TEEN MOVIE – A movie targeted at teenagers and young adults in which the plot is based upon the special interests of teenagers. Some of these include coming of age, first love, rebellion, conflict with parents, teen angst and alienation. Common themes include high school, sexuality, and crude humor. They rose to popularity in the 90s, and High School Musical is one of the most popular teen flicks today. This genre was also spoofed in 2001’s Not Another Teen Movie!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

SWASHBUCKLER – An action-adventure film characterized by swordfighting and adventurous heroic characters. Morality is often clear-cut, heroic characters are clearly heroic and even villains tend to have a code of honor. There is often a damsel in distress, a romantic element, lavish costumes, and a thrilling musical score. Examples include the many film adaptations of The Three Musketeers and the Pirates of the Caribbean film series.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

SLAPSTICK – A sub-genre of the horror film typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner. Slasher films have their own set of characteristics which set them apart from other horror movies. The victims are teenagers or young adults who are far away from help and the killer is usually “pure evil” and shows no remorse. Iconic slasher films include Texas Chainsaw Massacre and My Bloody Valentine.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

SLAPSTICK – a type of comedy involving exaggerated extreme physical violence or activities which exceed the boundaries of common sense. A character may be hit in the face with a heavy frying pan or running into a brick wall, as often seen in children’s cartoons (think Tom and Jerry or the Road Runner). Charlie Chaplin is possibly most famous for his real-life slapstick performances, which required exquisite timing and skillful execution.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

SCREWBALL COMEDY – A film which features farcical situations, a combination of slapstick with fast-paced repartee, and a plot involving courtship and marriage or remarriage. This genre rose to popularity in the 30s with films like It Happened One Night, but is still popular among romantic comedies like Intolerable Cruelty. They can be traced back to stage plays like Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

ROAD FILM – A film in which the plot takes place during a journey. This is a standard plot often employed by screenwriters in which the hero changes, grows or improves over the course of the story. The genre has its roots in spoken and written tales of epic journeys, such as the Odyssey and the Aeneid. Road films also cross with many other genres. They maybe be serious dramas like Apocalypse Now or quirky comedies like Little Miss Sunshine!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

REALITY FILM - A movie in which a pre-determined situation is staged or created, often with the use of non-professional actors, and then the “reality” of what happens is filmed. One of the first reality films was The Real Cancun, MTV’s film version of The Real World. MTV later brought their hit show Jackass to the big screen as well. The low budget of reality films in an era of skyrocketing marketing and production costs has made them an attractive option for studios.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR - A subgenre of horror fiction that relies on character fears, guilt, beliefs, and emotional instability to build tension and further the plot. Psychological horror creates discomfort in the viewer by exposing common or universal psychological vulnerabilities and fears, most notably the shadowy parts of the self most people repress or deny. Popular examples of psychological horror films include The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

NEW HOLLYWOOD - A film movement from the 60s to the 80s when young filmmakers came to prominence in America. They drastically changed the kinds of films produced in Hollywood films and the way they were marketed. 1967’s Bonnie & Clyde, with its a mix of graphic violence, sex, humor, and its theme of glamorous disaffected youth was a hit. The Graduate, Easy Rider, and the Academy Award-winning Midnight Cowboy followed in quick succession.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

MUSICAL - A film in which several songs sung by the characters are woven into the narrative to advance the plot or develop the characters. Musical films use lavish background scenery that are impractical in a theater, but they contain theatrical elements, and actors perform their numbers as if there is a live audience watching. Recent musical films include original productions like Across the Universe and remakes of Broadway shows like Mamma Mia!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

MOCKUMENTARY - A film which is presented as a documentary recording real life, but is actually fictional. It is a commonly used medium for parody and satire, often to analyze current events by using a fictional setting.  Director Rob Reiner is said to have coined the term in the 80s when describing This Is Spinal Tap. Mockumentaries, especially comedies, are often partly or wholly improvised, as an unscripted style of acting helps to maintain the pretense of reality.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor