Horror films were first created in the 1890s - 1900s. The first depictions of short silent films created by Georges Melies a French pioneer filmmaker in the late 1890s. An example of one of these short films is Le Manor du Diable also known as The Haunted Castle of The House of the Devil, it is describes as the first ever horror film. In 1897, George Albert Smith an American photographer who then became a director created The X-ray Fiend which is a horror-comedy came out 2 years after x-rays were invented. 

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In 1910 the first version of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein was created by Edison Studios. It went onto the screens for the first time by Searlr Dawley but for Edison the film was designed to deemphasise the horror aspects of the story and focus on the story's mystical and psychological elements. 

 

In 1920 Robert Wiene came a worldwide success and had a long lasting impact on the film world, especially in horror. To get the effect of light and shadow they painted black lines and patterns directly on the floors and walls of the set. In October of this year Paul Wegener teamed up with Carl Boese who is a co-director made the film film called The Golden: How He Came into the World which is a prequel to Der Golem from 1915. 

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In the 2000s Mary Harron directed 'American Psycho' which stared Christian Bale who was shown as a charismatic serial killer and Manhattan business mogul. The 'Scary Movie was filmed which was a comedy horror, directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans. This film was parodied of the horror, slasher and mystery genres.