Marveling at the Macabre

Adjunct Professor Scott Essman learned something surprising about his students the first day of his new film class in January.

Hardly any of them had seen the classic 1979 Ridley Scott horror movie “Alien.”

The horror aficionado and longtime cinema journalist knew he had to fix that, especially since his course focused on that very genre: Horror films.

“We’re treating it like a film appreciation class, just within this particular genre,” Essman said.

The idea stemmed from another class Essman taught last January called “Hollywood in La Verne,” which approached cinema from a broader perspective. Essman’s love for horror movies, and his connections with icons of the genre, led to Communications Department Chair Dr. George Keeler suggesting the new class to Essman.

“Scott jumped at that and loved the idea,” said Don Pollock, Communications Professor.

The class “Monsters, Magic, and the Macabre – A Century of Horror Cinema” runs the gamut of silent films to modern movies. Students examine films in terms of cinematography, lighting and other elements. They’ve viewed movies such as the original “Phantom of the Opera” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

“We’re actually going in depth on what makes a film excellent, regardless of what genre it may be in,” Essman said.

Like his Hollywood in La Verne class, the horror cinema course includes a number of film industry guest speakers – some tied to Hollywood legends. They include Bela Lugosi Jr., son of the actor who played Dracula in the 1931 film of the same name. Sara Karloff, daughter of “Frankenstein” actor Boris Karloff also attended. Dean Cundey, a longtime cinematographer, whose work includes 1978’s “Halloween” and 1982’s “The Thing,” was another guest speaker. It was Cundey’s second trip to La Verne. He came to the institution several years ago to supervise a student film.

And Hollywood director Joe Dante, whose credits include 1981’s “The Howling,” as well as “Gremlins” and “Innerspace,” stopped by Jan. 27 to share his perspectives on the genre.

Karloff and Lugosi Jr. visited the class Jan. 23 to answer questions about their fathers and their acting careers. They also displayed some movie memorabilia for students. They liked the concept of having a college film appreciation class focused on horror.

“We’re thrilled because it introduces new generations to the legacy our fathers left,” said Karloff, a Rancho Mirage resident.

Lugosi Jr., who lives in La Cañada Flintridge, described his father’s rise to fame as “both a blessing and a curse” because the classically-trained actor was immediately typecast following “Dracula.”

“After that, he was always cast as the head boogeyman,” Lugosi Jr. said. “That was something he regretted.”

Melissa Enciso, a La Verne junior, was a horror fan prior to taking the class and a huge fan of “Frankenstein,” so Karloff’s visit made the class even more exciting. But the class also appeals to her from a filmmaking perspective.

“In this class, we’re able to dissect horror films for all their aspects – the cinematography, editing and directing as well,” she said.

Senior Serena Ghazzawi took the class because she had taken “Hollywood in La Verne” and has an interest in filmmaking. She did not know much about the horror genre beforehand.

“I have more of an understanding and a passion for it now,” she said.

Most students enrolled in the class are communications majors, but some are taking the course as an elective. They include students majoring in biology and kinesiology, among other disciplines.

“It’s never been tried before, and so far it’s been going well,” Essman said.