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.
Plots often center around the occurrence of an evil force, event or person. Usually the central theme is based upon supernatural beings and happenings. Werewolves, ghosts, vampires, curses, haunted houses, disease outbreaks, zombies outbreaks and serial killers are common components in these films.
Georges Melies is credited with pioneering the genre in the 19th Century with his silent films. His 1896 release, The House of the Devil, is considered the world's first thriller. His follow-up film was the 1898 release, The Cave of the Unholy One.
Gothic literature provided the themes for the early thrillers. The Phantom of the Opera, Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, Frankenstein and Dracula were among the earliest releases. A spine-tingling version of Frankenstein was released in 1910.
Producers in Hollywood started to release spine-tingling films early in the 20th Century. The 1923 release of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the 1925 release of The Monster featured Lon Chaney, Senior. He was America's first movie star from thrillers. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff also created successful careers from their roles in thrillers.
The genre gained wide popularity in the 1930s. A famous set-designer and monster make-up artist was Jack Pierce. He is regarded as the pioneer in the masterful development of iconic monster costumes and masks.
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.
Along with the technological advances in the 1950s, the film themes also shifted. Two sub-genres evolved, those based on Armageddon and those based on demonic themes. Film-makers believed these themes were more relevant to contemporary audiences.
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.
Contemporary horror movies have evolved from a rich and diverse history. While they tend to incorporate more modern themes with more advanced special-effects, they remain focused on providing thrills and chills to audiences.
Plots often center around the occurrence of an evil force, event or person. Usually the central theme is based upon supernatural beings and happenings. Werewolves, ghosts, vampires, curses, haunted houses, disease outbreaks, zombies outbreaks and serial killers are common components in these films.
Georges Melies is credited with pioneering the genre in the 19th Century with his silent films. His 1896 release, The House of the Devil, is considered the world's first thriller. His follow-up film was the 1898 release, The Cave of the Unholy One.
Gothic literature provided the themes for the early thrillers. The Phantom of the Opera, Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, Frankenstein and Dracula were among the earliest releases. A spine-tingling version of Frankenstein was released in 1910.
Producers in Hollywood started to release spine-tingling films early in the 20th Century. The 1923 release of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the 1925 release of The Monster featured Lon Chaney, Senior. He was America's first movie star from thrillers. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff also created successful careers from their roles in thrillers.
The genre gained wide popularity in the 1930s. A famous set-designer and monster make-up artist was Jack Pierce. He is regarded as the pioneer in the masterful development of iconic monster costumes and masks.
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.
Along with the technological advances in the 1950s, the film themes also shifted. Two sub-genres evolved, those based on Armageddon and those based on demonic themes. Film-makers believed these themes were more relevant to contemporary audiences.
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.
Contemporary horror movies have evolved from a rich and diverse history. While they tend to incorporate more modern themes with more advanced special-effects, they remain focused on providing thrills and chills to audiences.
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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!
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