Paying to get terrified, No thank you.
This was the response of my friend when I asked her to join me to watch a horror movie. Maybe that is your response as well, but according to stats 64% of the viewers love watching horror movies.
Maybe, I am not part of 64% horror movie enthusiasts, but watching horror movies is definitely one of my favorite time passes. While most people love cozying up in their blankets on a cold Sunday evening to watch a movie with a slice-of-life theme or something romantic, I love watching horror movies.
I mean, who wouldn’t like to put the internet to good use? Especially when you are getting seamless connection and award-winning speed at an affordable rate. Moreover, if you are just like my friend, trying to avoid paying for cinema, you can use any online streaming site and enjoy a good collection of horror movies.
In case you do not like to watch things online, there are good cable TV services with a good lineup of premium movie channels where you can watch the latest horrors movies nonstop.
For a long time, horrors movies were directed at people who liked graphic content filled with murder, blood, and gruesome acts of cruelty, but now, the horror movie genre has evolved.
It no longer gives you jump scares; in fact, modern horrors movies are designed to creep people out and leave them with chills and goosebumps. Fewer and fewer movies are now using loud music and graphic images to create the illusion of horror. Instead, they are now using realistic themes to create an impression of horror.
If you are a movie buff, interested in horror movies, or feel that horror movies are overrated, you need to learn about the evolution of horror movies and horror cinema in general.
Right from Silent Films to Modern Masterpieces, here is an overview of horror movie evolution that you need to know.
The Silent Era
The early days of cinema is all about silent movies. Even the modern-day horror movie roots and the details can be traced back to the silent era. Movies like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Nosferatu are known to be the most iconic silent horror movies.
The silent era resides within the 20’s. These movies mainly created the idea of atmospheric terror with horror characters like serial murders, blood-drinking Dracula, and vampires instead of highlighting the story or situation of terror. Either apart from this, the stories depicted within these movies were extracted from folklore, or they had a hint of old median tales.
Neo Classic Era
Once the folklore-based characters became iconic within the silent movie era, literature-based characters became an important part of horror. Most of these movies were either inspired by movies that were highly rated or had at least a few characters that were mentioned by the writers. Movies like The Fall of the House of Usher and The Wolf Man are befitting examples of classic literature-based horror movies.
Classic Horror Films
This era ranges from the 1930s to the ’60s. This era has relatively different themes and techniques as compared to just playing around with the horror characters. In the classic era, there was a rise of iconic horror characters mixed with strong storylines.
This also brought horror actors to the limelight for the first time. Movies like Psycho and Night of the Living Dead are considered the most notable within this genre. These movies didn’t just play around with the main leads but also displayed the social anxieties of the time, cultural issues, and social commentary to add some depth and story to the movies.
The Rise of Modern Horror
The modern horror era of horror movies starts in the 70s and extends to the late 80’s. Within modern horror movies, you will notice a very strong focus on the story rather than just on horror characters. It was the first time when writers explored situational horror.
From shocking the audience with the music and building up the anticipation for a more spooky feeling to leaving them in screams, you will notice a big part of horror very simple. Movies like Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist are a few notable mentions within the modern horror era.
Contemporary Horror Masterpieces
Although the modern horror era is one of the most sought-after eras that offer a mix of classic and modernism, contemporary masterpieces changed horror movies forever. These movies mainly raised millennials, so you will notice a mix of devil-based characters that have an association with real life.
The best thing about contemporary horror is that movie is never focused on mythical characters; instead, daily life objects and situations are used for the sake of reliability. Movies like Babadook, The Shining, and Halloweenare notable here. Within these movies, you will notice the use of psychological, situational, and real-life references.
Wrap Up
Just like other genres, motion pictures and the industry as a whole are going through a complete revamp. Most of the horror movies offer déjà vu moments. This is not just limited to extremes but also daily routine. These subtle horror clues are much more long-lasting and leave the audience fully spooked for days.
FAQ’s
What is the scariest movie of modern times?
“Talk to Me” is one of the very recent additions to the modern horrors genre but there are other movies like US, Midsommar, Sinister, Barbarian, and Hereditary.
What is the golden age of horror movies?
The golden age of horror movies ranges from 20’s to 40’s.
Why horror movies are popular?
They are known to release anxiety and fears, which can be therapeutic.
