Horror Movie Primer

Since today is Halloween, it only makes sense to have today's post be a horror movie primer. I have grown to love horror movies quite a bit over the last few years, having seen none at the age of 18, to now having seen most of the classics. There is a lot of legacy with horror movies, with many theme parks having whole nights themed after them, and many people dressing up as characters from them. As a fun twist, I thought it would be only fitting to include 13 movies in the horror movie primer instead of the usual 10. With all that said, here is the horror movie primer.

1. Nosferatu (1922)

Nosferatu is the original vampire film and established many of the tropes for vampire horror films. The movie helped establish key vampire characteristics such as their decrepit appearance, intense speed, and aversion to sunlight, all aspects that are still used in vampire movies today. The movie was also innovative in its use of lights, shadows, and cinematography to create an atmosphere of dread and terror that would go on to be an influence to countless horror films later on. Nosferatu is also technically the first, though unofficial and caused copyright problems, adaptation of the Dracula story that would go on to be adapted countless times in film.

2. Frankenstein (1931)

Frankenstein is a classic monster film and helped launch the Universal Monsters franchise. Frankenstein was one of the main films to bring horror to mainstream audiences. The movie was influential as it basically set tropes for the mad scientist and the disfigured assistant. The movie was also groundbreaking for its use of makeup with techniques that would go on to change the way horror characters and monsters were created. The movie also had a major cultural impact, with fingerprints of the film being felt in countless movies even today.

3. Psycho (1960)

Psycho influenced both the horror and thriller genres by focusing on suspense and unexpected plot twists. The famous shower scene remains an iconic moment in film history for its shock value and has been widely imitated. The film subverted audience expectations in new ways, with its twists transforming the viewing experience. Norman Bates, the central character, and the film’s unsettling score have also become enduring symbols in the genre. Continuing in this tradition of pushing boundaries, the late 1960s introduced films that brought horror closer to home, blurring the lines between the supernatural and the psychological.

4. Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Rosemary's Baby is groundbreaking as it established the template for psychological horror with its use of suspense and slow burn tension over blood and gore. The movie proved that horror can still be effective without jump scares and gore. The films also established ideas of satanism and witchcraft in popular culture, paving the way for films like Hereditary. Rosemary's Baby was also ahead of its time with its themes of the fears of pregnant woman and their control over their own bodies, ideas that are still very prevalent today.

5. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Night of the Living Dead is the grandfather of the zombie subgenre. The film was groundbreaking for its establishment of zombie lore, where zombies are slow, reanimated corpses driven by hunger for flesh and can only be killed by destroying their brains, which is seen as a universal concept today. The movie is also groundbreaking for its graphic violence and casting of an African American lead. The film also helped transition horror films from being silly B-movies to hardcore films that we know today.

6. The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist was groundbreaking as it set a new standard for the genre by introducing graphic realistic depiction of demon possession. The movie's graphic imagery, disturbing scenes, use of child demon possession, and profanity were completely shocking for audiences of 1973. The concept became so influential that it created a sub-genre of demon possession films still made today and launched a cultural debate between religion and the supernatural. The Exorcist was also groundbreaking in its special effects and makeup, as they were revolutionary for their time and still considered impressive today. This movie was also the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture.

7. Jaws (1975)

Jaws was the film that created the modern blockbuster. The film's massive success transformed the movie industry and created a new model for the summer blockbuster. The film is groundbreaking for its use of suggestive horror. Because of a temperamental mechanical shark, the filmmakers had to rely on shooting from the shark's POV, camera techniques, barrels, and John Williams' iconic two-note score to create the horror of the shark without actually showing it. The film was also a cultural icon, causing many people to fear sharks and the beach. The movie is still used today as an inspiration for effective horror and suspense.

8. Halloween (1978)

Halloween, while not the first slasher film, set the template for modern slashers by introducing tropes such as the final girl and the unstoppable killer, which have become genre staples. Its influence is evident in later franchises like Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Scream. Halloween is also recognized for its simple, memorable score and for establishing Michael Myers as an enduring horror icon. The film stands out for creating tension and dread with minimal reliance on explicit gore.

9. Alien (1979)

Alien was groundbreaking for its genre-defying blend of horror and sci-fi. The movie leans into the horror aspect of space, focusing on the cold emptiness of space instead of the glamour of space epics. The movie is groundbreaking for its use of atmosphere and tension building techniques to create a feeling of dread. The movie also uses an iconic alien design that uses both organic and mechanical elements to create a creature of true terror. The movie also stands out for its strong female protagonist in Ripley, something that was uncommon in the 1970s.

10. The Shining (1980)

The Shining is an iconic movie in pop culture but it is also the Stephen King representative on this, as he is probably the most famous horror author working today. The Shining helped create the slow burn psychological horror with techniques that are still used today. Much like Alien, The Shining creates an atmosphere of dread as Jack slowly descends into madness, as is seen by many as a masterpiece that transcends the typical horror genre. The movie has many elements that have become iconic parts of pop culture, such as the twins or "Here's Johnny". There are so many movies and tv shows today that still reference The Shining.

11. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The Blair Witch Project is an important horror film as it pioneered the found footage genre. It created a unique and terrifying viewing experience by using amateur film techniques to create a hyper realistic portrayal of events. This technique created a more immersive experience, placing the audience in the action. The movie was also an inspiration for other indie filmmakers to create similar low-budget horror films using the found footage technique. The movie was also unique in its marketing campaign creating a website with fake police reports, convincing many people that the movie was a true, unresolved tragedy.

12. Saw (2004)

Saw is another low-budget film that is groundbreaking for its mystery, inventive traps, and twist ending. The movie is also credited for helping launch the "torture porn" sub-genre, which consists of movies with high levels of graphic violence and body horror. Saw helped push the limits of violence onscreen with its innovative use of violence and body horror. The film is also known for its complex narrative and twist ending that became a signature for the franchise and other films like it. The elaborate traps of the movie were also key influences of other films like Cube and Escape. The movie is also heavily parodied with Jigsaw and the traps being played for laughs in other films. The Saw franchise was also one of the first to feature interconnected storylines and cliffhanger endings, which would go on to be popularized in many blockbusters today.

13. Get Out (2017)

Get Out is groundbreaking for its blend of horror with modern social commentary, helping change the genre's focus from jump scares to psychological terror. The film helped subvert expectations of minority characters by making a black man the lead of the story instead of having him suffer a horrific fate, as was more common. The movie was also groundbreaking in its social commentary through the use of a social parable about white culture appropriating black bodies. The success of the film helped prove that there was demand for more thoughtful horror with modern social commentary. The film also featured a big win for horror at the Oscars, with Get Out winning the Best Original Screenplay award.