Supernatural

horror genre

Supernatural-Horror – When we use devices or themes which goes against the natural world. This

when things happen that no one can explain as to why they happen. This involves individuals having

different abilities such as having super powers that other cannot have.

It can also be gruesome when the killer starts to kill their victims and ghosts can be included in this

sub-genre.

There are themes such as demonic powers, witchcraft and afterlife that are included to make the genre

much more supernatural other than having it all horror with gruesome killing. They include symbols

that are easily noticed that can be placed under the different theme categories.

These are symbols that are usually included in

this sub-genre as it links to demonic things to

occur during the movie.

-Devil’s trap

-Angel ward

History of Supernatural horror:

This genre has been rooted to the folklore and

religious traditions that has something to do with

death, afterlife and evil that is embodied in the

devil.

These were all shown in stories of witches,

vampires, ghosts and werewolves.

The very first film that was associated with this

genre was mainly linked to the horror genre and it

was “Manoir du diable” in 1896.

From the eighteenth century many films has been

produced which has a mixed genre of both

supernatural and horror.

Films such as “Tamara” 2005 was a horror mixed

with supernatural. Later films such as “Paranormal

activity” which was produce in 2009 with a strong

supernatural theme to it.

However, films such as “The Conjuring” and

“Annabelle” has been produced in 2013/2014

“Le manoir du diable” 1896

This is a French film that was directed by

George Méliès which runs for 2 minuets. The

translation of the film title is ‘The House of

the Devils’.

Released at Theatre Robert Houdin in Paris

from this film the horror genre has been

created.

Plot:

Large bat that flies into a medieval castle and

the bat’s wings start to change into

Mephistopheles.

Demons produce skeletons, ghosts and

witches from the cauldron. Summoned

underworld cavaliers holds a crucifix up

which makes Satan vanish in blast of smoke.

“Tamara” 2005

It is an American horror film that was directed

by Jeremy Haft, this movie’s running time is 98

minuets.

Released by City Lights Pictures a Manhattan

based production company.

Plot:

An unattractive/intelligent girl is picked on by

other students in her school and was set up by

them to be filmed at a motel thinking she’s

going to be meeting up with a teacher she has a

crush on.

They have a fight and she dies from hitting her

head on a table corner, she comes back a

seductive girl taking revenge through

witchcraft.

Box office - $206,871

“The Conjuring” 2013

It is an American supernatural horror movie which

was directed by James Wan.

The running time of this movie is 112 minutes.

Plot:

A family has moved into a new house where

strange supernatural occurrences started to happen.

The family gets two supernatural investigators to

help solve their problems, however, the mother

ends up getting possessed by the supernatural being

which has been lurking in and around their family.

They decided to get a priest to bless their house and

they wanted evidence that supernatural things was

happening as they were not part of the church

community.

Box office: Their budget to make the film was

$20million and their film grossed over $318million

worldwide

“Annabelle” 2014

An American supernatural horror movie that was

directed by John R. Leonetti, produced by James Wan

and Peter Safran.

The running time for this movie is 98 minutes.

Plot:

A couple finds a doll and displays it with her collection

of smaller dolls. Strange activities starts to happen at the

couple’s house and finds out that a demonic being is

within the doll they found and is taunting the couple and

their baby.

They try to get rid of the doll but ends up with them in

their new house. The wife starts to see a scary looking

woman with the doll who wants to take her healthy baby

girl. They try to fight off the demonic being to protect

their child.

Box office: Their budget to make the film was $6.5

million and their film grossed over $167.2 million.

How has the genre changed over the past couple of years since the very first film?

• Since the birth of the Supernatural horror genre, a lot of significant key factors that

contributes to the genre has evolved.

• From ‘Le manoir du diable’ they have added many paranormal scenes to different movies

to represent the supernatural and horror theme. Such as ‘The conjuring’ where the mother

gets possessed and tries to kill her youngest daughter.

• They have also added more significant factors such as witchcraft to some of the

supernatural films that has been produced. Some films also have humans who have

super powers which was not around during the birth of supernatural horror genre.

• Most supernatural horror films have happy endings where they fight off any of the

demonic beings that lurks around them, however, there are some films where the demonic

being comes back to taunt them when they think they’re free such as Paranormal Activity.