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Horror on Film

When you'll study it
Semester 1
CATS points
15
ECTS points
7.5
Level
Level 6
Module lead
Kevin Donnelly
Academic year
2025-26

Module overview

Horror films have been one of the most consistent areas of cinema throughout its history. Despite horror quickly establishing itself in films, it was not until the 1930s and Hollywood's studio system that it became standardized as a genre with a repertoire of icons, themes and production techniques. There has been a constant drive for renewal and reinvention of the horror film in the face of perennial audience popularity. This module will deal with the breadth of the horror genre, looking at subgenres and historical developments as well as dealing with distinctive approaches to the horror film across the world. Topics will include German Expressionist films and the Gothic output of Hammer studios, while issues will include gender and the 'Final Girl' so common in slasher films, as well as representing 'the monstrous'. The variations of issue and film addressed by this module will enable you to gain a deeper understanding of the horror film as a complex of varied discourses and artistic currents rather than simply seeing the film as a moment of horrifying affect.