Essay on Horror Movies An Art Form - 463 Words

Ever since the advent of celluloid films, horror movies have always held a fascination for viewers. Just why do people pay good money to be scared out of their wits? Apart from its entertainment value, the horror movie satisfies certain primordial needs in man. Through the horror movies, one is able to come to grips with ones personal demons, fear of death and other irrational phobias and in the process achieve a catharsis. Far from being morbid, such movies actually affirm life for the movie-goer, for he is able to emerge from the dark into the light, both literally and figuratively, having explored the world beyond our normal perception as well as the deep recesses of the human soul and say, Its good to be alive. Horror†¦show more content†¦And that is the greatest fear of all. In the horror movie, however, death is not the be all and end all; it could be the start of a diabolical way of `life, as a vampire, zombie or a resurrected creature as in the case of Frankensteins creation. Such creatures are a travesty of life and their very presence serves to reaffirm our humanity and provide us with a catharsis for our fear of death, for there are worse things, after all. At the most basis level, horror movies are about the age-old fight between good and evil. At a deeper level, however, the beast within us is the evil that we have to conquer. This is exemplified in such movies of spiritual possession as The Exorcist and The Omen. A variation of the possession myth is the myth of transfiguration or metamorphosis. Dracula transfigure his victim with a bite; the full moon transforms a mere mortal into a lethal lycanthrope; a potion facilitates Dr Jekylls metamorphosis into the evil Mr Hyde. These monsters are a symbol of the duality of human and reflect mans constant struggle within himself. The horror movies of the past ten years of so have tended to be more violently graphic and visceral - a reflection of modern times, perhaps. Think of the blood and gore, of the violent deaths at regular intervals in such movies as the Friday the Thirteenth series, I KnowShow MoreRelatedChildren Who View Media Violence1133 Words   |  5 Pages1) In 1999 a study was done stating that fifty-two percent of children who watched horror movies/TV shows, would wake up in the middle of the night with night terrors. Another study was conducted in 2003, this time it was based off of psychology. AllPhsych Online, is an online classroom mostly focused on psychology, states that â€Å"children who view media violence are more likely to have increased feelings of hostility, decreased emotional response to the portrayal of violence and injury that lead toRead MoreHorror Movies Are All the same1163 Words   |  5 Pages Horror movies generally are all the same. They all have been based off of something that has already happened or a previous movie. Society has paid to be entertained by these gruesome stories that we all truly fear. Before movies, people would purchase books of similar traumatic events to read in their spare time for amusement. It has been said by the Filmmakers IQs horror film lesson (2012), that writers such as Bram Stoker created graphic novels that would grab the audiences attention forRead MoreEssay on The Art of Horror Films1194 Words   |  5 PagesHorror movies generally are all the same. They all have been based off of something that has already happened or a previous movie. Society has paid to be entertained by these gruesome stories that we all truly fear. Before movies, people would purchase books of similar tramatic events to read in their spare time for amusement. Writters such as Bram Stoker created graphic novels that grabbed peoples attention for years to come. But the horror movie, The House Of The Devil(1896), was noted as beingRead More The Blair Witch Project Essay1035 Words   |  5 Pagescat versions were made. Movies such as I Know What You Did Last Summer and Urban Legend all followed the same teen slasher format. Nothing is being left up to the movie viewer’s imagination anymore. Everything for the past thirty years was spelled out and given to the viewer, leaving the identity of the killer as the only form of mystery. The genre of horror was losing a very important battle. The bone-chilling movies of the past were giving way to the comedic teen movies of the present.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  WithRead MoreDifferent Forms Of Entertainment For Many Different Types Of People1144 Words   |  5 PagesThere are many forms of entertainment for many different types of people. The two forms of entertainment that I would like to discuss are books and movies, both of which I love. Though both of these subjects have their differences, they also have similarities. Some of which we do not even think about. The purpose of this essay is not to persuade anyone to like books better than movies or visa versa, (even though my heart belongs to books) but to simply tell about their similarities and differencesRead MoreEssay about Apocalypse Now1649 Words   |  7 PagesApocalypse Now I have always enjoyed movies. But at some point I started to think of movies as more than just entertainment. I began to view them as a movie critic would, rather than just a casual viewer. Because of this perspective, I think of Apocalypse Now as one of the best American made movies I have ever seen. As a student of and an active participant in the late twentieth century media age, I feel justified in making this statement. In my lifetime of observation of American mediaRead MoreAlfred Hitchcock s Psychological Pressure, Mystery, And Wit1430 Words   |  6 Pagesintrigued the audiences of his day as well as audiences of the 21st century. These elements of Hitchcock’s films have also inspired the genre of horror films that many know well today. Alfred Hitchcock, known for the false accusations and incredible suspense in his movies, was an extremely successful director and influenced the movie industry with his unique form of film entertainment. Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was born in London in August of the year 1899. He was the youngest of three children in a CatholicRead Moredisadvantage of movie762 Words   |  4 Pagesan important art form, a source of popular entertainment, and a powerful medium for educating or indoctrinating citizens. Some films have become popular worldwide attractions by using dubbing or subtitles to translate the dialog into the language of the viewer. However films have become popular worldwide attractions but for me, films are problems that cause social evils. There are several reasons why films cause social evils. First of all, adultery and premature sex in movies is one of theRead MoreThe Rise Of Special Effects Make Up1411 Words   |  6 Pagesfrom them. Every day was a new discovery and I could never get enough of it. As I grew older I strived to find that one art form that truly expressed me. It would be a long journey, filled with trial and error but I was more than ready for it. I was lucky to start my exploration at a young age. Starting early gave me time to excel and appreciate the different types of art forms out there. I was blown away with everything I tried and even got stuck on a few of them for years. No matter who I wentRead MoreThe Battle Of Algiers ( A Reenactment Of Algeria s Fight For Independence1328 Words   |  6 PagesAn imperative aspect of art is that it is open to interpretation and analysis. If the piece of art is significant, it will be thought or emotion provoking and uncensored. It is not the role of art take cautious steps in an attempt to leave its audience unoffended, but rather to embrace diversity of thought and creativity to portray untainted ideas. Filmmaking—being a form of art—follows the same guidelines and thus shapes society through its objectionable and often jarring subject matter. The Battle