Horror Research 3: Films of Horror

Van Helsing

Made: 2004

Film Company: Universal Pictures

Starring:
Hugh Jackman
Kate Beckinsale
Richard Roxburgh
David Wenham
Shuler Hensley
Elena Anaya
Will Kemp
Kevin J. O'Connor
Alun Armstrong

Director: Stephen Sommers

Producers:
Stephen Sommers

Bob Ducsay

Sub Genre: Supernatural Horror

Synopsis: Loosely based an a character from Bram Stoker’s book ‘Dracula’ Van Helsing is a monster hunter who works for the Knights of the Holy Order based in Vatican city. The film revolves around Helsing helping a Transylvanian family to kill Dracula and his family so that their ancestors may go to heaven. Frankenstein’s monster and Two werewolves (one of which is Van Helsing) make an appearance also. The final battle between Van Helsing and Dracula is fought at the top of a clock tower in Draculas lair, with Van Helsing, after having turned into a werewolf, finally killing Dracula by biting his neck.

Other Supernatural Horror Films:


The Exorcist

A

The Phantom of The Opera

A

The invisible Man

Alien

Made: 1979

Film Company: 20th Century Fox

Starring:
Veronica Cartwright

Ian Holm
John Hurt
Yaphet Kotto
Tom Skerritt
Harry Dean Stanton
Sigourney Weaver

Director: Ridley Scott

Producers:
Gordon Carroll
David Giler
Walter Hill

Sub Genre: Scientific Horror

Synopsis:
A crew of 7 are returning from a distant planet Thedus aboard their commercial towing ship the Nostromo. Whilst the crew are all in stasis the ship receives a message from an unknown source on a nearby planetoid, the ships automatic systems awaken the crew from stasis. The ship lands on the planetoid and discovers the source of the transmissions, an alien ship with all of its crew brutally murdered, one of the Nostromo’s crew then investigates a room filled with eggs, one of which hatches, and the resulting creature latches onto the crew members face. Going against health and safety regulations the crew member is brought back to the sick bay where he is pronounced dead, along with the creature attached to his face. After a while the crew member suddenly wakes up and shortly afterwards, the matured alien young bursts out of his chest and runs off to another part of the ship. After killing all but one of the crew the alien is finally defeated and the ship resets its course for earth.

Other Scientific Horror Films:



Eight Legged Freaks





A




Predator








Resident Evil

Halloween

Made: 1978

Film Company: Compass International Pictures

Starring:
Donald Pleasence
Jamie Lee Curtis
Nick Castle
Nancy Loomis
P. J. Soles
Charles Cyphers
Kyle Richards
Brian Andrews

Director: John Carpenter

Producers:
Debra HillJohn CarpenterKool LusbyIrwin YablansMoustapha Akkad

Sub Genre: Naturalistic Horror

Synopsis: On Halloween 1963 Michael Myers aged six brutally murders his 17 year old sister who is tasked with babysitting him; his parents arrive home almost immediately and send him to Smith’s Grove Warren County Sanatorium where he is placed under the care of child psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis. Eight years of treatment lead Dr. Loomis to conclude that Myers is pure evil. 7 years later Myers is now an adult and on transfer to be prosecuted he escapes and returns to his home town of Haddonfield. Upon returning home he stalks and kills three teenagers. Myers finally attacks a fourth teenager whom stabs him in the chest with a knife, however this does not stop him and Myers beings to strangle her, until Dr. Loomis rescues her shooting Myers 6 times, making him fall off of the houses second storey balcony, however on further inspection, Myers body is nowhere to be found.

Other Naturalistic Horror Films:


Friday the 13th





A

A Nightmare on Elm Street

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre