Emerging fully only in the second half of the 1950s, the British horror film was initially characterised by Hammer's striking productions, but other producers and styles soon became part of a British horror boom. Explore the British horror film, from its origins in the 1930s and 1940s to its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s and beyond, while considering both its critical and popular reception.
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This online film studies course explores the British horror film from its cautious (and curtailed) origins in the 1930s and 1940s through films such as The Ghoul (1933) and Dead of Night (1945), to the proliferation and commercial success of horror films in the decade and a half following the success of Hammer's The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). From here it will consider the only occasional successes in the genre - two key examples of such being The Wicker Man (1973) and Frightmare (1974), while looking at contemporary examples, including Censor (2021), which reflect something of a renaissance for the British horror film. The course will assess British horror studios such as Hammer, Amicus and Tigon, key horror directors, including Terence Fisher and Peter Walker, and horror stars including Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Ingrid Pitt. It will look at the problematic relationship between the British horror film and the BBFC and British film critics, while also noting its relationship with, and position in, British film culture as a whole, and in doing so, its function as an aspect of British national cinema.
Films featured on the coursed may include the following: The Ghoul (T, Hayes Hunter, 1933), Dead of Night (various, 1945), Night of the Demon (Jacques Tourneur, 1957), The Curse of Frankenstein (Terence Fisher, 1957), Dracula (Terence Fisher, 1958), The Mummy (Terence Fisher, 1959), City of the Dead (John Moxey, 1960), The Innocents (Jack Clayton,1961), Night of the Eagle (Sidney Hayers, 1962), Witchfinder General (Michael Reeves, 1968), The Wicker Man (Robin Hardy, 1973), Frightmare (Peter Walker, 1974), 28 Days Later (Danny Boyle, 2002), The Woman in Black (James Watkins, 2012), Censor (Prano Bailey-Bond, 2021)
What will we cover?
• The history and development of the British horror film • Studios and producers associated with the British horror film (e.g., Hammer, Amicus and Tigon) • Themes in British horror cinema (e,g,. the gothic, class and morality) • Key directors in British horror cinema • Key actors in British horror cinema • British horror cinema and censorship (including the 'video nasties' debate) • The critical reception of British horror cinema (horror as a despised/bad taste/ignored genre) • British horror cinema and British film culture (horror as popular cinema) • British horror cinema as British national cinema
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Assess the history and development of the British horror film • Identify the main studios associated with the British horror film, and their various 'house styles' • Identify and assess the key themes in British horror cinema • Identify key directors and stars in British horror cinema, and assess their styles and contributions to the genre • Evaluate the role and attitude of the BBFC towards British horror films • Evaluate a range of key debates within the British reception of British horror films • British cinema and national 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 reading and 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?
Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.
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.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/the-british-horror-film3079714The British Horror Filmhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/masters-of-cinema-celine-sciamma-hf397-1080.jpg7979GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Introductory & general/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Courses/Online courses/Courses/Halloween Courses2285117715481580173117011228511771580<p>Emerging fully only in the second half of the 1950s, the British horror film was initially characterised by Hammer's striking productions, but other producers and styles soon became part of a British horror boom. Explore the British horror film, from its origins in the 1930s and 1940s to its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s and beyond, while considering both its critical and popular reception.</p>003079705The British Horror Film7979https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/masters-of-cinema-celine-sciamma-hf397-1080.jpgInStockDaytimeSatOnlineAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekend2027-03-20T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allMar 2027Culture, history & humanitiesHF2417979The British Horror Film635179Jon Wisbeythe-british-horror-film/hf241-2627<p>Emerging fully only in the second half of the 1950s, the British horror film was initially characterised by Hammer's striking productions, but other producers and styles soon became part of a British horror boom. Explore the British horror film, from its origins in the 1930s and 1940s to its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s and beyond, while considering both its critical and popular reception.</p>0000-Available|2027-03-20 00:00:00<p>This online film studies course explores the British horror film from its cautious (and curtailed) origins in the 1930s and 1940s through films such as The Ghoul (1933) and Dead of Night (1945), to the proliferation and commercial success of horror films in the decade and a half following the success of Hammer's The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). From here it will consider the only occasional successes in the genre - two key examples of such being The Wicker Man (1973) and Frightmare (1974), while looking at contemporary examples, including Censor (2021), which reflect something of a renaissance for the British horror film. The course will assess British horror studios such as Hammer, Amicus and Tigon, key horror directors, including Terence Fisher and Peter Walker, and horror stars including Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Ingrid Pitt. It will look at the problematic relationship between the British horror film and the BBFC and British film critics, while also noting its relationship with, and position in, British film culture as a whole, and in doing so, its function as an aspect of British national cinema.</p><p>Films featured on the coursed may include the following:<br>The Ghoul (T, Hayes Hunter, 1933), Dead of Night (various, 1945), Night of the Demon (Jacques Tourneur, 1957), The Curse of Frankenstein (Terence Fisher, 1957), Dracula (Terence Fisher, 1958), The Mummy (Terence Fisher, 1959), City of the Dead (John Moxey, 1960), The Innocents (Jack Clayton,1961), Night of the Eagle (Sidney Hayers, 1962), Witchfinder General (Michael Reeves, 1968), The Wicker Man (Robin Hardy, 1973), Frightmare (Peter Walker, 1974), 28 Days Later (Danny Boyle, 2002), The Woman in Black (James Watkins, 2012), Censor (Prano Bailey-Bond, 2021)<br> </p><p>Emerging fully only in the second half of the 1950s, the British horror film was initially characterised by Hammer's striking productions, but other producers and styles soon became part of a British horror boom. Explore the British horror film, from its origins in the 1930s and 1940s to its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s and beyond, while considering both its critical and popular reception.</p><p>• The history and development of the British horror film<br>• Studios and producers associated with the British horror film (e.g., Hammer, Amicus and Tigon)<br>• Themes in British horror cinema (e,g,. the gothic, class and morality)<br>• Key directors in British horror cinema<br>• Key actors in British horror cinema<br>• British horror cinema and censorship (including the 'video nasties' debate) <br>• The critical reception of British horror cinema (horror as a despised/bad taste/ignored genre)<br>• British horror cinema and British film culture (horror as popular cinema)<br>• British horror cinema as British national cinema</p><p>• Assess the history and development of the British horror film<br>• Identify the main studios associated with the British horror film, and their various 'house styles'<br>• Identify and assess the key themes in British horror cinema<br>• Identify key directors and stars in British horror cinema, and assess their styles and contributions to the genre<br>• Evaluate the role and attitude of the BBFC towards British horror films <br>• Evaluate a range of key debates within the British reception of British horror films <br>• British cinema and national cinema </p><p>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. </p><p>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 reading and films mentioned above) but this is not essential.</p><p>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. </p><p>Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>Film studiesIntroductory & generalvirtual637951HF241NONESat20/03/27 - 27/03/2710:30 - 13:0010:3013:002 sessions (over 2 weeks)21 to 4 weeksDaytimeWeekendOnlineOnlineJon WisbeyBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2027-03-20T00:00:00+00:00Mar 2027Culture, history & humanities7979The British Horror Filmthe-british-horror-film/hf241-2627<p>Emerging fully only in the second half of the 1950s, the British horror film was initially characterised by Hammer's striking productions, but other producers and styles soon became part of a British horror boom. Explore the British horror film, from its origins in the 1930s and 1940s to its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s and beyond, while considering both its critical and popular reception.</p>0000-Available|2027-03-20 00:00:00<p>This online film studies course explores the British horror film from its cautious (and curtailed) origins in the 1930s and 1940s through films such as The Ghoul (1933) and Dead of Night (1945), to the proliferation and commercial success of horror films in the decade and a half following the success of Hammer's The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). From here it will consider the only occasional successes in the genre - two key examples of such being The Wicker Man (1973) and Frightmare (1974), while looking at contemporary examples, including Censor (2021), which reflect something of a renaissance for the British horror film. The course will assess British horror studios such as Hammer, Amicus and Tigon, key horror directors, including Terence Fisher and Peter Walker, and horror stars including Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Ingrid Pitt. It will look at the problematic relationship between the British horror film and the BBFC and British film critics, while also noting its relationship with, and position in, British film culture as a whole, and in doing so, its function as an aspect of British national cinema.</p><p>Films featured on the coursed may include the following:<br>The Ghoul (T, Hayes Hunter, 1933), Dead of Night (various, 1945), Night of the Demon (Jacques Tourneur, 1957), The Curse of Frankenstein (Terence Fisher, 1957), Dracula (Terence Fisher, 1958), The Mummy (Terence Fisher, 1959), City of the Dead (John Moxey, 1960), The Innocents (Jack Clayton,1961), Night of the Eagle (Sidney Hayers, 1962), Witchfinder General (Michael Reeves, 1968), The Wicker Man (Robin Hardy, 1973), Frightmare (Peter Walker, 1974), 28 Days Later (Danny Boyle, 2002), The Woman in Black (James Watkins, 2012), Censor (Prano Bailey-Bond, 2021)<br> </p><p>Emerging fully only in the second half of the 1950s, the British horror film was initially characterised by Hammer's striking productions, but other producers and styles soon became part of a British horror boom. Explore the British horror film, from its origins in the 1930s and 1940s to its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s and beyond, while considering both its critical and popular reception.</p><p>• The history and development of the British horror film<br>• Studios and producers associated with the British horror film (e.g., Hammer, Amicus and Tigon)<br>• Themes in British horror cinema (e,g,. the gothic, class and morality)<br>• Key directors in British horror cinema<br>• Key actors in British horror cinema<br>• British horror cinema and censorship (including the 'video nasties' debate) <br>• The critical reception of British horror cinema (horror as a despised/bad taste/ignored genre)<br>• British horror cinema and British film culture (horror as popular cinema)<br>• British horror cinema as British national cinema</p><p>• Assess the history and development of the British horror film<br>• Identify the main studios associated with the British horror film, and their various 'house styles'<br>• Identify and assess the key themes in British horror cinema<br>• Identify key directors and stars in British horror cinema, and assess their styles and contributions to the genre<br>• Evaluate the role and attitude of the BBFC towards British horror films <br>• Evaluate a range of key debates within the British reception of British horror films <br>• British cinema and national cinema </p><p>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. </p><p>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 reading and films mentioned above) but this is not essential.</p><p>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. </p><p>Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>Film studiesIntroductory & generalconfigurable
15481580Introductory & generalhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/film-studies/introductory-general1/2/285/1177/1580/15481/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Introductory & general
