Hammer Horror

How it Has Changed with Time

History
Hammer Horror is a UK established film production company, founded in 1934. Theyre well known for their
gothic horrors between 1950s-1970s. In 1955 they released a horror called The Quatermass Xperiment. The
company ceased production in the 80s due to competition and lack of funds from American companies. In 2000
the company announced the production of new films, but it wasnt until 2007 when a new owner said
Hammer is a great British brand we intend to take it back into production and develop its global potential.
The brand is still alive but no one has invested in it for a long time. Since then three films have been produced:
Let Me In (2010)
The Resident (2011)
Woman In Black (2012)
Hammer Horror 1935-1950
When Hammer films first started out it was more of a family run affair. They produced films based on radio
shows such as Dick Barton. Dick Barton was a detective and solved crimes. A film genre not too strongly linked
with Hammer Film Productions. They went on to make a Dick Barton trilogy and other films around this genre.

Hammer is often associated with horror, yet only 1/8
th
of their films are actually horror.

In 1947 they changed the company name to Hammer Films. It was a bad time for a film company in the UK at
that time, films were not making profit and the industry were falling into recession. Other UK companies were
failing due to high production costs. Hammer Films managed to keep production costs down, something other
companies couldnt do. Due to the lack of money in the industry they only produced films that would be
certain to make money.

Hammer Horror 1955-1960
1955 was the birth of Hammer Horror. Due to the company deciding to only make films that would be certain
to make profit, they made films out of products that have already been sold in other industries. Their first
horror was The Quatermass Xperiment, based on a television programme called The Quatermass Experiment.
The Ex was changed to X to inform the audience it was only suitable for adults. This was the first Hammer
production to attract a large audience in England and over seas. The success of the film was only the start for
the success of the company. It was just what they needed.

The Curse of Frankenstein was released in 1957 (based on a novel), a massive success as well as surprising to
the audience. Although the film achieved success overseas again. it was seen as a new style of horror in the
eyes of the audience. The Curse of Frankenstein is seen as the first gothic horror by hammer. Due to the use of
colour a whole different level of carnage is seen. Until the, horror films werent often bloody or too graphic. In
this film it was very gory showing large amounts of bright red blood and dedicating a lot of camera time to it.

Dracula was released shortly after in 1958, the film that shaped modern horror. There was a lot of gore and
seen as explicit. The film was rated X in the UK due to these hints of sex and gore showing how uncommon and
crazy this was. This film made an immediate impact of horror films produced after this, especially the sequels.
In the novel its based on, Dracula is a diabolical creature with a scowl on his face, fleeing from those who
chase him and provoking them from a distance. Therefore, after the opening scenes in Castle Dracula, Lee has
very little dialogue, and almost performs his seduction scenes silently and mysteriously.
Hammer Horror 1960-1979
These years saw squeals for Hammer Film. They were feeding off the success of films they had already created
for example Dracula and The Curse of Frankenstein. They made 6 sequels of Frankenstein and an incredible
eight other Dracula films up until 1974.

By the sixth sequel Dracula attempted to appeal to a new audience due to ideas running dry. They attempted a
younger audience and increased the explicit and graphic images. They attempted to change the time in which
its set and updated the story to modern time (1970s). Sadly, this came with changing the script dramatically
and saw lead roll Christopher Lee have major disagreements; he even refused to say some of the lines. He
changed some line to match ones of the novel. He quit after the 7
th
episode.

Hammer were known for their sexual images and horror, however due to their success a lot of competitors
emerged. American films now allowed a lot more explicit and gory images with far bigger budgets than
Hammer Films. Hammer tried to compete but struggled immensely.

In the 1970s Hammer Films made a lot less films. By 1979 they made their last film of the era called The Lady
Vanishes which almost bankrupt the company.
Hammer Horror 2007+
In 2007 Hammer Films saw a new owner keen to produce films. Their first production was Beyond The Rave
which was their first film in 20 years.

Hammer Films have taken a more modern approach on the film and havent approached their normal habits of
horrors. So far they have released:
Beyond the Rave (2008)
Let Me In (2010)
The Resident (2011)
Wake Wood (2011)
The Woman in Black (2012)
The Quiet Ones (2014)