Horror is a reaction, and there are many ways to get a reaction.
TABLE CONTENTS OF
1 2: PARANORMAL................................ 3 3: MONSTER.........................................5 4: SLASHER............................................7 5: GORE & DISTURBING.................9 6: COMEDY HORROR.....................11 7: ROMANCE HORROR..................13 8: SCI-FI HORROR.............................15 9: CREEPY KID................................... 17 10: FOUND FOOTAGE....................19 1: PSYCHOLOGICAL.........................
PSYCHOLOGICAL The part of horror that feels the most real since it features the work of humans, either that have become crazy or that are stranded in exceptional situations. Often linked with the thriller genre, these films build most of their horror around psychological tension. relies on mental, emotional and psychological states to frighten, disturb, or unsettle readers, viewers, or players. The subgenre frequently overlaps with the related subgenre of psychological thriller, and it often uses mystery elements to enhance the suspense, drama, action and horror of the setting and plot to provide an unpleasant, unsettling, or distressing atmosphere.
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Films
The Shining (1980) The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Rosemary’s Baby (1968) The Sixth Sense (1999) Misery (1990) Antichrist (2009) Seven (1995) The Babadook (2014) Session 9 (2001) Altered States (1980) Fraility (2001)
The Shining (1980) Jack Torrance, increasingly frustrated, starts behaving strangely and becomes prone to violent outbursts. Here he stares blankly out of a window at the Overlook Hotel.
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PARANORMAL
The paranormal and the fear of the unknown is naturally a classic topic of horror. Gathering everything from ghost to demons and even witches, it is usually the part of horror cinema that gets the scariest. It is a genre of literary and media fiction exploiting or requiring as plot devices or themes some contradictions of the commonplace natural world and materialist assumptions about it. It is a genre of speculative fiction.
Films
The Exorcist (1973) Paranormal Activity (2007) The Conjuring (2013) Poltergeist (1982) Insidious (2010) The Amityville Horror (1979) The Ring (2002) Suspiria (1977) The Evil Dead (1981)
The Exorcist (1973) This scene is one of the main reasons why “The Exorcist” is still regarded as one of the scariest movies ever made. The sight of young Regan’s head pulling a 360 isn’t even as bad as the sound of her neck straining and cracking.
MONSTER Existing from the early 1910’s with the first versions of Frankenstein or King Kong, the monster genre is “the� classic of horror. It is also the more diverse and widespread horror genre. Typically, movie monsters differ from more traditional antagonists in that many exist due to circumstances beyond their control; their actions are not entirely based on choice, potentially making them objects of sympathy to film viewers. The most common aspect of a monster movie is the struggle between a human collective of protagonists against one or more monsters, who serve as the antagonistic force.
Films The Host (2006) Jaws (1975) Frankenstein (1931) Cloverfield (2008) Tremors (1990) Pumpkinhead (1988) Monsters (2010) Jeepers Creepers (2001) The Mummy (1932) Feast (2005)
The Host (2006) While Gang-du is delivering food to some customers, a huge creature emerges from the Han River and begins attacking people.
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SLASHER
Slashers or “Killer films” are those that feature a serial, spree or mass murderer as the main villain. The killer may or may not be supernatural. Although the term “slasher” is sometimes used informally as a generic term for any horror movie involving murder, analysts of the genre cite an established set of characteristics which set these films apart from other horror subgenres, such as splatter films and psychological horror films. This is a wide genre that predominantly encompasses slashers and gialli, though certain crime, thriller and psychological films may also qualify.
Films Halloween (1978) Scream (1996) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Friday the 13th (1980) Psycho (1960) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) My Bloody Valentine (1981) Maniac (1980) The Prowler (1981) Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)
Halloween (1978) A horrified Laurie cowers in the hallway, when Michael Myers suddenly appears and attacks her, slashing her arm, causing her to fall down a flight of stairs.
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GORE & DISTURBING Easily recognized by its use of extreme violence, disturbing and viceral imagery, even for a horror film. In fact, in this genre recreating blood and gore with special effects are seen as an artform itself. The genre is known for tackling taboos revolving around sex and cannibalism, using gore to shock as much as possible. It is not unusual for a Gore and Disturbing film to lack a true plot or a moral, the gore is more essential. This genre can also be used as motive in different genres, like slashers or paranormal films.
Films
Martyrs (2008) Hostel (2005) A Serbian Film (2010) High Tension (2003) Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Dead Alive (1992) Inside (2007) The Human Centipede 2 (2011) I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
Martyrs (2008) Anna is flayed alive and survives the procedure, entering a state that is “euphoric� and likened to achieving transcendence.
COMEDY HORROR This genre combines elements of comedy and horror fiction. Comedy horror has been described as able to be categorized under three types: “black comedy, parody and spoof.” The genre almost inevitably crosses over with the black comedy genre. Comedy horror will often use satire on horror clichées as its main source of humour, or to take a story in a different perspective. In comedy horror film, gallows humor is a common element. While comedy horror films provide scares for audiences, they also provide something that dramatic horror films do not. The chance to laugh at your fears.
Films Shaun of the Dead (2004) Scary Movie (2000) The Cabin in the Wood (2011) Zombieland (2009) The Evil Dead (1981) Slither (2006) Scream (1996) Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) Dead Alive (1992) Gremlins (1984)
Shaun of the Dead (2004) Shaun and Ed encounter two zombies in their garden. Then proceed to kill them with blows to the head from Shaun’s vinyl LPs as improvised throwing weapons.
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ROMANCE HORROR Even the horror genre cannot escape the success that romance encounters in any type of cinema. Beyond the more prevalent themes involving vampires, shapeshifters, ghosts, or time travel, horror romances can also include characters with psychic abilities, like telekinesis or telepathy. Horror romance has its roots in Gothic fiction. Its most recent revival has been spurred by turn of the 21st century technology, the internet and electronic publishing. Horror romances are one of the fastest growing trends in the romance genre.
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Films Let the Right One In (2008) Dracula (1992) Warm Bodies (2013) Crimson Peak (2015) Thirst (2009) Twilight (2008) Bride of Chucky (1998) Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) Wolf (1994) Spring (2014)
Let the Right One In (2008) On realizing Eli’s true nature, Oskar confronts Eli, who admits to being a vampire. Oskar is initially upset by Eli’s need to kill people for survival. However, Eli insists that their bloodthirsty natures are alike, in that Oskar wants to kill and Eli needs to kill.
SCI-FI HORROR
Often revolving around subjects that include but are not limited to alien invasions, mad scientists, and/or experiments gone wrong. Sci-fi horror are of course two large genres within them selfs, but the genres cross when they include one another. Horror refers to works in which fear is the intended emotion of the audience. Sci-Fi is simply science fiction. Sci-Fi becomes Sci-Fi Horror when it is primarily intended to scare, and Horror becomes Sci-Fi Horror when it contains elements of science fiction.
Films Alien (1979) Event Horizon (1997) The Thing (1982) Prometheus (2012) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Scanners (1981) Pandorum (2009) Re-Animator (1985) Altered States (1980)
Alien (1979)
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Poor Kane. Just when this plucky space trucker thought he had emerged from a close encounter with a Facehugger none the worse for wear, he found himself being devoured from the inside out by this guy.
CREEPY KID Their innocence making them truly scary, kids have always been a favorite in horror. These films feature young characters that are either children or teenagers. Most often these creepy kids are the killers in these stories. These young killers can possess supernatural abilities, or are of demonic possession in some cases. Other scenarios would be kids with psychological problems that act on their own accord to the murders, or are taken advantage of by an older person such as a cult leader or authority figure. In some stories, the protagonist could be a good person but engages in horrific acts due to peer pressure, fear for their own life, or other factors.
Films The Ring (2002) The Omen (2006) Children of the Corn (1984) The Shining (1980) The Exorcist (1973) The Bad Seed (1956) The Orphanage (2007) Poltergeist (1982)
The Omen (2006) Damien Thorn looks back at the audience before giving a smile.
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FOUND FOOTAGE A substantial part of a found footage film is that it is presented as if it were discovered film or video recordings. The events on screen are typically seen through the camera of one or more of the characters involved, often accompanied by their real-time off-camera commentary. For added realism, the cinematography may be done by the actors themselves as they perform, and shaky camera work and naturalistic acting are routinely employed. The footage may be presented as if it were “raw” and complete, or as if it had been edited into a narrative by those who “found” it.
Films The Blair Witch Project (1999) Paranormal Activity (2007) Cloverfield (2008) REC (2007) V/H/S (2012) Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Quarantine (2008) Creep (2014) The Bay (2012) The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)
The Blair Witch Project (1999) Heather records herself apologizing to her family, as well as to the families of Mike and Josh her friends, taking full responsibility for their predicament.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY “Genres.” Horror Film Wiki, horror.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Genres. http://bloody-disgusting.com Watanabe, Krystal. 2016 September 8. 19 of the Most Fucked-Up Horror Movies. https://www.buzzfeed.com/annakopsky/bloodiest-horror-movies-of-alltime?utm_term=.vcQkmrje7q#.gnNaGm1KpV “Monster Movies.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 September 5. Web. “Comedy Horror.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 September 25. Web. “Science Fiction Horror Films.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 October 6. Web. “Paranormal Romance.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 August 22. Web. “Horror Fiction.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 September 26. Web. “Science Fiction.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 October 4. Web. “Slasher Film.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 October 3. Web. “The Omen (2006 Film).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 September 16. Web. “Martyrs (2008 Film).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 September 14. Web. “The Shining (Film).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 October 6. Web. “Shaun of the Dead (Film).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 October 8. Web. “Let the Right One In (Film).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 2017 October 7. Web.
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