Horror Film Genre Presentation PDF

WHAT IS the horror film genre? Introduction Presentation What images first appear in your mind when you hear the term “horror”? Why are things creepy? (Vsauce) Summary of “Why are Things Creepy? Three Types of Scary Stuff: 1. Gross out: something morbid, diseased 2. Horror: the unnatural, the...

WHAT IS the horror film genre? Introduction Presentation What images first appear in your mind when you hear the term “horror”? Why are things creepy? (Vsauce) Summary of “Why are Things Creepy? Three Types of Scary Stuff: 1. Gross out: something morbid, diseased 2. Horror: the unnatural, the shock factor (ex. A giant spider or being grabbed in the dark) 3. Terror: is creepier – it’s the anticipation – the unknown – vagueness – ambiguity (facial disguise causes terror) -Stephen King Summary of “Why are Things Creepy? Uncanny valley: ⦿ Something is human, but there is something that doesn’t make it entirely human ⦿ Having, or seeming to have, a supernatural basis – beyond the ordinary or normal Summary of “Why are Things Creepy? Cognitive Dissonance: ⦿ Cognitive (act of perceiving) ⦿ Dissonance (disagreement) ⦿ Two different competing thoughts/beliefs ⦿ Inconsistency = that’s dissonance 1. One thought = I regularly smoke cigarettes 2. Second thought = Smoking is unhealthy Summary of “Why are Things Creepy? Cognitive Dissonance: ⦿ You either change your thought or behavior ⦿ We want to restore consistency ⦿ Inconsistent thoughts make us physically uncomfortable ⦿ When experiencing dissonance, we experience physical tension (causes discomfort) ⦿ When we feel bad, we want to feel better history of the horror genre ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ Started with Gothic genre (late 1700s) Gothic part of name refers to medieval buildings that these stories took place at Old castle, on a dark stormy night Gloomy forest Dungeons Secret passage ways Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley Gothic Genre Images First Horror Film Ever (1896) The Manor of the Devil, or The Devil’s Castle (1896) The Devil's House ⦿ 3 minute film ⦿ Considered the first horror movie ⦿ Silent – but music is creepy ⦿ What’s the plot? 1930s Monster Horror ⦿ 1930s – became popular with the introduction of the monster ⦿ Is the “classic of horror” ⦿ Focus - struggle between a human (s) and a monster (s) ⦿ The monster is usually an “experiment gone wrong.” ⦿ Small creatures, aliens, giant monsters, nature and animals, werewolves, vampires are considered the monster sub genre Monster horror Frankenstein Trailer = Click Below Monster horror Frankenstein? •Creatures wants Victor to create a female companion for him •Victor Frankenstein creates a grotesque creature in a scientific experiment •Victor refuses to and the Monster goes on a killing spree killing everyone Victor loves Monster horror ⦿ Another famous monster = Dracula, the vampire (1930 film) Dracula Trailer = Click Below Monster horror Dracula? (1931) •Preys on women •Turns them into aggressive, sexual creatures •A threat to a patriarchal society •Drinks blood to live 1930s - zombie horror Introduced in the 1930s ⦿ Zombies are mindless ⦿ Once were human and alive, but now are dead ⦿ Usually, there is a zombie invasion ⦿ Zombies eating human flesh ⦿ Living versus the living dead ⦿ White Zombie (1932) - Cited as the first zombie film History of Horror Genre 1940s ⦿ 1940s – psychologically scary films ⦿ Used shadows and sounds ⦿ Best known film – Cat People (1942) ⦿ A young woman is stricken by a curse that turns her into a blood thirsty panther 1950s – 1960s Armageddon Horror ⦿ Horror-of-Armageddon – the end of civilization plots ⦿ Reflects cold war fear of invasion Vicious birds!!!! 1950s and 1960s new sub-genre Horror-of-demonic ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ Supernatural evil entities used - ghosts and demons Supernatural events Applies elements of religion Common themes - afterlife, the devil, and demonic possession 1950s and 1960s – new sub-genre Horror-of-demonic ⦿ ⦿ Horror – of – demonic = demons controlling people’s souls Satan entering ones flesh Rosemary’s Baby Trailer = Click Below Rosemary’s Baby 1950s and 1960s – new sub-genre Psychological Horror and Thriller ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ Feels the most real Features a character that has gone insane Emphasis is on madness and paranoia Creates discomfort by exposing common or universal psychological and emotional vulnerabilities and fears Focus is on the shadow part of the human psyche Mental conflict is the focus 1950s and 1960s Psychological and thriller Horror ⦿ Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) ⦿ Norman Bates was rooted in reality ⦿ An everyday human on the outside but a psychological monster in the mind First Ever Full Colour Horror Film ⦿ The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) ⦿ First time blood was being shown on screen 1970s Demonic/supernatural horror ⦿ Demonic possession movies ⦿ 1973 = The Exorcist ⦿ 1976 = The Omen ⦿ 1979 = Amityville Horror 1980s - Slashers ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ Became popular early 80s Villain - psychopathic killer Preys on victims by stalking them Murders victims in a very violent way Disturbing murder techniques used Unique to slasher films - the extreme violence (what makes them different) More screen time devoted to violence than other horror genre 1980s - Slashers Michael Myers? (Halloween, first one 1978) Halloween Trailer = Click Below •Almost a supernatural force = can’t be killed •Evil since he was a child •Kills his own sister for no particular reason 1980s - Slashers Freddy Krueger? ( Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984) •Vengeful spirit Trailer = Click Below •If he kills you in your dreams you die in the real world •The character represents people’s unconscious fears 1990s and 2000s Comedy horror ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ Aims to scare the audience, but also provide comical outlets that let the audience laugh at their fear Satires/parodies Scary Movie Trailer 1990s and 2000s teen horror ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ Large cast Clear hero/heroine and villain Conflicts - teenage issues such as dating, prom, school, etc. Make these events frightening and suspenseful 1990s and 2000s Teen Horror ⦿ Scream (1996) ⦿ About kids who know all the rules of Slasher films ⦿ Led to I Know What You did Last Summer (1997) and Final Destination (2000) 1990s and 2000s Psychological Horror ⦿ Silence of the Lambs (1991) ⦿ The Sixth Sense (1999) 1990s and 2000s Splatter or gore horror ⦿ Intense gore and torture ⦿ Saw franchise Splatter or Gore Horror Continued… ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ Portrays graphic violence Focus on the mutilation and vulnerability of the human body The physical destruction of the body and the pain that comes with it Uses special effects Makes you uncomfortable 1990s and 2000s Found Footage ⦿ Used the device of piecing together first hand footage to reconstruct a story ⦿ Use of hand held camera ⦿ Blair Witch Project (1999) 1990s and 2000s Found Footage ⦿ 2007 – Paranormal Activity ⦿ 2008 – Cloverfield Most Recent and Still Going Strong… ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ Modern zombie apocalypse cycle Began with 28 Days Later (2002) 28 Days Later Feeds on our fears of a medical pandemic and breakdown of society 2010 – The Walking Dead 2013 – World War Z What is the horror genre today? (copy into notes) Definition Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines horror as... “a painful and intense fear, dread or dismay (anxiety).” ⦿ ⦿ The horror genres only true requirement is that it elicit an emotional reaction that includes some aspect of fear or dread. Elicits emotions of HORROR and TERROR Horror Definition Continued… ⦿ ⦿ Aims to create a sense of fear, panic, alarm, and dread for the audience Films/stories are often unsettling and rely on scaring the audience/reader through a portrayal of their worst fears and nightmares What is the horror genre today? ⦿ Can the horror genre involve blood and gore? ⦿ Can it involve ghosts and ghouls? ⦿ What about the fears we keep hidden in our minds? What is the horror genre today? “Horror is not a genre, like the mystery or science fiction or the western. It is not a kind of fiction, meant to be defined to the ghetto of a special shelf in libraries or book stores. Horror is an emotion.” -copy only that horror is an EMOTION - Douglas Winter (author) TERROR VS. HORROR (copy) ⦿ The horror genre intends to involve feelings of terror and horror TERROR = feeling of dread and anticipation that PRECEDES the horrifying experience (before the experience) -the reader or viewer feels apprehension BEFORE something happens *this is the suspenseful moment before the monster is revealed *Stephen King strives the hardest to maintain the element of terror in his writing HORROR (copy) ⦿ Horror = a feeling of revulsion that occurs AFTER something frightening is seen, heard, or experienced. - The feeling you get after seeing something violent * To Stephen King, it’s the moment when the monster is revealed and it causes shock in the viewer or reader – has “shock value” Some other common reactions…. ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ breathlessness chills cringing crying dry mouth freezing hair bristling heightened alertness ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ increased respiration involuntary screaming muscular contractions (tensing) nausea paralysis racing heart ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ shuddering sweating tingling (spine-tingling) ⦿ ⦿ ⦿ trembling urinate weak-kneed What is the horror genre today? As children, we might be afraid of... ⦿ shadows looming from a half-closed closet door ⦿ the monsters living under our beds ⦿ the eerie sounds coming from our basements Fears... Think back to when you were a child... ⦿ What were you afraid of? What is the horror genre today? ⦿ As adults, our fears become more sophisticated, more grounded in worldly events. ⦿ Such as the death of a loved one, the terminal illness of a small child, or feeling life is out of our control Fears... ⦿ Now that you are a young adult, what frightens you? ⦿ What do you fear? What is the horror genre today? ⦿ ⦿ (you have this note – follow along and highlight) Horror, by nature, is a personal touch – an intrusion into our comfort levels. It speaks of the human condition and forcibly reminds us of how little we actually know and understand. Elements of Horror ⦿ Evil, chaos, and danger are elements specific to the horror genre. ⦿ Although there are several other components that are needed to create good horror fiction, these three elements are essential. 1. Evil (copy) ⦿ All horror genre involves a major embodiment of evil. ⦿ It can be human, animal, supernatural, almost anything. ⦿ There can be several embodiments of evil, but usually one stands out the most. For example, the Ice Truck Killer in Dexter ⦿ 2. Chaos ⦿ In all horror fiction/film there is a pattern of order turning into chaos. ⦿ This is known as the elements of the unexpected, the unpredictable, and the uncontrollable. Ex. Scream, Chainsaw Massacre ⦿ Chaos Continued... ⦿ This is where characters change their behaviour drastically, have psychological breakdowns, or suddenly reveal supernatural powers. ⦿ Ex. Secret Window = schizophrenic 3. Danger ⦿ Horror fiction/film always involves the element of danger ⦿ Characters are put into immediate physical risk or get involved in some sort of corruption ⦿ Often the character betrays him/herself, wherein the characters put themselves in danger due to a drastic change in personality or a loss of sanity. ⦿ Danger is also an element when reality is overturned, meaning the reality moves from a safe, normal environment to one of risk, danger and disorder. considering the element of horror - evil - what horror villain is the most iconic for you? (stands out the most) why? Horror Iconic Villains ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Frankenstein’s monster Norman Bates (Psycho) Damien Thorn (Omen) Ghostface (Scream) Chucky Regan McNeil Jack Torrence Jaws Horror Iconic Villains ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Pennywise (It) Pinhead (Hellraiser) Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs) Leatherface (Chainsaw) Michael Myers Jason Freddy Krueger Review Define the horror genre. Review ⦿ ⦿ Horror fiction and films only true requirement is that it elicit an emotional reaction that includes some aspect of fear or dread. Emotions of TERROR and HORROR Review What is the difference between terror and horror? Review ⦿ What are the three elements of horror? Review 1. Evil 1. Chaos 1. Danger