Art horror


Art horror or arthouse horror is a sub-genre of both horror films and art films. It explores and experiments with the artistic uses of horror.

Characteristics

Art-horror films tend to rely on atmosphere building, psychological character development, cinematic style and philosophical themes for effect – rather than straightforward scares.

History

Art-horror films have been described as "a fascinating byproduct of the collision of art and commerce, of genre convention and personal vision". Historically, the genre was loosely related to J-horror and Italian Giallo. In the 2000s, a movement of transgressive films in France known as "New French Extremity" has been described as an arthouse horror film movement.
Although commentators have suggested some horror films have exemplified qualities applicable to "art horror" for many decades, the term became more widely used during the 2010s, with independent film company A24 credited with popularising the genre. The term "elevated horror" was first used in the early 2010s, and subsequently has been the subject of criticism and debate among film critics as it became more widely used.

Defining Art-Horror

In his book Art-Horror Adrian Gmelch identifies 4 aspects that can be an orientation for the definition of art-horror:
  • Film historical and artistic imprinting,
  • horror as a message vehicle,
  • recurring motifs and stylistic elements, and
  • unique visual identity and aesthetics.

Notable art horror films

20th century

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Haxan Nosferatu The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog M Vampyr The Bride of Frankenstein Cat People The Leopard Man I Walked with a Zombie Black Sunday Eyes [Without a Face (film)|Eyes without a Face] Psycho The Innocents Carnival of Souls Blood and Black Lace Kwaidan Repulsion Onibaba Hour of the Wolf Night of the Living Dead Rosemary's Baby Images Sisters Ganja and Hess Don't Look Now The Exorcist Flesh for Frankenstein The Wicker Man Blood for Dracula Picnic at Hanging Rock Eraserhead Opening Night Suspiria Hausu The Brood The Driller Killer Vengeance Is Mine Nosferatu the Vampyre The Shining Possession Videodrome The Hunger

21st century

The Devil's Backbone Donnie Darko Mulholland Drive Trouble Every Day High Tension The Host Pan's Labyrinth Inland Empire Frontier(s) Martyrs Let the Right One In Coraline Antichrist Black Swan Beyond the Black Rainbow A Field in England Under the Skin Only Lovers Left Alive Enemy The Babadook It Follows The Lure The Witch The Neon Demon Shin Godzilla

Notable directors