ABSTRACT. Horror fiction is as old as mankind, its origin being traced back to cave paintings, religion, rituals, magic, cannibalism, and in the stories told near firelights by our ancestors. Starting from the seminal essay written by H. P. Lovecraft, this article discusses the evolution of horror fiction and film, especially during the 20-th century. pp. 208–222

Keywords: horror; terror; fear; weird fiction; macabre fiction; Gothic stories; H.P. Lovecraft