Horror is one of the oldest genres in terms of storytelling, which only makes sense. Every animal has to have some element of fear in order to survive. Fish are scared of bigger fish, antelopes are afraid of lions, and people are afraid of many things, including the unknown. That’s why horror has been a part of myths and legends for so long, because we need those tales to educate us on what to fear.

When it comes to movies, horror has been a part of it since nearly the beginning of cinema in the late 19th century, although the definition of what constitutes “horror” has certainly changed over the years. But that journey is exactly the one that has been undertook by Diego Carrera, who has created A History of Horror, a 12-minute video that picks one movie a year since 1895 to highlight the horror genre. Films like The Execution of Mary Stuart (also known as The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots), The Haunted Curiosity Shop, The Red Spectre, and more make up the early years while the more recent decades see such titles as The Thing, The Exorcist, Jaws, Evil Dead, and much more.

It’s a wonderful video with a fantastic sonic backdrop that highlights some of the very best that our genre has to offer. These are films that have revolutionized horror, that have shaped it into what it is now, and remind us of the beauty and terror that we relish.