I'm a working class director from Belfast who makes films that expose the human condition through stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations.

The Evolution of Horror: Beyond Gore

Alright, my film-loving friends!

This week, let’s turn the spotlight on a genre that’s near and dear to my heart – horror. But not just any horror, we’re talking about the kind that gets under your skin, the kind that lingers in your mind long after the screen goes black. I’m talking about the evolution of horror from blood-and-guts to something far more cerebral.

Gone are the days when horror was all about how much blood you could splatter on the screen. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place for a good ol’ gore-fest, but the genre has matured, evolved into something more… nuanced. Today’s horror is about building tension, about creating an atmosphere so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Think about the classics, like Hitchcock’s “Psycho” or more recent masterpieces like Nolan’s dabbling in the psychological. These films don’t rely on shock value alone; they play mind games. They’re about the unseen, the unspoken… the stuff that creeps up on you when you’re least expecting it.

What makes these films truly terrifying isn’t just what you see, it’s what you don’t see. It’s the anticipation, the suspense. It’s the story slowly unfolding, piece by eerie piece, until you’re so entangled in it, you can’t look away – even if you wanted to.

And let’s not forget about the sound design, the score that sends shivers down your spine. The way the shadows play on the wall, the creak of a floorboard, the faint whisper that you’re not quite sure you heard… that’s the stuff of real horror.

In my own work, I’ve always strived to tap into that element of psychological horror – to make films that don’t just startle, but that unsettle. To create stories that stay with you, haunt you, long after they’re over.

So, what do you think about the evolution of horror? Are you a fan of the gore, or do you prefer something that plays tricks with your mind?

#Horror #CinemaEvolution #FilmMaking #HorrorGenre

In Development

  • Faithless – HETV/Feature
    • Feature and Pilot script available
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  • BLACK – Feature
    • Treatment available
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  • 4 Yorkshiremen of the Apocalypse – Feature
    • Treatment available
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  • A Thousand Days to Die
    • Treatment available
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  • AIRMID
    • Script available
    • Short Fantasy Drama
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  • SWEET MERCY
    • Script available
    • Western
    • Written by Annie Rowe