EES n°5 –Reta 2022
“Horror Workshop”
presents
EES n°5 –Reta 2022
A. Pre-watching the movie
What is Horror?
1. Brainstorm the concept.
HORROR
2. Make a definition of Horror with the words of the brainstorm.
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3. Read the History of Horror as genre and highlight the words from the
brainstorm that appear in the text. If you find one that hasn’t been
mentioned but that it could be added, circle it.
EES n°5 –Reta 2022
A Short History of Horror
The Horror genre emerges from the Fantasy genre. It concentrates on the dark aspects of
fantasy and its goal is to frighten the reader. Its pages are populated by demons, vampires and
ghosts and its settings are usually dark and isolated locations. As in the Fantasy genre, readers
have to engage willingly with the text and to use their imaginations. A common attribute in Horror
literature is the battle between the hero(ine) and the forces of evil.
Gothic is a term sometimes used instead of Horror. The earliest Gothic romance, a class of novel
dealing with the mysterious and supernatural, was Horace Walpole’s Castle of Otranto (1764).
Gothic romances were mysteries, often involving the supernatural and heavily tinged with Horror,
and they were usually set against dark backgrounds of medieval ruins and haunted castles.
Within a plot designed for suspense, a delicate feminine sensibility is subjected to the onslaught
of elemental forces of good and evil. Many times sanity and chastity are threatened, and over all
looms the suggestion that evil and irrationality will destroy civilization.
The dark, brooding, threatening atmosphere becomes the main character in many horror stories. It
is often portrayed in considerable detail so it becomes alive and immediately threatening.
Prominent features of Gothic novels included terror, mystery, the supernatural, doom, death,
decay, old buildings with ghosts, madness, hereditary curses, and so on.
While Horror fiction has been placed in a marginalized position within genre fiction which is
marginalized from “real” literature, Horror has long been part of real literature. Many myths and
legends associated with various cultures feature stories of supernatural creatures. Supernatural
events and creatures are often encountered in myth, legend and folklore. Mary Shelley’s
Frankenstein (1818) and Bram Stoker’s Dracula have become legends of their own.
The English Gothic novel was the predecessor of modern Horror fiction (Stephen King and
Anne Rice’s novels), and above it all has led to the common definition of Gothic as being
connected to the dark and horrific. The Gothic tradition has also expanded its boundaries to
films and music, as well as the new media forms of the internet and video games.
4. In groups, write a new definition of Horror using your previous
definition and the new information added by the text.
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EES n°5 –Reta 2022
Elements of a Horror Movie
5. Match the elements and examples with their descriptions.
ICONOGRAPHY Horror genre generally uses sound to
Chainsaw create suspense; also uses different
Dead People types of shooting to create point of view.
STYLE
Horror films are normally set in
Look through the killer’s eyes location or settings where people are
most vulnerable.
CHARACTERS
Hero/Heroine - Villain
A horror genre normally has a
Damsel-in-Distress good against evil scenario, where
Jock – Bimbo - Jerk we learn monsters terrorize a
Authority Figure group of people.
THEMES
Imagery or symbols which occur in
Good vs Evil
horror genre or have been repeated in
Loyalty vs Deceit the story
SETTING
The killer is usually a supernatural being, and
Haunted House
victims are usually female or vulnerable young
During the Night
adults.
PLOT NARRATIVE
Themes are normally something to
Tale of an exorcism do with struggle.
EES n°5 –Reta 2022
6. There are five types of Horror Movies. Can you think of an example
for each kind?
Monster Films Survival Horror
Deal with monsters of the supernatural A type associated with video games,
variety. where the main characters have to survive
For example: zombies, vampires, etc. against impossible odds
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Slasher Films Psychological Horror
A select group of people is being stalked It typically has a more realistic setting,
by an unknown killer, usually motivated by plays with the character’s fears and
revenge to a wrong deed, either real or insecurities, and is usually more subtle than
imaginary. other horror films.
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“Found Footage” Films
Documentary-style stories where events are recorded by the characters as they
happen, showing their final moments with the footage “found” at a later time.
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7. According to the title “1408”, discuss which type of Horror you think
this movie is?
“HOTELS ARE A NATURALLY CREEPY PLACE... JUST THINK,
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SLEPT IN THAT BED BEFORE YOU? HOW MANY OF THEM WERE SICK?
HOW MANY... DIED?.”
EES n°5 –Reta 2022
B. Mid-watching the movie
“1408”
8. Who are the main characters? Identify the characters according to the
list given in Activity 5 - Characters.
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9. What is the story about?
In groups, summarize the plot in no less than 50 words.
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EES n°5 –Reta 2022
10.How do you think the story will end?
In groups, write a possible ending in no less than 80 words.
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EES n°5 –Reta 2022
C. After watching the movie
Discussion: Are you ready to checkout?
11. According to the History of Horror, does this movie belong to the
genre? Why?
12.What elements of Horror appear in the movie?
13.What type of Horror is it? Were you right in the first place?
14.Was the ending similar to the one you predicted? If not, did you like
the original ending? Is there anything you would have changed?
Homework
15.Write a review of the movie, of about 120-180 words.
Give a short summary of the movie, explain why the movie is Horror (think
of the definition and the elements to justify it) and give your opinion about
it (whether you like it or not; give reasons).
