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.
Often, the plots are centered around evil events, people or forces. Central themes are often based upon supernatural beings and events. Serial killers, disease outbreaks, zombies, curses, haunted houses, vampires, ghosts and werewolves are common elements in these films.
Georges Melies is regarded as the earliest pioneer of thrillers. His first silent film was The House of the Devil. This 1896 release is considered the world's first thriller. His subsequent release was The Cave of the Unholy One, in 1898.
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.
Hollywood studios began releasing thrillers during the early 20th Century. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, from 1923, and The Monster, from 1925, both starred Lon Chaney, Senior. He is considered to be the first American thriller movie star. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were other early American actors who built their careers around their starring roles in these types of films.
The genre became more popular during the 1930s. There were several notable releases during this time-frame. A famous set-designer and make-up artist was Jack Pierce. He became an icon for his creation of masks and costumes for the monster characters.
The productions of Dracula and Frankenstein were introduced in 1931. These were major successes. In 1933, Hollywood studios released The Invisible Man. This film was notable for its blending of Gothic and science fiction themes. A lot of films from this period were influenced by German expressionist releases during the 1920s. The plots continued to thrill audiences, but they began to incorporate serious components as well.
The advances in technology during the 1950s spurred evolutions in this genre. Two sub-categories were developed, demonic and Armageddon. The producers from that period believed those themes would be more relevant to their viewers.
Japanese studios began releasing a stream of low-budget thrillers in the 1950s. Many experts believe they were influenced by the terrible after-affects from the nuclear bombing of World War II. These films centered on over-coming threats from alien invasions and deadly mutations of people, plants, animals and insects.
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.
Modern horror movies continue to thrill audiences. Although advanced film-making techniques and special effects are often incorporated today, the films continue to be designed to elicit bone-tingling chills and gasps from viewers.
Often, the plots are centered around evil events, people or forces. Central themes are often based upon supernatural beings and events. Serial killers, disease outbreaks, zombies, curses, haunted houses, vampires, ghosts and werewolves are common elements in these films.
Georges Melies is regarded as the earliest pioneer of thrillers. His first silent film was The House of the Devil. This 1896 release is considered the world's first thriller. His subsequent release was The Cave of the Unholy One, in 1898.
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.
Hollywood studios began releasing thrillers during the early 20th Century. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, from 1923, and The Monster, from 1925, both starred Lon Chaney, Senior. He is considered to be the first American thriller movie star. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were other early American actors who built their careers around their starring roles in these types of films.
The genre became more popular during the 1930s. There were several notable releases during this time-frame. A famous set-designer and make-up artist was Jack Pierce. He became an icon for his creation of masks and costumes for the monster characters.
The productions of Dracula and Frankenstein were introduced in 1931. These were major successes. In 1933, Hollywood studios released The Invisible Man. This film was notable for its blending of Gothic and science fiction themes. A lot of films from this period were influenced by German expressionist releases during the 1920s. The plots continued to thrill audiences, but they began to incorporate serious components as well.
The advances in technology during the 1950s spurred evolutions in this genre. Two sub-categories were developed, demonic and Armageddon. The producers from that period believed those themes would be more relevant to their viewers.
Japanese studios began releasing a stream of low-budget thrillers in the 1950s. Many experts believe they were influenced by the terrible after-affects from the nuclear bombing of World War II. These films centered on over-coming threats from alien invasions and deadly mutations of people, plants, animals and insects.
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.
Modern horror movies continue to thrill audiences. Although advanced film-making techniques and special effects are often incorporated today, the films continue to be designed to elicit bone-tingling chills and gasps from viewers.
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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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