Synoptic Research of Horror genre

Emma MarshallAnnamaria Noto

Bridget Cardenas Pazmino

History, Context & Purpose

• The first depictions of horror appear in the silent shorts created by Georges Méliès in the 1890s.

• It seeks to recieve a negative emotional reaction from the audience by playing on the their fears.

• Plots in the horror genre often involve an evil force or event (commonly of supernatural origin) brought into the everyday world.

• Prevalent elements include ghosts, aliens, vampires, werewolves, demons, dragons, gore, torture, vicious, animals, evil witches, monsters, zombies, cannibals, and serial killers.

• ‘Le Manoir du Diable’ is sometimes thought as being the first horror film.

Classic Films

‘The Exorcist’ ‘The Haunting’ ‘Nosferatu’ ‘The Shining’ ‘House of Wax’

1973 1963 1922 1980 1953

Conventions:Darkness, demons, possession, death, blood & murder.

Conventions: Evil, haunted and abandoned mansion, death, ghosts, spirits, scary, jump scares, dark.

Conventions:Vampires, darkness, blood, torture, disfigurements, nightmares, isolated & death.

Conventions:Ghosts, haunted house location, werewolves, witchcraft, vampires, the Devil & psychopaths.

Conventions:Screams, darkness, there's no people around, isolated, no help, fast paced editing throughout the torture, knives, blood, fire, villains & victim.

30 Horror films listFilm Name Year Rating Subgenre

1 The Exorcist 1973 18 Supernatural Horror

2 Halloween 1978 18 Independent Slasher

3 The Blair Witch Project 1999 15 Supernatural/ Found Footage

4 The Thing 1982 15 Science Fiction Horror

5 Halloween II 2009 18 Slasher Horror

6 28 Days Later… 2002 18 Post-apocalyptic Horror

7 Paranormal Activity 2 2010 15 Supernatural Horror

8 Paranormal Activity 3 2011 15 Supernatural Horror

9 The Ring 2002 15 Psychological Horror

10 Alien 1979 18 Science Fiction Horror

Film Name Year Rating Subgenre

11 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

1974 18 Slasher Horror

12 Dawn of the Dead 1978 18 Zombie Horror

13 Sinister 2012 15 Supernatural Horror

14 The Evil Dead 1981 18 Supernatural Horror

15 Evil Dead II 1987 15 Comedy Horror

16 Poltergeist 1982 15 Supernatural Horror Thriller

17 Let the Right One in 2008 15 Romantic Horror

18 Let Me In 2010 15 Romantic Horror

19 The Exorcism of Emily Rose

2005 15 Drama Horror

20 The Shining 1980 15 Psychological Horror

Film Name Year Rating Subgenre

21 [Rec] 2007 18 (Spanish) Reality Horror

22 Event Horizon 1997 18 Science Fiction Horror

23 The Silence of the Lambs

1991 18 Thriller Horror

24 The Strangers 2008 15 Psychological Killer Horror

25 Halloween 2007 18 Slasher Horror

26 The Grudge 2004 15 Paranormal Horror

27 Dawn of the Dead 2004 18 Zombie Horror

28 Fire in the Sky 1993 15 Science Fiction Horror Drama

29 Hellraiser 1987 18 British Demon Horror

30 Alien 1979 15 Science Fiction Horror

10 Contemporary Horror FilmsFilm Name Year Rating Subgenre

1 Drag Me to Hell 2009 15 Supernatural Horror

2 You’re Next 2011 18 Action Horror

3 The Descent 2005 18 Psychological Horror

4 Bug 2006 18 Psychological Horror

5 The Cabin In The Woods 2012 15 Horror Comedy

6 The Ward 2010 15 Psychological Horror

7 The House of the Devil 2009 18 Slasher Horror

8 The Orphanage 2007 15 Supernatural Horror

9 The Purge 2013 15 Action Horror

10 Paranormal Activity 2009 15 Supernatural Horror