History of Horror

1896 - The world’s first ‘true’ horror movie was made - The Devil’s Castle. The film was made by an illusionist, and the entire film lasted only 3 minutes!

1898 - George Albert Smith, an Englishman patented his ‘special photographic contrivance.’ His device allowed ‘ghosts’ to be shown on film.

1910 - The first version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is made.

1911 - Notre Dame de Paris is released, filmed by Pathe, it was the first full length movie with a monster in it.

1912 - The Vengeance of Egypt was released by Gaumont, it was the first full length pure horror movie.

1913 - Chaney, ‘The Man of a Thousand Faces’ created make up that stunned the world.

1928 - The Man Who Laughs becomes the first horror movie with sound, even the credits where read out!

1935 - The Bride of Frankenstein boasts a musical score by Frank Waxman, many of the musical norms of horror music where established in this film.

1937 - The ‘H’ (Horrific) certificate was introduced by the BBFC to replace the old ‘A’ (Adult) rating. The BBFC introduces it’s new ’H’ certificate. The ’H’ stands for Horrific and replaces the old ’A’ (Adult) rating.

1946 - Bedlam a film about the infamous St Mary’s of Bethlehem; a Victorian Institution for the insane was banned in Britain.

1952 - The first 3D film is made, despite being a cheap movie, it stills makes a fortune at the box office.

1970 - Hammer is encouraged by a more permissive society to make The Vampire Lovers- an erotic exploitation with nudity and lesbian vampires.

1976 - The Video Home System (VHS) is launched by JVC.

1980 - Paramount release Friday the 13th after the success of Halloween in order to cash in.

1982 - Mary Whitehouse begins a campaign against ‘Video Nasties’.

1994 - Anne Rice’s gothic classic Interview with The Vampire is made into a film, in which Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt appeared.

1996 - The tongue and cheek approach to horror film is taken by Wes Craven, in his new slasher Scream.

2008 - I Spit on Your Grave, Last House on the Left, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scanners, Friday the 13th, Child’s Play, The Birds and Hell Raiser, are all films that have undergone the “revamp” treatment.