Roots of Horror in Classic Literature
Frankenstein
Frankenstein was originally written by Mary Shelley and was published anonymously in London, 1818. A second edition was published in France in 1823 but this time had Shelley's name featured. A film was adapted in 1910 by Edison Studios.
The story caused quite a lot of controversey after its release, focused on the fact that a man had created a living being. Religious arguments were very strong the time with the Science vs Nature/religion debate at the top of the list and many Christians disagreed with the novel as they saw Dr. Frankenstein 'playing god' which is seen as blasphomous and therefore sinful.
One scene in the film imparticular was frowned upon; the monster throws a girl in a lake which causes her to drown. This caused many parents and families to be upset as people were not warned about the comprimising content of the movie. This scene was later dropped from the production.
Dracula
Dracula was originally written by Bram Stoker but the story has had many different adaptations and sequels across the years.
The novel is told in the form of diary entries and letters that are written by the novel's main protragonist. It takes place mainly in England and Transylvania in 1893, in which a man travels from England to Transylvania and stays in the Count's house. He unfortunatley cuts himself whilst shaving and the Count lunges at the man's throat and starts to drink the blood. The man then finds himself imprisoned in the castle due to the discovery of Dracula's secret. He is then targeted by three seductive female vampires as a ploy for Dracula to try and kill him.
Although vampires were known to be mythical, Count Dracula could shape shift into a bat; which is a real creature that people know about. This caused a sense of fear amongst the audience as all of a sudden they could related to the film. Next time they see a bat they may wonder about it's true identity in their head.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was originally titled Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and was written by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, then subsequently pubished in 1886.
The novel follows the story of a London lawyer called Gabriel John Utterson who investigates occurances between his old friend Dr Jekyll and the evil Mr Hyde. The story is based on 'dissociative identity disorder" which means that there are more than one distinct personality in one body. This is the case with Dr Jekyll; whos other part is Mr Hyde.
Jekyll and Hyde is now part of the English language, another term for the disorder. "Someone who is vastly different in character from one situation to the next."
Horror of the Silent Era
Le Manoir du Diables (The Devil's Manor)
The first horror film on record is from 1896 and is entitled "Le Manoir du Diables". It was created by one of film's earliest visionaires, Georges Melies. Although it has a running time of little over three minutes, it still manages to pack in all the horror stereotypes: bats, couldrons, ghosts, and things disappearing in a puff of smoke.
German Expressionism
German Expressionism refers to many related creative movements beginning in Germany before WWII that was most popular in Berlin in the 1920s. These developments in Germany were part of a larger expressionist in European culture in ways such as architecture, painting and cinema.
Monsters and Mad Scientists
The Primal Animal Within; Werewolves and Cat People
Mutant Creatures and Alien Invaders
The Blob
The Blob was originally relased in 1958, however there have been two remakes since then. The film is about an unidentifiable creature which feeds and expands on individual fears and feelings. As the Blob expands, it terrorises more and more communities. It is said to represent the potential dangers of Space Travel but the most common thought is that it was a piece of propogander showing people how Communism can sneak up on you and engulf you at any time without you knowing it. Its warning people to vigilant and to always have their eyes and ears open to avoid it.
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