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Films and Characteristics of Horror Sub-Genres
Slasher Film -
This Sub-Genre contains a lot of violence, which revolves around a psychopathic serial killer who throughout the film stalks and kills numerous victims. The killer usually has a specific weapon of choice to kill his victim, such as an axe or a chainsaw. Slasher films can also include crime, with lots of mystery and suspense. The murder scenes will be elaborate and the tension before hand will be strung out to keep the audience on the edge of their seat.
Films –
• Psycho, 1960, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 1974, Directed by Tobe Hooper • Prom Night, 2008 remake from 1980, Directed by Nelson McCormick
Action Horror Film -
Action Horror is a sub-genre that has the intrusion of evil in horrors, such as an event or a supernatural antagonist, and combines it with gunfights and frantic chase scenes that are performed in the action genre.
Particular themes are more common in action horrors, for example zombies, vampires, vicious animals and intense gore are frequently seen in action horrors.
Films –
• Dawn of the Dead, 2004, Directed by Zach Snyder • From Dusk Till Dawn, 1996, Directed by Robert Rodriguez • Blade, 1998, Directed by Stephen Norrington
Body Horror Film -
Body horror films generate the horror from the degeneration or deconstruction of the human body, the creation of monsters out of human body parts or unnatural movements and dysfunction of the body to create fear. This could be by spreading diseases, scientific or medical experiments, technological impulses and body modification. A well-known director for this genre is David Cronenberg.
Films –
• The Human Centipede, 2009, Directed by Tom Six • Cabin Fever, 2002, Directed by Eli Roth • The Beyond, 1981, Directed by Lucio Fulci
Comedy Horror Film -
Comedy Horror films combines the elements of the Horror and Comedy genres and almost inevitably includes black comedy. This genre allows the audience to laugh at their fears, and movies are made to give a lighter side on events around the world. For example movies based at Halloween or World War 1+2 can contain a lot of horror sequences, but the comedy element allows comedy relief to some of the tense moments.
Films –
• The Ghost Breaker, 1914, Directed by Cecil DeMille and Oscar Apfel • Warm Bodies, 2013, Directed by Jonathan Levine • Shaun of the Dead, 2004, Directed by Edgar Wright
Gothic Horror Film -
Some of the earliest horror movies were of this genre. It again combines the elements of Gothic and Horror genres.
These movies usually involve a dark romance story between the characters. It would also include extreme landscapes like a cemetery, castles and dungeons, all of which typically should date back centuries so the audience have a deep sense of history in the movies. Magic or supernatural elements could also occur in this genre.
Films –
• Dracula, 1931, Directed by Tod Browning • Frankenstein, 1931, Directed by James Whale • The Mummy, 1932, Directed by Karl Freund
Psychological Horror Film -
This horror genre focuses on the characters and audiences fear, guilt and emotional instability. The supernatural are also commonly used to scare the characters, build the tension and further the plot, and typically make the audience jump.
The horror and fear that’s created comes from the reality of this sub-genre, as they are typically set in normal circumstances.
Films – • The Ring, 2002, Directed by Gore Verbinski • The Shining, 1980, Directed by Stanley Kubrick • The Exorcist, 1973, Directed by William Friedkin
Science fiction Horror Film -
Science fiction horror is the sub-genre of science fiction and horror films. They usually include alien invasions, mad scientists and experiments gone wrong. This sub-genre also focuses on the fear that technology goes wrong, and sometimes ends with the end of the world.
Films – • Alien, 1979, Directed by Ridley Scott • World War Z, 2013, Directed by Marc Forster • Pandorum, 2009, Directed by Christian Alvart