The British Horror film beyond Hammer

Course Dates: 17/05/25 - 24/05/25
Time: 10:30 - 13:00
Location: Online
Tutors: 
Jon Wisbey
Night of the Demon (1957), The Wicker Man (1973) and Frightmare (1974) form part of a less familiar, though equally striking, horror tradition than that of Hammer, and often in very different terms. Explore chillers from the 1930s and 40s, the proliferation of horror in 1950s, 60s and 70s along with more recent examples, while assessing a range of critical accounts of British horror beyond Hammer.
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 £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00

The British Horror film beyond Hammer
  • Course Code: HF021
  • Dates: 17/05/25 - 24/05/25
  • Time: 10:30 - 13:00
  • Taught: Sat, Daytime
  • Duration: 2 sessions (over 2 weeks)
  • Location: Online
  • Tutor: Jon Wisbey

Course Code: HF021

Sat, day, 17 May - 24 May '25

Duration: 2 sessions (over 2 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 looks at British horror cinema beyond the studio with which the genre is most commonly associated. It will consider a range of films, including those mentioned above, and the ways in which they offer an alternative to Hammer's dominant style and ideological positioning in their particular approach to the gothic. We will consider the often sporadic production of British horror films beyond that of Hammer, such as a group chillers in the 1930s and 1940s, and a range of independent horror and science fiction films in the 1950s and 1960s, but will note that the output of Amicus, a studio specialising in horror, constitutes a significant body of British horror films from the 1960s to the 1980s, stylistically and thematically differentiated from other traditions in British horror cinema. The course will also consider the horror films of Pete Walker and Norman J Warren in the 1970s and 1980s, along with more recent developments in British horror cinema.

A representative group of films for this course might include the following:
The Ghoul (1933), The Face at the Window (1939), The Dark Eyes of London (1939), Dead of Night (1945), The Queen of Spades (1949), The Fall of the House of Usher (1950), Night of the Demon (1957), Horrors of the Black Museum (1959), City of the Dead (1960), Night of the Eagle (1962), The Innocents (1963), Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965), Carry On Screaming! (1966), Witchfinder General (1968), The House that Dripped Blood (1971), Tales from the Crypt (1972), The Wicker Man (1973), Don't Look Now (1973), Theatre of Blood (1973), Frightmare (1974), Satan's Slave (1976), 28 Days Later (2002), Dog Soldiers (2002), Shaun of the Dead (2004), The Woman in Black (2012), Censor (2021).

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 can be used if you don't have a computer but please note the experience may be less optimal.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

• The history and development of the British horror film
• Studios and producers associated with the British horror film (e.g., Amicus and Tigon)
• Themes in British horror cinema (e.g., the gothic, class and morality)
• Key directors in British horror cinema (e.g., Pete Walker and Norman J Warren)
• British horror cinema and censorship (including the 'video nasties' debate)
• The critical reception of British horror cinema
• British horror cinema and genre
• 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 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 the reception of British horror films
• Describe and evaluate British horror cinema as a genre cinema
• Evaluate British horror cinema as British 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, 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 at www.citylit.ac.uk/history, culture and 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.