monster masks and costumes.
The 1931 releases of Dracula and Frankenstein were hugely successful. A 1933 release, The Invisible Man, blended science fiction with Gothic fright. Many films from this time-period were inspired by the German expressionist films from the 1920s. These plots were designed to thrill audiences, but also incorporated more serious elements.
The advances in technology during the 1950s spurred evolutions in this genre. Two sub-categories were developed, demonic and Armageddon. The producers from that period believed those themes would be more relevant to their viewers.
Japan entered the global thriller market with a stream of releases during the 1950s. These low-budget films focused on themes connected to the horrific effects of World War II's nuclear bombs. Deadly transformations to people, animals, insects and plants, as well as threats from aliens were common elements in these films.
During the 1960s, film-makers continued incorporating monsters and ghosts, but they began to expand the science fiction components. The Haunting (1963) and Rosemary's Baby (1968) were early examples of this shifting trend.
The notorious and prolific British producer, Alfred Hitchcock, began incorporating modern back-drops to films. Some of his early notable productions include Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), and Psycho (1960). His 1963 production of The Birds is considered to be the earliest example of nature-gone-mad themes.
Today's horror movies have a rich and lengthy history. With the evolution of time, the themes tend to develop in order to remain meaningful to audiences. Although modern films incorporate more special effects and advanced film-making techniques, the themes are still designed to provoke chills and thrills from viewers.
About the Author:
Do you like scary movies? Choose between the most glorious vampires movies in film history to the most popular zombie movies made in existence. Watch these exciting, acclaimed and ultimately terrifying horror movies online!
No comments:
Post a Comment