Exploring horror cinema

Course Dates: 26/02/25 - 26/03/25
Time: 19:45 - 21:30
Location: Online
Tutors: 
Explore the horror film, past and present, through a range of key films, concepts and critical accounts of the genre. We will consider its history and development, and the ways in which different production contexts, for example, American, European and East Asian horror cinemas, have given rise to significant variation within the genre, with each producing films with distinctive styles, themes.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
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Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £77.00

Exploring horror cinema
  • Course Code: HF205
  • Dates: 26/02/25 - 26/03/25
  • Time: 19:45 - 21:30
  • Taught: Wed, Evening
  • Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
  • Location: Online
  • Tutor: Jon Wisbey

Course Code: HF205

Wed, eve, 26 Feb - 26 Mar '25

Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)

Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.

What is the course about?

This online film studies course explores a range of ways of approaching and thinking about the horror film. It will consider key themes, concepts and critical accounts of the genre and its critical and cultural status. We will also be thinking about the popular appeal of the horror film for audiences and its changing status and cultural function, from its earliest days in the silent era, to today's mainstream blockbusters. We will also explore a range of production contexts, past and present, including both classical and post-classical Hollywood, British and European cinemas, and East Asian cinemas, and the variation on the genre that have emerged within each of these.

Films featured on the course might include the following:
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1919), Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror (1922), The Phantom of the Opera (1925), Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), Vampyr (1932), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Night of the Demon (1957)The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Dracula (1958), The Mummy (1959), Eyes Without a Face (1960), Black Sunday (1960), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Rosemary's Baby (1968), The Exorcist (1973), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Suspiria (1977), Halloween (1978), The Evil Dead (1981), Ring (1998), The Blair Witch Project (1999), Scream (1999), Dark Water (2002), The Grudge (2002), [REC] (2007), Let the Right One In (2008), Insidious (2010), Hereditary (2018).

Prior viewing and reading is not required. The tutor will provide notes for each session and suggest further reading and viewing.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

• The horror film and genre
• Themes and concepts in horror cinema
• Critical accounts of horror cinema
• Key films and filmmakers in horror cinema
• Film style and horror cinema
• Horror cinema and its audiences
• Production contexts (Hollywood, Britain Europe, East Asia)
• Remakes and series/franchise horror cinema.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Evaluate horror cinema as genre
• Identify and assess a range of concepts in horror cinema
• Evaluate a range of critical accounts of horror cinema
• Identify and evaluate a range of key films and filmmakers in horror cinema
• Assess different film styles in horror cinema
• Assess the relationship between horror cinema and its audiences
• Identify and assess various productions contexts for horror cinema
• Evaluate horror cinema's approach to remakes and series/franchise horror cinema.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing film. The course will provide an introduction to the subject but will also be useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge in the subject area.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Screenings of extracts from films, talks by the tutor, reading materials, small and large group discussions. It might also be a good idea to see what you can find out about the subject in advance of the class (see the films mentioned above) but this is not essential.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts. The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Look for other film studies courses on our website at www.citylit.ac.uk/History, Culture & Writing/Film Studies.

Jon Wisbey

Jon Wisbey teaches film at City Lit and Morley College. He was for many years a committee member and vice-chair of Chelmsford Film Club, screening contemporary and classic world cinema releases. He has an MA in Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. His teaching focuses on classical and post-classical Hollywood, European cinema, British cinema, film noir and horror cinema.

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.