Editorial: The Evolution of Horror Movies

 

Horror Movies have long since been a significant part of the film industry. It all began with silent movies on creatures of the night like Dracula, to haunted houses, and then creature features. 

Today’s horror movies are vastly different from the offerings of yesteryears. We have horror movies that have become bolder, gory, and most times, a twist on social commentary. 

In the past there have been horror movies on psychological trauma that have led to destructive behavior into adulthood. Most of these movies dealt with how important it was to seek help after experiencing a traumatic experience. 

Movies like Sleepaway Camp startled viewers with a shocking twist. The killer was the person you would least expect it, and all because the child had experienced a life-changing moment and wasn’t allowed to process it. Then there was Psycho where the killer had been pretending to be his mother this whole time. 

Following that, there was the era of demon and exorcism movies. And for some time, those movies worked their charms at the box office. Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist are prime examples of demonic horror movies that are watched and remembered till today. 

By the late nineties, haunted house horror movies took a backseat and there was a resurgence of slasher movies after cult movie series like Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street had ended their series. For the time being at least. 

1996 saw the first release of the Scream franchise. Following that, we had the mysterious I Know What You Did Last Summer. 

Horror Movies, for a long time, were about the killings and the iconic villains. The stories were inventive, no doubt, but they didn’t show us yet that humans could be villains too. 

And that sometimes the antagonist is simply a manifestation of someone’s own twisted, or guilt-ridden mind. 

Jordan Peele brought in a new era of horror movies where the twist wasn’t about a third person turning out to be the villain, but an unforeseen sci-fi themed twist. Get Out and Us took the horror genre to a whole new level. 

M.Night Shyamalan too, created movies that were known more for their shocking twist endings rather than the premise. Remember The Sixth Sense? Who can forget the unexpected ending. No one really saw it coming, did they?

Over time, the horror industry has been perhaps that one genre that has been evolving and creating several sub-genres. 

We have evil dolls and urban legends. We have sharks and crocodiles threatening vacations. And then we have mindless serial killer movies based on fairytales. 

The horror genre has been the most imaginative and evolving genre of the industry that has become more relatable over time by the inclusion of stories that matter to us today. 

They are always entertaining and there is always the possibility of a ethical line being crossed but never actually is. After all, who wants to be cancelled over a sensitive topic? 

Horror Movies will always be a popular genre because it is one of the safest ways to confront fears. It provides you with entertainment and an adrenaline rush. It has several sub-genres and one of them is bound to captivate you and prompt a discussion. 

Whether for the compelling stories, the striking special effects or simply for the adrenaline rush after watching a jump scare, there are plenty of reasons to dive into the world of horror movies.