Monstrous Beginnings

How horrors origins continue to influence todays filmmakers.

It was a winter night in 2019 and I had only watched fragments of clips from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre until this point. Reason being? I had simultaneously been intrigued, yet fearful of horror films throughout my adolescence due to the psychological damage I had been warned about. I had yet to build up the courage to watch one in full until this point.

My pent-up curiosity evidently got the better of me when on a whim decided to load it up in the middle of the night. Looking back on that day, I can definitely say my infatuation with 70s film culture originated the instant I watched that film. As I did, all I could think to myself was that this film is a cinematic masterpiece in its own kind. The raw emotion of dread provoked inside of me…it had been nothing I’d ever experienced before. I was on the edge of my seat throughout. Its lack of budget helped set the tone, from the usage of unknown but competent actors, animal cadavers, gritty cinematography, even down to incorporating real human bones. All these aspects are what help to encapsulate a horrifying affair. It at times felt as if I was witnessing a well-shot snuff film thanks to its feeling of realism.

If you asked the average person their perspective on the horror genre, they’d more than likely repeat something along the lines of “a nonsensical gorefest that’s only purpose is to pass the time”. They wouldn’t be entirely wrong, given many of the horror films that have been released in recent decades, like Slender Man (2018) and Spiral (2021).

But what if I told you horror played a direct role in breaking censorship in film, and modern film as we know it wouldn’t exist without it? It’s pretty hard to imagine considering the dismissive attitude people have towards horror's value, but I kid you not, we would have no Inception or The Matrix without its role within the Hollywood Renaissance movement (more on that later.) These all seem like bold statements without backing but it’s crucial we start from its beginnings.

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Horror is one of the oldest withstanding genres, unlike western or film noir that came to an ultimate demise, horror has withstood the test of time since its introduction to film in the late 1800’s. However, our beginning doesn’t actually start there, but with three key eras; the Production Code era, the Hollywood Renaissance and the consequences of modern film, where we are now.

So what exactly was the Production Code era? In the 1910s, silent films were at their peak and horror had started to make its way into mainstream cinema. It took inspiration from Gothic literature which was all the rave at that point in time. Book to film adaptations such as Frankenstein (1910) & Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1912) were amongst the first of their kind and started a new wave of film.

However, things took a turn for Hollywood due to its exceeding controversies such as iconic actor Fatty Arbuckle being brought to trial for the rape and murder of actress Virginia Rappe, and Barbara La Marr’s kidnapping. On top of that, Washington wasn’t pleased with the lack of morality displayed in films, blasphemous topics such as premarital sex, nudity, mythology and more were prevalent which caused an outcry with major Catholic groups. The capital already had permits for censorship in Chicago and New York and they were on the hunt for Hollywood next.

Sound being introduced to film heralded a further change. This would completely change the trajectory of filmmaking. Hollywood knew this would give Washington the opportunity to grab complete control over the industry. Major Hollywood studios (the Big Five), made up of Warner Brothers, RKO, Fox, MGM and Paramount, came together to create the Motion Picture Association Of America (MPPDA). Their aim was to relegate the content to a standard Washington would more willingly accept. The man in charge of this was Will H Hays, a Washington insider. His job was to keep the relationship between Washington and Hollywood smooth, in order for Hollywood to keep control.

In 1929, devoted Catholics Martin Quigley, a publisher, and Father Daniel Lord, a Jesuit priest, wrote the Motion Picture Production Code (MPPC or Hays Code). It was a guideline of do’s, don’ts and ‘carefuls!’ of what was and wasn’t allowed to be incorporated in films. Blasphemy, nudity, sexually suggestive dialogue, provocative kissing, alcoholism, indecent dancing, profanity, drugs, miscegenation and many more were prohibited to be shown or mentioned. Catholic values were to be implemented at all times, such as messaging like good morals will always triumph evil. This simplified the story process, studios were able to mass produce films (averaging around 800 film releases in a year).

Even under these strict conditions horror thrived, especially now that sound had arrived across all genres. This impacted horror the most, as filmmakers no longer had to solely rely on visual aspects to create scares. With sound, films could now set the tone with music, this was proven to be popular with the 1931 film Tod Browning's Dracula, the first non-silent Universal Monsters, as well as being the first feature-length horror film with the inclusion of sound. Universal Studios went on to mass produce films from the 1930 to the 1940s, becoming a dominant force in horror. However, the Universal Gothic horror cycle started to lose its spark with its repetitiveness and laughable film titles like The Mummy's Hand and Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man. But what really put the nail in the coffin for Universal is when RKO Pictures came into the picture.

Instead of using makeup and monsters like Universal, RKO would use leftover studio sets and shadows to set the moods to create its scares. It focused on trying to scare the audience psychologically rather than through physical attributes. In 1942, Cat People created a frenzy with film-goers with its iconic stalker scene. We follow a woman down a dark street at night. She senses she’s being watched and begins to pick up her pace and glance over her shoulder. Only the sound of her stilettos punctuates the silence. When she turns to look one last time we hear a grumbling, hissing sound that was presumed to be a cat. To everyone’s relief, startling noise turns out to be a bus stopping. With a small budget of $141,000, it made four million in the box office. And thus, the jumpscare technique was born.

Hollywood was in a downward spiral. America had just entered the war, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and with the rise of television, people were more inclined to watch shows at home. However, the true turning point for Hollywood was the death of the studio system.

In 1948, the biggest case in film history was taken to the supreme court. Up until this point, the entire film system was under the Big 5’s control. They owned the talent, produced the films and owned practically all cinemas across the country. The talent (directors, actors, writers etc) were given long-term contracts, which meant they were bound to that studio for either a specific amount of time or for a distinct amount of films. The only time they could work for another studio was when the studio would request them to be loaned out for a large sum of money.

Independent theatres were severely targeted. The studios would coerce them into bulk buying a large number of their lower quality films in order to get access to a big film production. The exploitative system was called block-booking. This led to the infamous United States v. Paramount Pictures case due to its violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act which ‘prohibits activities that restrict interstate commerce and competition in the marketplace’. The supreme court ruled in favour of the government, completely dismantling the studio system. Block-booking was no longer lawful, long-term contracting phased out and studios were forced to sell their cinemas.

Up until this point, horror films were deemed lesser to other genres like epics and dramas, so A-listers were shunned from starring in horrors. Filmmakers needed to compensate by targeting a new demographic, teens. Teenagers didn’t care for coherent plotlines, their only interests were the scares. Throughout the 1950s, horror films mainly consisted of cinema gimmicks such as Macabre (1958), where director William Castle offered $1,000 life insurance policies if viewers died of fright.

But in 1960, Alfred Hitchcock’s scandalous film Psycho proved there was more to horror than just regurgitated gimmicks. Psycho truly embodied a new phenomenon of horror. Serial killers were unheard of, it was unfathomable that a monster could be presented as the average person but deep down be a sadistic killer. It filled the viewers with terror, and still does to this day. And not to mention the sexual innuendos throughout the film, notably the unforgettable shower scene. To many, it’s considered to be the first ever psychological horror film and one of the first horror films to challenge the Hays code.

Theatres were now able to show independent and European films, which didn’t have to be regulated by the PCA. The Hays code started becoming ungovernable and here rises a new era of film to come.

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The 1960’s were a time of great social upheaval, with the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement in response to the Vietnam War and the counterculture all challenging traditional values and norms. As a result, the Hollywood Renaissance emerged in the late 60s.

In 1968, Roman Polanski released the groundbreaking Rosemary's Baby which refined the genre yet again. It was one of the only films to have really delved into the psychological side of horror after Psycho. The film explores the themes of paranoia and loss of control. We see this as we follow the depiction of Rosemary’s increasing sense of unease and suspicion as she progressively becomes convinced that her neighbours are part of a sinister conspiracy. This truly resonated with audiences at the time, with most finding solitude in films depicting characters in even more ghastly circumstances than their own.

That same year, George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead had also played a revolutionary role in the genre, featuring the first ever black protagonist in a leading horror role. The main character, Ben, played by actor Duane Jones, is forced to fight for his survival against a horde of flesh-eating zombies.

This was groundbreaking not only for horror but the industry as a whole, as he defied the stereotypical roles that had been assigned to black actors within Hollywood. The fact that the film depicted a black man as a hero which had been unfathomable to most, was seen as a powerful statement. Jones’ performance was widely praised for its intelligence, strength and complexity as it paved the way for greater diversity across all genres. Romero was also praised for his willingness to tackle taboo social issues within the film, such as, racial tensions, government incompetence, media sensationalism and the breakdown of societal norms.

The success of these films helped to establish horror as a viable and profitable genre in Hollywood. Night of the Living Dead, in particular, inspired a wave of independent horror films that followed in its wake the following decade.

The 1970’s is where horror solidified their place as pioneers within the Hollywood renaissance. Films were becoming increasingly inclined to incorporate explicit content, thanks to the controversial Bonnie and Clyde (1967) pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable in mainstream cinema. However, it wasn’t until the release of Wes Craven’s exploitation horror, The Last House on the Left (1972) where the film went above and beyond, with its graphic depictions of sadistic-violence and sexuality. The film was subsequently banned in the UK and left audiences in awe, setting a new standard for horror films to come.

1974 was a crucially important year for horror. With the release of The Exorcist, it proved horror to be a major force within the industry. The film grossed over $441 million worldwide making it the highest grossing R-rated horror film of all time. The Exorcist was one of the first supernatural horrors to have actually explored the subject of demonic possession and inspired many to come. It also pioneered the use of special effects for creating realistic and terrifying scenes, such as the famous head-spinning scene.

In addition to the Exorcist, 1974 also saw the releases of two influential horrors that would lay the groundwork for the slasher genre: Black Christmas and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Despite common speculation, the slasher genre was not directly inspired by the influx of serial killers, but influenced by the cultural anxiety surrounding violent crime such as the rise in urban crime rates and the fallout events like the presidency of Richard Nixon, Vietnam War and Watergate. Despite the films both being similar in concepts, they influenced the genre in their own ways. Black Christmas is considered the first of the genre and set the template for many of the tropes such as, the playing on the killer’s point of view shots which had first been played upon in Psycho and the final girl trope. Whereas The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was influential for its gritty realism and portrayals of graphic violence despite its small budget, which had influenced not only slasher but horror as a whole. However, it wasn’t until 1978 that slasher’s made its way into mainstream cinema.

On 25 October 1978, John Carpenter's Halloween became one for the books, by becoming the highest-grossing independent horror of all time, earning a total of $70 million at the worldwide box office. Through utilising elements of its predecessors such as the use of suspense, the killer’s POV and the final girl trope, it was proven to be a successful formula. The film’s immense success inspired a surge of independent filmmakers to take on this lucrative sub-genre.

As the golden age of horror began to emerge in the 80’s, the slasher had become its leading subgenre with the likes of Friday the 13th (1980) and Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). This era also saw the rise in supernatural horror films like Poltergeist (1982), psychological horror classics like The Shining (1980) and the emergence of new sub-genres such as body horror, exemplified by films like The Fly (1986) and Videodrome (1983) and comedy horror seen in An American Werewolf in London (1981) and Evil Dead II (1987).

The Hollywood renaissance was in decline by the early 80’s. With the rise of blockbuster films in the late 70s and early 80s, such as the iconic thriller Jaws (1975) and action-adventure Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) came mass appeal, creating an influx in big-budget productions. As they dominated the box office, it left little room for smaller, more artistic films.

Another factor that led to its demise was the changing political and cultural landscape within the states at the time. As previously mentioned, the emergence had initially begun due to its counter cultural themes and anti-establishment sentiments which resonated with audiences at a time of political unrest and social upheaval. However, as the country began to move towards a more conservative political climate, during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, these types of films became less profitable.

The golden age of horror came to an end in the late 80s and early 90s due to several major factors. One of the main reasons was the over-saturation of the market with low-quality horror films, such as the formulaic and predictable Friday the 13th and Halloween franchises, which failed to offer original plots and characters, as their originals, leading to a decline in audience interest. Additionally, the increasing reliance on special effects and gore shifted the focus away from psychological horror, which had been popular in the earlier parts of the golden age. This shift led to a decline in the quality of storytelling and character development in horror films. The rise of the Action and Sci-fi genres within the Hollywood Renaissance also contributed to the decline of horror's popularity. Finally, the use of home videos and cable television made it easier for audiences to access horror films, which led to a decrease in the demand for theatrical releases.

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We now head into the modern era of film, with slashers having run its course. At this point in time, the horror front was fairly stale. Throughout the early 90s, there was a large influx of horror comedies being pumped out like Dead Alive (1992) and Leprechaun (1993) with the hopes of gaining the same commercial success as its predecessors. It wasn’t until the release of Wes Craven’s Scream (1996) would we see a new wave of horror.

Following the success of Scream, a new wave of horror films emerged that incorporated self-awareness and meta-commentary on the horror genre. These parody slashers, such as, I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and Final Destination (2000), were commercial successes and gained a large following, particularly among the teen demographic they were targeting. At the same time, psychological horror also began to reemerge, following the critical acclaim of The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Films like The Sixth Sense (1999), which explored themes of grief and loss through a supernatural lens, became popular among audiences and helped to establish a comeback in horror.

Another wave of horror to emerge was torture porn, which was characterised by its intense focus on graphic violence, gore, and torture. This subgenre is seen as a modern reboot of the splatter films that emerged in the Hammer Horror era of the 1970s in Britain, which also contained elements of violence and gore. Examples of torture porn films include Saw (2004), which features characters being subjected to elaborate and gruesome traps and Hostel (2005) which follows a group of backpackers who are kidnapped and tortured by a secret organisation. At the time of their releases, these films were controversial for their extreme violence and gore and were criticised by some for their perceived glorification of torture and sadism.

The latest wave of horror was the found footage horror sub-genre, which contrary to beliefs, did not emerge in the 2000s. Its origins fall back to the highly controversial film, Cannibal Holocaust (1980) which follows a group of documentary filmmakers who venture into the Amazon rainforest and encounter a tribe of cannibals. However, it wasn’t until The Blair Witch Project (1999) that the sub-genre gained popularity, thanks to the marketing campaign that suggested the footage presented was real. This trend continued with the release of Paranormal Activity (2007), which used a similar marketing strategy and became a massive commercial success, spawning several sequels and imitators (cough Unfriended cough).

Horror techniques have proven a significant impact on modern filmmaking, influencing a wide range of genres beyond just horror. For example, the science fiction genre has often incorporated elements of horror, using suspense and tension to explore themes of identity and the unknown. Recent films like Annihilation (2018) and Ex Machina (2014) have used horror techniques like body horror and psychological terror to create a sense of unease, uncertainty and the dread of the unknown. Similarly, the thriller genre has always been closely related to horror, with recent films like Gone Girl (2014) and The Girl on the Train (2016) using horror techniques like jump scares, psychological terror and suspense to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Finally, the superhero genre has also been influenced by horror, with recent films like Joker (2019) incorporating elements of psychological and body horror into its storytelling as we see Arthur Fleck’s psychical and mental state deteriorating as he descends into madness and violence.

These films demonstrate how horror has had a lasting impact on modern filmmaking, inspiring filmmakers to experiment with these techniques and push the boundaries of what is possible in storytelling.

The evolution of horror over the years has proven that the genre is not just about cheap thrills and jumpscares, but a reflection of experience and the fears that haunt us all. The genre has continuously evolved and adapted, in order to encapsulate the persistent anxieties of each generation, whether it be the demand for more artistically daring and socially relevant films in the 60s or the emergence of new technologies and the rise of globalism in the 21st century. Horror remains a vital part of film history and a testament to the power of storytelling. Regardless of whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or hate it with every fibre of your being, there’s no denying we can see the everlasting impact horror has contributed to cinema.