History of Horror Films: A Terrible Night (1986)

A Terrible Night 

Alternate Titles: Une nuit terrible

Release Date: 1986

Director: Georges Méliès

Producer: Georges Méliès

Writer: NA

Country:France

Genre: Silent, Supernatural, Magic

Rating: .5 out of 5

Released in 1896 and directed by Georges Melies. The film depicts a man trying to sleep and is interrupted by a giant bug. I only mention this film because many consider that this is apart of the horror genre, personally I consider it a comedy. I guess it would be safe to say it is the first horror comedy, however it is nothing more than a silly short film. One interesting fact is that this is the first Méliès to use cinematic special effects. Since I cannot consider this a horror film I could only give this half a star out of 5. But watch for yourself.

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History of Horror Films: The Haunted Castle (1896)

The Haunted Castle

Alternate Titles: Le Manior du diable, The Devil's Castle, The House of the Devil

Release Date: Winter, 1986

Director: Georges Méliès

Producer: Georges Méliès

Writer: NA

Country:France

Genre: Silent, Supernatural, Magic

Rating: 2 out of 5

Also known as The haunted castle in the US and the Devils Castle in the UK. This is a two-minute-long French film directed by Georges Méliès. This film was considered lost until 1988, when a copy was found in the New Zealand Film Archive.  The film tells the story of an encounter with the Devil (or Mephistoheles) and various attendant phantoms. The film contains many traditional pantomime elements and was intentionally meant to amuse people, rather than frighten them, however due to the nature of the subject and, because it includes a transformation involving a bat, skeletons, ghosts, and the devil it has even been called the first true horror film.  In addition to being considered the first horror film some also consider this the first vampire film, with the bat transformation and the fact that the “devil”| is banished with a crucifix. Although this is choppy and slightly goofy it remains an interesting film, but I could only muster up a 2 out of 5, considering the time this is still impressive. 

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History of Horror Films: The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1895)

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

Alternate Titles: The Execution of Mary Stuart

Release Date: August 28th, 1895

Director: Alfred Clark

Producer: Thomas Edison

Writer: NA

Country: US

Genre: Silent, Murder, Execution

Rating: 1 out of 5

Released in 1895 the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots may not be horror in the typical sense but it was the first depiction of a beheading, the first use of trained actors for film and possibly the first use of editing for the purposes of special effects. It was Directed by Alfred Clark and produced by Thomas Edison, yes the same Thomas Edison who invented the electric light, power utilities, sound recording, and motion pictures. Even though this is only 18 seconds long this was quite shocking for the time as many audience members thought a real woman was beheaded for the film. Not much else to describe here so I will let you watch this 20 second short without me babbling on. I would give this a solid 1 out of 5 for ingenuity, creativity and being the first in many categories. 

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