Christian Metz model of genre development

The experimental – means the phase of early films that explored and experimented with horror films in its narratives and these were shown in films such as:

• The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1919)
• Nosferatu (1922)

These early horrors were good because they helped formalise the narrative conventions of the horror films in its earliest phase and this was during the aftermath of the war when soldiers came back with gruesome stories.

The classic – means the phase of films which established the narrative conventions of the horror genre in its most successful & defining period and these were presented in Hollywood films such as:

• ·       Dracula (1931)
• ·       Frankenstein (1931) made by universal

In the late 70’s and early 80’s the experimental stage began to employ psychological origins to the thriller genre.

The parody – films that have mimicked the horror genre in some comical way. Parodies have been made such as:

• ·       Carry on screaming (1968)
• ·       Scary movie (1998)

In the 90's the development stage reached a phrase where thriller scenes and movies incorporated comedic effects watering down expectations of the film.

The deconstruction – films that have taken the generic elements of the horror genre and amalgamated them into varying sub genres. Films include:

• ·       Se7en (1995)
• ·       The sixth sense (1999)

The thriller genre has now evolved into a stage where hybrids are evident. The thriller has now fused with several other genre creating sub-categories the most established being sci-fi/thriller or horror/thriller hybrids.