University Film Studies: Film-3007 Genre Evolution Essay

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the horror genre in film, tracing its development from its earliest forms to modern iterations. The study begins by highlighting the foundational work of George Mellies, discussing how his early contributions laid the groundwork for the genre. It then examines the golden age of horror in the 1920s and 30s, exploring the emergence of iconic films like "Mummy" and "Frankenstein." The essay further delves into the evolution of horror, examining the impact of films like "Exorcist" and "The Omen" in establishing modern notions of the genre. The essay emphasizes how the horror genre has adapted over time, incorporating new techniques and themes, and concludes by summarizing the key stages of its evolution, underscoring the genre's enduring influence and its continuous adaptation to reflect changing societal values and technological advancements. This essay serves as a study of horror film's evolution and its reflection of cultural shifts across time.

Running head: Genre revolution
Genre revolution
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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Introduction
The aim of the study is to focus on the evolution of horror genre in films. Thus, the study
will focus on how over the years the genre has been evolving with certain changes. In this
respect, it needs to be discussed that horror genre is one of the main genres of films (Heller-
Nicholas 35). It has been enriching the films with different tastes of films and with different
modern dimensions. After the advent of cinema, horror genre rapidly made stronger its foothold
under the table. Over the course of the decades, film is such an art that has gone through several
dimensions, from several peaks and troughs and so on (Clasen 45). Certainly the horror film was
not like what we watch today. Drastic change can be seen if we compare the very first horror
movie with the most recent one. Hence, the through the discussion of how the genre of horror
have evolved over the period of time, the study will look back on the history of evolution of
horror genre.
Discussion
The genre of horror as the medium of film began with the works of George Mellies. Like
other things which happened in the film industry, horror genre of films gradually made its base
stronger with Millie as she made the first horror film in the year of 1898 (Clasen 45). The movie
was full of all most considered elements which can generate a sensation of fear like animated
skeleton, cauldrons, transforming bats, ghosts or supernatural spirits and most importantly
Devil’s incarnation (Boivin 23). Critics opine that even though Millie’s attempt was a complete
failure still the move is considered to be one of the milestones in the horror genre. The decades
1920s and 30s are considered to be the golden period of time in the revolution of the genre of

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horror. The whole idea of the horror started taking another dimensions with movies like Mummy
and Frankenstein. The later part of the evolution came in with more intense sense of horror with
romance and dark element (Heller-Nicholas 34). Several movies were made which not only rated
as good movies; rather they were rated as revolutionary milestones of film industry. The
supernatural spirits with dreadful scenes were essence of horror movies during this period of
time. In a more integrated way it can be stated that movies like Exorcist and The Omen are the
two significant example of horror genre which establishes the modern notion of horror genre.
The class of horror as the vehicle of film started with crafted by George Mellies. Like
different things which occurred in the film business, awfulness classification of movies bit by bit
made its base more grounded with Millie as she made the main blood and guts movie in the time
of 1898 (Clover 67). The motion picture was brimming with all most considered components
which can create an impression of dread like enlivened skeleton, cauldrons, changing bats,
apparitions or powerful spirits and in particular Devil's manifestation. Clover opine that despite
the fact that Millie's endeavor was an entire disappointment still the move is viewed as one of the
point of reference in the awfulness type (Clover 67). The decades 30s are viewed as the brilliant
timeframe in the transformation of the class of awfulness (Boivin 23). The entire thought of the
ghastliness began taking other measurements with motion pictures like Mummy and
Frankenstein. The later piece of the development came in with more serious feeling of
ghastliness with sentiment and dull component (Boivin 23). A few motion pictures were made
which not just appraised as great motion pictures; rather they were evaluated as progressive
points of reference of film industry. The extraordinary spirits with awful scenes were pith of
blood and gore flicks amid this timeframe.

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In a more incorporated manner it very well may be expressed that motion pictures like
Exorcist and The Omen are the two noteworthy case of frightfulness type which sets up the
advanced thought of repulsiveness classification. It has been enhancing the films with different
tastes of motion pictures and with different present day estimations. After the methodology of
film, awfulness kind rapidly made more grounded it's a tried and true equalization under the
table. Consistently, film is such a craftsmanship, to the point that has encountered a couple of
estimations, from a couple of apexes and troughs and so on. Irrefutably the spine chiller despises
what we watch today. Outrageous change can be checked whether we differentiate the basic first
violence flick and the most recent one. Subsequently, the through the discourse of how the class
of repulsiveness have progressed over the time period, the examination will recollect on the
authentic scenery of advancement of horrendousness order.
Conclusion
Thus, in order to conclude, it is apt to assert that the point of the essay is to center around
the advancement of loathsomeness type in movies. In this manner, the examination will center on
how throughout the years the class has been developing with specific changes. In this regard, it
should be talked about that repulsiveness sort is one of the fundamental classes of movies. It has
been improving the movies with various tastes of movies and with various present day
measurements. After the approach of film, frightfulness kind quickly made more grounded it’s a
dependable balance under the table. Throughout the decades, film is such a craftsmanship, to the
point that has experienced a few measurements, from a few pinnacles and troughs et cetera.
Unquestionably the thriller dislikes what we observe today. Extreme change can be checked
whether we contrast the simple first blood and gore flick and the latest one. Consequently, the

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through the dialog of how the class of frightfulness have advanced over the timeframe, the
examination will think back on the historical backdrop of development of awfulness
classification.

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References
Boivin, Julie. Radical Ornament: Its Effects and Affects Understood through the Materiality of
Rocaille Ornament and Body-Horror Films. Diss. 2015.
Clasen, Mathias. "The Evolution of Horror: A Neo-Lovecraftian Poetics." New Directions in
Supernatural Horror Literature. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2018. 43-60.
Clover, Carol J. Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film-Updated
Edition. Vol. 15. Princeton University Press, 2015.
Heller-Nicholas, Alexandra. Found footage horror films: fear and the appearance of reality.
McFarland, 2014.