With Halloween here, a lot of people have been getting into the spirit by binge watching their favorite horror movies. You’ve probably heard of the classics: Scream, Carrie, A Quiet Place, or IT. But those are all relatively recent. Have you ever wondered about older horror movies? What about the first horror movie?
Le Manoir du Diable, or The House of the Devil, was released on December 24th, 1896 in Paris, France. It is said to be the original movie in the horror genre. Its director, Georges Méliès, was a French actor, magician, and film director. He was known for his “trick films” which utilized unique special effects. His films feature the usage of effects such as multiple exposures and time-lapse photography. He was also one of the first filmmakers to use storyboards.
Méliès was creative from a young age, creating puppet theaters and marionettes in his youth. His artistic endeavors were put on hold shortly after completing his education due to mandatory military service. Afterwards, he acquired a job in London. While there he frequently visited the Egyptian Hall, where he developed a love for stage magic. He eventually returned to Paris to work at a machinery factory. However, he still cultivated his love for magic. Méliès attended many performances as well as began taking lessons from a magician. Eventually, he secured the funds to purchase the Théâtre Robert-Houdin. Over the years, Méliès created over 30 new illusions, inspired by those he saw in London.
Méliès’ interest in film began after seeing a demonstration of the Lumière brothers’ cinematograph, he desperately wanted a film projector for his theater. He eventually secured one, and by April 1896, films became part of the theater’s attraction. The interest in film developed into an interest in film photography, Méliès secured multiple film cameras. Around this time Méliès started directing films. It is said that he directed over 500 films, all usually similar to the magic shows he put on. His films were typically lacking in plot, as they mainly just showed off the special effects. He began to develop tricks specifically for film, sometimes by accident. One of these trick films became the first horror movie, Le Manoir du Diable.
Le Manoir du Diable is not a “movie” by modern definition. It doesn’t really have a storyline or plot. It’s more like a filmed magic show with a cool set. A “moving picture,” is a more accurate term. That being said, it is still really cool to watch. In the film Mephistopheles uses his cauldron to make different supernatural creatures appear on set. My personal favorite thing about the film was the costuming! It’s really interesting to see all the different magical characters.
Although it doesn’t have much of a storyline, I highly recommend watching Le Manoir du Diable, especially if you’re a movie enthusiast! It’s incredibly interesting seeing a film made that long ago, and strange too because you realize that some things haven’t changed at all. Overall, it’s a great short watch to get into the Halloween spirit!
