A horror film is a movie that seeks to elicit a physiological reaction, such as an elevated heartbeat, through the use of fear and shocking one’s audiences. Inspired by literature from authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley, the horror genre has existed for more than a century. The macabre and the supernatural are frequent themes. Horror may also overlap with the fantasy, supernatural fiction and thriller genres. 

Horror films often deal with viewers' nightmares, fears, revulsions and terror of the unknown. Plots within the horror genre often involve the intrusion of an evil force, event, or personage into the everyday world. Prevalent elements include ghosts, aliens, vampires, werewolves, demons, satanism, gore, torture, vicious animals, evil witches, monsters, zombies, cannibals, psychopaths, natural or man-made disasters, and serial killers. 

Some subgenres of horror include action horror, comedy horror, body horror, disaster horror, holiday horror, horror drama, psychological horror, science fiction horror, slasher horror, supernatural horror, gothic horror, natural horror, zombie horror, first-person horror and teen horror. 

The first depictions of supernatural events appear in several of the silent shorts created by the film pioneer Georges Méliès in the late 1890s, the best known being "Le Manoir du Diable", which is sometimes credited as being the first horror film. Another of his horror projects was "La Caverne maudite" (1898) (a.k.a. "The Cave of the Demons", literally "the accursed cave"). Japan made early forays into the horror genre with "Bake Jizo" ("Jizo the Spook") and "Shinin no Sosei" ("Resurrection of a Corpse"), both made in 1898. The era featured a slew of literary adaptations, adapting the works of Poe and Dante, among others. In 1908, Selig Polyscope Company produced "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".
How long has the horror genre been around?
Does it overlap with any other genres?
Which genres?
Who pioneered the depiction of supernatural events?
What was supposedly the first horror film?
When did it come out?
When did Japan first produce horror movies?
Is literature commonly adapted into horror films?
Do horror films often show nightmares?
What kinds of elements do horror films include?
Did the first horror film have any words?
How do horror films elicit reactions from audiences?
more than a century.
 the horror genre has existed for more than a century. 
yes
e macabre and the supernatural are frequent themes. Horror may also overlap with the fantasy, supernatural fiction and thriller genres. 
the fantasy, and thriller genres.
verlap with the fantasy, supernatural fiction and thriller genres. 

Georges Méliès
reated by the film pioneer Georges Méliès
"Le Manoir du Diable"
 "Le Manoir du Diable", which is sometimes credited as being the first horror film
1890
 Georges Méliès in the late 1890s, the best known being "Le Manoir du Diable"
1898
 Japan made early forays into the horror genre with "Bake Jizo" ("Jizo the Spook") and "Shinin no Sosei" ("Resurrection of a Corpse"), both made in 1898
authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley,
nspired by literature from authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley,
yes
Horror films often deal with viewers' nightmares, 
ghosts and demons
revalent elements include ghosts, aliens, vampires, werewolves, demons,
no
The first depictions of supernatural events appear in several of the silent shorts created by the film pioneer Georges
, through the use of fear and shocking one’s audience
 horror film is a movie that seeks to elicit a physiological reaction, such as an elevated heartbeat, through the use of fear and shocking one’s audience