Investigation of Horror Genre

Investigation of Horror Genre


Horror film is a genre that aims to create a sense of fear, panic, alarm, and dread for the audience. These films are usually unsettling and rely on scaring the audience through a portrayal of their worst fears and nightmares. Horror films often centre on the arrival of an evil force, person, or event. Many Horror films include mythical creatures such as ghosts, vampires, and zombies. Traditionally, Horror films incorporate a large amount of violence and gore into the plot. Though it has its own style, Horror film normally overlaps into Fantasy, Thriller, and Science-Fiction genres.

Examples of Horror Film:


A Nightmare on Elm Street - Freddy Krueger, an evil being from another world, stalks a group of teenagers and kills them through their dreams.


Saw - Two men are held hostage by a psychopath, who is set on teaching his victims the value of life by putting them into demented life or death games.


Friday the 13th - While trying to re-open a summer camp, a group of camp counselors are mysteriously murdered by a machete swinging slasher.

Sub-genres of Horror:


Comedy-Horror


Comedy-Horror combines comedy with traditional horror movie themes and characters. Comedy-Horror films aim to scare the audience, but also provide comical outlets that let the audience laugh at their fear.


Examples: Beetlejuice, Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead.


Teen-Horror


Teen-Horror is a sub-genre that revolves completely around a teenager or a group of teenagers. Typically, these movies have a large cast and a clear hero. Teen-Horror films are often based upon traditional teenage issues, such as dating and prom, and turn them into suspenseful and thrilling situations.


Examples: I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream, Texas Chainsaw Massacre.


Supernatural-Horror


Supernatural-Horror film is a sub-genre that includes ghosts, demons, or other illustrations of supernatural occurrences. Often, Supernatural-Horror films combine elements of religion into the plot. Common themes in Supernatural-Horror films include the afterlife, the devil, and demonic possession. Unlike Religious Thrillers, Supernatural-Horror films are not limited to certain religious elements and can contain more vivid and gruesome violence.


Examples: The Exorcist, The Ring, The Omen.


Zombie-Horror


Zombie film is a sub-genre of Horror film that portrays mindless human beings who are raised from the dead. These films often include a Zombie invasion, and centre around Zombies feasting on human flesh. The plot of a Zombie film then revolves around the struggle between the living, and the living-dead. Zombie film not only falls into the Horror genre, but Sci-Fi, Thriller, and Comedy as well.


Examples: Night of the Living Dead, Shaun of the Dead, 28 Days Later.