Christian Metz (model of genre) development of Horror

Metz Theory has 4 stages-

1) The Experimental
2) The Classic
3) The parody
4) The Deconstruction

1) The Experimental is the phase of the early film which explored and experimented with horror theme in its narrative.

Films such as The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1919) and Nosferatu (1922)

They used this as they helped formalise the narrative conventions of the horror film in its earliest phase.


2) The Classical is the phase of films which established the narrative conventions of the horror genre in its most successful and defining period.

Films such as Frankenstein (1931) and Dracula (1931)

3) The Parody is when a film has been taken and been made into a spoof of the original.

Films such as Abott and Costello meets Frankenstein (1948) and Scream (1996)

4) The Deconstruction when a genre gets combined with another genre like horror and thriller.

Films such as Seven (1995) and The Sixth Sence (1999)