History of the History of the Horror FilmHorror Film

By Daren WilkersonBy Daren WilkersonTaken from Taken from 100 Horror Movies You 100 Horror Movies You

Must See Before You DieMust See Before You Die By Stephen Jay SchneiderBy Stephen Jay Schneider

The GolemThe Golem (1920, Germany) (1920, Germany) Directed by Carl Directed by Carl Beose and Paul Beose and Paul

WegenerWegener

This film was the This film was the inspiration for inspiration for James Whale’s James Whale’s FrankensteinFrankenstein

(1931)(1931)

NosferatuNosferatu (1922, Germany) (1922, Germany)

Directed by F.W. Directed by F.W. MurnauMurnau

Starting point for Starting point for the history of the history of Vampire Vampire Cinema.Cinema.

Check out Willem Check out Willem Dafoe in Dafoe in Shadow of the Shadow of the VampireVampire (2000) (2000)

DraculaDracula 1931 (USA) 1931 (USA)

Directed by Todd Directed by Todd Browning. Browning.

Starring silver Starring silver screen horror screen horror legend Bela legend Bela Lugosi, this films Lugosi, this films establishes the establishes the horror genre in horror genre in the U.S. the U.S.

M M (1931, Germany)(1931, Germany)

Directed by Fritz Directed by Fritz Lang, starring Lang, starring Peter Lorre as a Peter Lorre as a serial murderer serial murderer of children. of children.

Dealt with urban Dealt with urban evil, and not evil, and not merely fantasy merely fantasy monsters. monsters.

Frankenstein (1931, USA)Frankenstein (1931, USA) Directed by James Directed by James

Whale, Whale, Hollywood’s only Hollywood’s only then openly gay then openly gay director. Starring director. Starring Boris Karloff. Boris Karloff.

Whale’s monster is Whale’s monster is much more much more innocent and child-innocent and child-like than Mary like than Mary Shelley’s eloquent Shelley’s eloquent and existential and existential creature. creature.

More Classic American Monster More Classic American Monster Movies . . .Movies . . .

Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeMr. Hyde (1931)(1931)

King KongKing Kong (1933)(1933)

Bride of Bride of FrankensteinFrankenstein (1935)(1935)

Wolf ManWolf Man (1941)(1941)

PsychoPsycho (1960, USA) (1960, USA)

Directed by Directed by Alfred Alfred Hitchcock, this Hitchcock, this proto-slasher proto-slasher film is a film is a masterpiece of masterpiece of audience audience manipulationmanipulation

Rosemary’s BabyRosemary’s Baby (1968, (1968, USA)USA)

Starring Mia Starring Mia Farrow and Farrow and directed by directed by Roman Polanski, Roman Polanski, this modern horror this modern horror classic depicts the classic depicts the impregnation of impregnation of an innocent young an innocent young woman with the woman with the child of Satan. child of Satan.

Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead (1968, USA)(1968, USA)

Directed by George A. Romero, this Directed by George A. Romero, this is the “grandaddy of Zombie flicks”is the “grandaddy of Zombie flicks”

The ExorcistThe Exorcist (1973, USA) (1973, USA)

Directed by Directed by William Friedkin, William Friedkin, this is one of the this is one of the first high-budget first high-budget and award-and award-winning horror winning horror films. Oscar films. Oscar awards for awards for screenplay and screenplay and sound. sound.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, USA)(1974, USA)

Directed by Tobe Directed by Tobe Hooper, this is Hooper, this is one of the most one of the most profitable profitable independent independent films of the films of the 1970’s. 1970’s.

Ushered in the Ushered in the era of the era of the slasher/teen slasher/teen horror pic. horror pic.

Jaws Jaws (1975, USA)(1975, USA)

Brilliantly Brilliantly directed by directed by Steven Speilberg, Steven Speilberg, this was the first this was the first ever summer ever summer blockbuster, and blockbuster, and became the first became the first film to make film to make more than $100 more than $100 million. million.

More Notable Teen/Slasher More Notable Teen/Slasher FilmsFilms

Halloween Halloween (1978)(1978)

Friday the 13Friday the 13thth (1980)(1980)

Nightmare on Nightmare on Elm St.Elm St. (1984) (1984)

ScreamScream (1996) (1996)

More Notable Psychological More Notable Psychological ThrillersThrillers

The OmenThe Omen (1976) (1976) The ShiningThe Shining

(1980)(1980) Jacob’s LadderJacob’s Ladder

(1990)(1990) Silence of the Silence of the

LambsLambs (1991) (1991) The Sixth SenseThe Sixth Sense

(1999)(1999)