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Social Issue Horror

1. Write a short definition of your genre.

The social issue/satire horror sub-genre is a category of horror storytelling that combines elements of satire with a focus on addressing and critiquing societal issues. In this sub-genre, creators use horror elements not only to evoke fear and suspense but also to provide a commentary on various social, political, or cultural aspects. The stories often employ dark humor, irony, and exaggeration to highlight and criticize issues such as inequality, discrimination, corruption, or any other relevant societal problems.

The satire aspect adds a layer of critical examination to the horror narrative, using the genre as a vehicle for social commentary. By blending horror and satire, creators aim to both entertain and provoke thought, encouraging audiences to reflect on the deeper implications of the societal issues depicted in the story. This sub-genre often relies on metaphorical and allegorical storytelling to explore real-world concerns in a heightened and sometimes absurd or fantastical setting. Overall, social issue/satire horror serves as a powerful medium for exploring and challenging societal norms and injustices within the framework of a chilling and thought-provoking narrative.

2. Write a short description of the history of your genre, and consider when it was most popular.

The social issue/satire horror sub-genre has roots that can be traced back to various periods in horror literature and film history. However, it gained notable prominence and popularity during the latter half of the 20th century and continues to evolve in the 21st century.

1. Early Influences (20th Century): Elements of social commentary and satire have been present in horror literature and films for many years. However, the explicit combination of horror and satire gained traction in the mid-20th century. Classic works like George Orwell's "Animal Farm" (1945) and Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" (1932) set early examples of using dystopian and horrifying scenarios to satirize societal issues.

2. 1970s-1980s: Rise in Popularity: The social issue/satire horror sub-genre experienced a notable surge in popularity during the 1970s and 1980s. Filmmakers began incorporating elements of social critique within horror narratives. For example, George A. Romero's "Dawn of the Dead" (1978) used a zombie apocalypse to comment on consumerism, and John Carpenter's "They Live" (1988) tackled issues of conformity and media manipulation.

3. 1990s-2000s: Evolution and Expansion: The sub-genre continued to evolve in the 1990s and 2000s with films like "American Psycho" (2000), which satirized excess and materialism, and "The Cabin in the Woods" (2012), which deconstructed horror tropes while commenting on audience expectations. This period saw an expansion of the sub-genre's themes and styles.

4. Contemporary Era (2010s Onward): In recent years, social issue/satire horror has continued to thrive. Films such as "Get Out" (2017) directed by Jordan Peele, tackled racial issues in a horror context and received critical acclaim. The success of "Get Out" and similar works has contributed to a renewed interest in exploring societal problems through the lens of horror and satire.

The sub-genre's popularity can be attributed to its effectiveness in engaging audiences with thought-provoking content while delivering the thrills and scares inherent in the horror genre. As societal concerns continue to evolve, so does the social issue/satire horror sub-genre, reflecting and critiquing contemporary issues in new and innovative ways.

3. Find AT LEAST 5 key TROPES (conventions) commonly associated with your genre.

4. Symbolic Imagery: Filmmakers and writers use visual symbols that represent or exaggerate societal issues. These symbols may be subtle or overt, providing viewers with visual cues to interpret the underlying commentary. For example, a decaying cityscape might symbolize societal decay.

5. Visual Irony: The sub-genre frequently utilizes visual irony to highlight contradictions or absurdities in society. Scenes that juxtapose horror elements with seemingly mundane or ordinary situations can create a sense of unease and underscore the sub-genre's satirical nature.

6. Dystopian Aesthetics: Settings with dystopian or nightmarish aesthetics serve as visual metaphors for societal problems. The use of dark, oppressive, or surreal visuals can enhance the horror elements while reinforcing the sub-genre's critique of societal flaws.

7. Sarcastic Dialogue: Characters in social issue/satire horror often engage in sarcastic or sardonic dialogue. This verbal wit serves to underscore the satirical tone and allows characters to comment on the absurdity of the situations they find themselves in. The dialogue may directly address societal issues or subtly critique them.

8. Double Entendre and Metaphor: Verbal techniques include the use of double entendre and metaphor to convey deeper meanings. The dialogue may carry dual interpretations, with characters discussing both immediate horror-related events and broader societal concerns simultaneously. Metaphors, whether subtle or explicit, become powerful tools for conveying social commentary.

These tropes work together to create a multi-layered narrative that entertains through horror elements while encouraging the audience to reflect on the underlying societal critiques. The combination of visual and verbal elements allows creators in this sub-genre to convey complex messages in engaging and thought-provoking ways.

4. Find 3 films that link to your genre (include posters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzfpyUB60YY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_EviQj5tvA&t=26s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e3MM9noSlc

5. Can you find any DIRECTORS who are famous for working in your genre?

Jordan Peel

George A Romero

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Paranormal horror films                                                                                  Bronte & Miriam

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Paranormal horror films                                                                                  Bronte & Miriam

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Paranormal horror movies focus on characters on characters which are not living, such as ghosts, spirts, demons, etc. In order to frighten viewers, paranormal horror films usually rely on psychological anxiety, suspense, and tension in addition to atmospheric storytelling and stunning effects to make viewers feel uneasy and dreadful. Paranormal as well as supernatural horror films became more popular throughout 1931 and 1932. French Pioneer filmmaker Georges Méliès created paranormal horror films in the late 1890s. A common feature we see in paranormal horror films are things such as jump scares, haunted locations such as abandoned houses or builds. We often also experience tension some characters or sounds to create the jump scares to take place. Things such like dark atmospheres, discussion, or experiences on afterlife and or death and discovery or mystery.

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1. Write a short definition of your genre.

The supernatural film genre features movies exploring paranormal phenomena and otherworldly events, often invoking fear and mystery in audiences.

2. Write a short description of the history of your genre, and consider when it was most popular.

In 1896 the first ever Horror Movie was made and in fact a supernatural film it was called “Le Manoir du Diable” which translates to “The Haunted Castle” or “The House of the Devil”. Since then, these movies have only improved and become one of the best sub-genres in Horror. Films like Reincarnation, Dead End and the Conjuring collection are responsible for making this sub-genre so well known.

3. Find AT LEAST 5 key TROPES of that sub-genre.

1. The Uncanny, Eerie occurrences or encounters with unexplainable entities.

2. Resurrection and Reanimation, Bringing the dead back to life with twisted consequences.

3. haunting, Malevolent spirits or entities tormenting people or places.

4. Possession, Characters being controlled or inhabited by demonic forces.

5. Curses and Rituals, Ancient curses or dark rituals unleashing supernatural horrors.

These tropes all work together to create a rich horror fill filled with fear, suspense and physiological tension that helps characterises the SuperNatural genre, inviting the audience to confront there deepest fears and also question the boundaries between the Natural and Supernatural worlds.

4. Find 3 films that link to your genre (include links to trailers or film posters)

Lights out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LiKKFZyhRU

Conjuring 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFsmuRPClr4

Sinister

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kbQAJR9YWQ

5. Can you find any DIRECTORS who are famous for working in your sub-genre?

1. James Wan

2. Scott Derrickson

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Horror sub genre: zombie, Ben and Thomas 

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Horror sub genre: zombie, Ben and Thomas 

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Definition

Zombie movies are a subgenre of Horror. Zombies are fictional creatures that are portrayed as reanimated corpses or people infected by some kind of virus. Zombies are often portrayed as cannibalistic; they are shown chasing and eating the characters of the movie and depending on the movie these characters are turned and come back to chase and eat other characters.

History

The Zombie movie genre can be traced back to the late 1930’s and 1940’s. One of the first Zombie movies was I Walked With a Zombie (1943) which was inspired by the Zombie of Haitian folk lore. The modern style of Zombie emerged in the latter half of the twentieth century with George A. Romero’s film the Night of the Living Dead (1968). In 2002 we see the Modern Zombie established with all the familiar troops of the genre in 28 days later. One of the most well-known instalments and the show that brought the genre into the limelight was The Walking Dead (2010-2022) because of the shows smash hit a wave of zombie movies, games and shows were released, all hoping to get the same success as The Walking Dead.

I walked with a zombie - Jacques Tourneur 1943

The Night of the living dead - George A. Romero (1968)

28 days later - Danny Boyle (2002)

The modern concept of a zombie has its roots in Haitian legends about witch doctors who could reanimate the dead to do their bidding but Haitian legends never refer to these revenants as zombies. Early Haitian folklore painted these zombies in a neutral light but Europeans towards voodoo became more negative after the slave rebellion in French state saint-domingue in 1791.  The country known as Haiti was a French colony but the locals overthrew the colonialists and in 1804 became the first independent black state of the modern era. After this many European commentators ramped up efforts to attempt to demonize the country as a dangerous place of superstition, sacrifice and cannibalism. This paved the way for voodoo legends to cross over into the horror genre.

The most defining trope of the genre is zombies crave human flesh

Zombies don’t need the human flesh to live but just eat others as its their nature

Zombies turn other people into zombies by biting them or eating them

Zombies don’t reproduce but infect others by biting or eating them. In a lot of zombie media one bite is enough to be infected and often times it is not instant so the victim has to deal with the fact they are about to turn and this is often a source of conflict

Zombies are mindless

Zombies because their brains are gone are depicted as mindless creatures that dim witted and brutes that are more of a force of nature than creatures.

Zombies are fast or slow

Zombies in the genre are either incredibly slow walking and advancing slowly but steadily towards their victim. Or zombies are lightning fast and run towards the victims.’’

Zombie movies often start in cities or heavily populated areas

This often happens in movies where you can see the destruction first hand and how they quickly take over a city.

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What is it: Science fiction horror films are a subgenre of science fiction and horror films, often revolving around subjects that include but are not limited to alien invasions, mad scientists, and/or experiments gone wrong.

History: Sci-Fi horror in film emerged in the late 19th century and early 20th century in films like Marey Shelleys "Frankenstein." Later in the 20th century is when sci-fi horror became very popular. In the 1970's and 80's films like "Alien" and "The Thing" captivated audiences with the mix of horror and sci-fi, except now with more realistic special effects. This made both the sci-fi and horror more realistic and scary. Since then up until now, sci-fi horror has evolved to not only include aliens and monsters, but also exploring themes such as artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, as well as deeper and more realistic space journeys that explore how terrifying alien life could be. With more realistic CGI and effects for films, sci-fi horror is more captivating and enjoyable than ever before.

Five Key Tropes of Sci-Fi Horror: Alien entities, technological dystopia, isolation and claustrophobia, existential dread and cosmic horror, and body horror and mutation

Three films in sci-fi horror:

1. Alien: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ5lPt9edzQ

2. Prometheus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=CQxeIyP4sXg

3. Predator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaG1KZqrLvM

Directors of sci-fi horror: James Cameron, Steven Speilberg, John Carpenter, Ridely Scott

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The Predator | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX

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1. Definition:

A monster horror movie is a film that focuses on one central monster, as an antagonist, where a character or group of characters struggle to survive through a range of attacks from the main monster.

2. Description of History:

The Monster horror subgenre saw a rise in prominence in the early 1900s, particularly around the 30s, with the release of films such as Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932), and King Kong (1933). Around this time, monstrous creatures (that aptly provide the subgenre its name) began to become a more noticeable and appreciated feature applicated to horror films. While the 30s introduced a myriad of the first monster horror films, the subgenre can even earlier be dated back to 1915, which marks the release of Galeen and Wegener’s Der Golem, a film that is often referenced as the first fully developed ‘monster movie’ – a silent horror film which instituted perhaps the earliest ‘creature’ antagonist in film. As a popular subgenre, monster horror has seen progression as to reflect the anxieties and fears of wider society; the monsters are used to materialize our unconscious fears. For example, In the 1950s, monster horror adapted to stimulate a new fixation of atomic anxiety during the tumultuous period of the Cold War. Monster movies thus began to reflect these fears of society, guised in such monsters as a terrorizing dinosaur thawed by an Artic atomic test in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), or an unknown and murderous sea creature awakened by nearby nuclear testing in It Came from beneath the Sea (1955). In the 60s/70s, environmental anxiety rather became a forethought of society, thus initiating a surge of monster horror films that focused on attacks from the natural world. Monsters became that of ants that could take over the world in Phase IV (1974), or killer amphibians in Frogs (1972).

3. Tropes:

There is a legend of the monster

Someone sacrifices themselves to the monster

The monster usually has some form of greater power

The monster always awakens

4. Film Examples:

It

A Quiet Place

Cloverfield

Godzilla

Ailen

5. Directors:

Ridley Scott

Andy Muschietti (It)

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There are many key tropes in the 'Psychological Horror'...

1. 'Nothing is Scarier'

- This is a type of story trope and can be used in three ways...

'The Classic' - The story builds up suspension, and tension in the audience until something 'appears.'

'The Full Version' - Nothing is happening at all, however there is an overarching fear and tension in the audience of what might happen.

'The Empty Version' - This is when the audience thinks there is nothing there, but it is revealed that there is something there the whole time.

2. 'Mind Screw'

This trope is used to practically screw with the audience. It's used to keep the audience guessing and making sure they never quite understanding what is happening to a full extent.

3. 'Nightmare Fuel'

This trope is to keep the audience scared constantly. Psychological horrors do this to provoke the audience and thus build tension and emotion.

4. 'Protagonist' turning into 'Antagonist'

Another key trope of this type of horror is the protagonist turning into the antagonist... This is done to scare the audience and truly make them think about the message of the movie, as the main character who appears to be good, really turns out evil in the end. This can be brought on by unreliable characters and narrators.

5. 'Violence'

Violence is a key trope of not only psychological horror but horror in general. Like the name suggests it surrounds things like blood, gore, fighting etc.

The following are directors who are very acclaimed / tied to this genre of horror...

Ari Aster

Alfred Hitchcock

Dario Argento

Darren Aronofsky

There are many acclaimed psychological horror films...

These include...

Black Swan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jaI1XOB-bs

Silence of the Lambs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iB21hsprAQ

Get Out - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzfpyUB60YY

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What is psychological horror?

Psychological horror is a sub-genre from the wider horror genre, which focuses around the mental, emotional and psychological states of a character and how these states can be used to frighten the audience(s).

Nofilmschool states that “while this often overlaps with psychological thrillers, psychological horror films and TV shows are intent on disturbing us to enhance the suspense, drama, action, and paranoia of the story”.

History of the psychological horror and when it was most popular.

Psychological horror originates from theater as well as literature where well-known writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, started to explore the unfamiliar world and “investigate subjects of frenzy” and “fixation” says the medium. These ideas then came into the film industry as the audiences were introduced to the “distorted realities and unreliable narrators” as written in the article by the medium.

The psychological genre had a huge popularity during the 1960s, when Alfred Hitchcock’s hit film “Psycho” was a great success increasing the genres popularity as it incorporated the ideas of “corruptibility, confused identities, voyeurism, human vulnerabilities and victimization” says an article by ipl.

Links to articles:

https://medium.com/@kimbomahfuzh/the-evolution-of-psychological-horror-in-cinema-uncovering-the-dark-minds-of-fear-d9371ff25b70#:~:text=The%20origins%20of%20psychological%20horror,like%20“The%20Cabinet%20of%20Dr.

https://nofilmschool.com/psychological-horror-movies-and-tv-shows-genre

https://blogs.cofc.edu/writing-across-contexts/2022/04/30/psychological-horror/#:~:text=The%20peak%20of%20the%20genre,war%2C%20aliens%2C%20and%20monsters.

https://www.ipl.org/essay/Alfred-Hitchcocks-Psycho-1960-F392VX3RC48R#:~:text=The%20film%20contains%20disturbing%20themes,Filmsite.org%2C%20n.d.).

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1. Write a short definition of your genre.

A subgenre of horror that draws on elements of mythology and folklore to construct the characters and storyline.  They often have an association with European pagan traditions or aspects of witchcraft.  The ultimate goal of this subgenre is to unsettle the audience by provoking our instinctual sense of fear.

2. Write a short description of the history of your genre, and consider when it was most popular.

This genre became popularised in Britain during the late 1960s however one of the earliest folk horror films was the Swedish film “Häxan” which was released in 1920.  Folk horror has a had a resurgence in recent years with films such as “The Witch” (2015) and “The Apostle” (2018) carrying characteristic tropes of the subgenre.

3. Find AT LEAST 5 key TROPES of that sub-genre.

Some common tropes include a setting in the countryside, the protagonist being isolated, and themes of superstition, folk religion, paganism, sacrifice and the dark aspects of nature.

4. Find 3 films that link to your genre (include links to trailers or film posters)

-        The Blair Witch Project

-        Children of the Corn

-        The Witch

5. Can you find any DIRECTORS who are famous for working in your sub-genre?

Some notable directors include Piers Haggard and Stephen King.

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Definition:

The slasher genre is a subgenre of horror films that involves a killer murdering a group of people, usually by use of bladed tools. These films often follow a specific formula, including a final girl survivor and increased levels of gore and suspense.

History:

The slasher genre was jumpstarted by the success of John Carpenter's film Halloween. The golden era of slasher films was 1978-1984.

Tropes:

The final girl, who is the last survivor and often defeats the killer.

The police or other authorities who are ineffective or absent.

The stereotypical characters, such as the jock, the nerd, etc.

The summer camp or other isolated location where the killings take place

The silent or masked antagonist, who rarely speaks or shows their face.

Film Examples:

Scream Scream (1996) Official Trailer 1 - Neve Campbell Movie (youtube.com)

Nightmare on Elm Street A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Official Trailer - Wes Craven, Johnny Depp Horror Movie HD (youtube.com)

Halloween "Halloween" 1978 Original Movie Trailer (HD) (youtube.com)

Directors:

Wes Craven

Alfred Hitchcock

Tobe Hooper