HistoryExtra podcast Horror films: a chilling cultural history
Oct 30, 2023
Professor Roger Luckhurst explores the cultural history of horror films and how they reflect changing social anxieties. He discusses the top 10 horror movies that represent their time. The origins of horror films as a genre are traced back to the 18th century. Real-life fears and experiences have influenced horror films, including political events in the 1930s. Folklore traditions and classic monster movies are explored, along with the significance of the 1960s in horror films. The representation of women and the emergence of the 'final girl' trope are discussed. The revolutionary film 'Night of the Living Dead' and the significance of 'Get Out' in addressing racial inequality are examined. The increasing politicization of horror films and the importance of respecting individual preferences are explored.
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Sound Cemented Early Horror
- Horror coalesced as a distinct film category around 1931–1932 with sound-driven scares like Dracula and Frankenstein.
- Sound (screams, effects) and screen queens made horror emotionally immediate and codified genre tropes.
Panics Are An Old Script
- Moral panics about horror are centuries old, tracing back to Gothic novels from the 18th century.
- Censors invent categories (like 'H' for horrific in 1932) to control perceived cultural dangers.
Frankenstein As Exile Allegory
- Frankenstein fused European Gothic, exile experience, and Hollywood craft to create a potent political metaphor.
- The monster's persecution and doom echoed 1930s fears about fascism and exile.