How is genre established in the film The Others (2001)?
Genre is the term used for a type of movie, film or play being it a horror -Alien ( ), a western – Unforgiven (1992) , a thriller – Scream 3 (2001), etc. These movies play off the obvious things around them, like in westerns, these are always set in the wild west of America.
Also there are some genre’s that cross over to form new genres, i.e. parodies – Not another teen movie (2002) or Gangster/ Horror/ Road – Vampire Hunter D – Bloodlust.
Horror as a Genre is the presents of something abnormal or that intends to frighten, this can be depicted as a vampire, werewolf, zombie, tin man, etc. Also in many horror films the scenery is also abnormal, like in the film Sleepy Hollow (1999), the trees in the woods are distinctively shaped as if they were a person in agony or pain, or perhaps clawing at the actors. This is to give a sense of edge and also to unnerve the person/s watching the film. This also may add to the story. The very first horror film Das Cabinet des Caligari (1920), was the first ever film to wrap the scenery in such a way. This film’s scenery added to the actor’s performance because there was no spoken narrative, as sound had not been invented, i.e. when the somnambulist is hunting the girl he creeps along the wall as if he is part of the shadows. This added tension to the scene, as if it was saying he is a creature of the night and if he dare step into the light he may perish but later on we see this not so.
