New French Horror: The Emergence of the Horror Genre in Contemporary French Cinema

Abstract

There is a strong and well-documented tradition of French Fantastic Cinema, from Georges Méliès, the surrealists, and Jean Cocteau, to the films of Jean Rollin, Luc Besson and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Despite this tradition, however, it has been agreed that there is no genuine Horror genre tradition. Recently, however, we have witnessed a surge of horror films produced in France, such as Promenons-nous dans les bois (Deep in the Woods, 2000), Un Jeu d’enfants (2001), Maléfique (2002), Haute tension (Switchblade Romance, 2003), Calvaire (The Ordeal, 2004), Ils (Them, 2006), Sheitan (Satan, 2006), Frontière(s) (Frontier(s), 2007), À l’intérieur (Inside, 2007) and Martyrs (2008). This research project will analyse these new French horror films, all made in the last twenty years and ask about the antecedents of this new genre, what impact they have made on French cinema and their relations to other international forms (the US, European, Asian, etc.). The rationale of this research thesis is to analyse this group of films all made since the early 2000s, to investigate the trends, conditions, or incentives for the horror genre to emerge during this time, and to examine the trajectory of the horror genre within French cinema, what antecedents were in place for the genre to emerge, and the influence of other national horror cinemas. To what extent does this latest generation of French filmmakers look to American horror films and American filmmakers as their inspiration? As well as critically analysing the works in the context of a cohesive genre, utilising various concepts and methodologies most associated with the genre (abjection, the uncanny, trauma theory, body horror), this thesis will examine the causes and influences on this emergence and the popular, critical, and academic reaction and impact of the genre in France and internationally.