Horror movies have always entertained thrill-seeking viewers. However, the evolution of horror films caused the audience to enjoy these scary films in a different way. The decades of the 1920s and the 1990s differ tremendously in many aspects, including film production, plot trends, and casting. The 20s held no diversity within the cast, lower quality fx, and unadvanced lighting techniques. The 90s held lower production costs (due to innovation), more sexual diversity, and films that represented the fear of a new century (the 2000s).
1920s horror films reflect the nightmares of the men who lived through the wars of this decade. Silent movies were very popular. These types of horror movies alternated the perspectives of our society and culture. The Roaring Twenties are often exaggerated to be reminded of the period when people had a good time all the time. This exaggeration was shown in the personalities of the actors in the film. However, the horror films portrayed dark themes hidden under the “good times”.
In the 1990s, horror movies focused on contemporary fears and spat them back as fiction. The fear of death and destruction caused by the unknown was a popular theme in the 90s horror films. Also, slasher films were extremely popular around this time. With innovations in the editing, production, and fx departments, films were able to depict the gruesome nature of serial killers and demons.
