Prior to this report, I didn’t love horror movies, but through this research I’ve come to appreciate what horror has been and what it will become. By reviewing horror movies across various eras, I attempted to understand and explore how they have evolved, their cultural significance and their tie to Halloween. Halloween is a holiday known to bring communities together. As young kids we wander the streets, stopping door to door, lingering in the freezing October weather in our adored costumes covered by coats. Now, as a ritual for most young adults, Halloween consists of parties, scary movies and collective screams. A special time of year that no holiday can reflect. The best kinds of movies are those that leave a lasting effect. Ones that allow you to lose yourself in a cinematic world.
As pop culture has changed, so have horror movies. Setting the stage for atmosphere, classics like “Nosferatu” and “Frankenstein” emerged in the 20s, to the psych thrillers of the 60s, and the slasher era of the 80s with classics like “Halloween.” This is only a small depiction, but each era has made a lasting impression. While reviewing horror movies, I wanted to explore these eras and try to understand why horror is such a popular genre, so I picked a movie from the 30s, the 80s, and the 21st century.
For the 30s, I watched “Frankenstein,” which follows the well-known story of an obsessed scientist, Dr. Frankenstein, who creates a living creature from the dead. The monster escapes, and chaos is unleashed. Frankenstein must track down and face the monster and the public. At the time of this movie’s release, it was the epitome of terror. Watching In the 21st century, it definitely doesn’t have the same shock factor as it once did. It did have truly memorable scenes, such as the monster waking.
Although this scene is iconic, it may have ended abruptly, holding back from delivering a full impact. All around, my favorite parts of the movie were the acting, the gothic style, and the set design, which was truly remarkable. This movie does a good job of representing the early era of horror; it flows almost play-like, reflecting the theatrical tone of its era, but has evolved beyond into a universally recognized symbol of Halloween.
For the 80s, I chose to review “The Exorcist,” which follows two priests trying to save a little girl’s life after a strange entity possesses her. Initially, I thought this film was memorable, with lots of uncanny scenes that seemed technical. As I focused more on it, within the horror, the plot is deeper than imagined; it follows themes of questioning faith/doubting faith as the inner and outer conflict of good vs. evil arises.
What made this movie work was the scoring, lighting/atmosphere, and the camera techniques used. The most unsettling parts were those with a good sound design, while the loud scenes were scary, and the quiet parts were just as unsettling. Overall, this movie had everything a horror movie requires; it’s defined by its strong acting and cinematography, and that is why it’s still watched to this day.
For the 21st century, I chose to watch “Get Out,” which follows a young Black man visiting his white girlfriend’s family. It turns into an uneasy environment with uncanny characters, which leads to an unsettling truth being revealed. In general, I really enjoyed this movie. What made this work is the original storyline and nuanced characters. It sort of separates itself from most horror, as it blends horror with social commentary. A scene that really stands out to me is the teacup scene, where Chris gets hypnotized. It was really compelling. As Chris is placed into this “sunken place,” the combination of its silence, immersive sound, and visuals creates a beautiful and impactful effect.
I noticed few shortcomings in the movie; one may think that the plot twist came across as predictable, but I think the hints leading up to it made sense. Despite the constant expectation of the unexpected in horror films, this twist is executed well, and that’s why I really enjoyed this movie.
These movies each have their own original take on what horror can be; each tells a strong story and holds an engaging experience that is different for every viewer. But with all said, even if you are the biggest horror fan or you cannot stand it, I still recommend trying out a spooky movie, as sometimes a good scare is needed.
