Despite the new and impressive effects that adorn the cinematic Horror films of now, there's always something even more intriguing about what is left to the imagination. That is what I believe still holds these Horror Classics in such high-esteem, despite their lack of realistic and breathtaking effects.
(1.) Nosferatu (1922)
This 1922 classic still remains eerie and frightening enough in nature to be held in high regard, even alongside some of the Horror films of recent. Perhaps the terror lies within the frightening depiction of Bram Stroker's Dracula.
Or perhaps, it's the nightmarish setting that makes this film so unforgettable terrifying. Regardless of what the culprit may be in achieving such a frightful status, one can far from deny the eeriness especially for a film of it's era.
(2.) Dracula (1931)
The mysterious Count Dracula portrayed by Bela Lugosi, hypnotizes a British soldier in order to morph him into his mindless slave, travels to London where he resides in an old abandoned castle. Before long, Dracula begins wreaking havoc amid the city of London when he starts sucking the blood of young woman and then transforms them into vampires. Although the effects are not up to par in today's standards, one can far from deny that both the storyline and acting is sufficient enough to send chills down one's spine.
(3.) The Haunting (1963)
A scientist hosts a research project within the realms of a chill-inducing haunted house with a tragic backstory. During his quest, the scientist invites two women and a man to the house. One of the participants starts to lose her mind. Filled with endless twists along with a shocking ending, this film is without a doubt still one of the most frightening films even in comparison to the films of today. Definitely a must see!
(4.) Night of the Living Dead (1968)
A group of frightened individuals take refuge amid an abandoned house when corpses are spotting leaving the graveyard in search of human flesh to feast on. Ben (Duane Jones) places his best efforts to control the situation however, when the risen corpses begin to surround the house, the other survivors begin to become more and more distraught. As the order and participation in the group begins to dissipate, the zombies begin to find their ways inside. One by one, the living humans become the prey of the deceased.
(5.) Freaks (1932)
A captivatingly beautiful young trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of the side-show performers. His deformed friends, however soon discover that she is only marrying him for his inheritance and as soon as she takes it further in trying to arrange his death in order to obtain this inheritance sooner, his deformed friends start to plot a frightening revenge.
(6.) House of Wax (1953)
One of my personal favorites, this tale tells the story of wax sculptor Henry (Vincent Price) who after learning of his business partner's plans to destroy their wax museum in hopes to collect their insurance policy, endeavors to try and save the wax museum despite his partner's efforts to burn it down. Despite having been caught in the fire, Henry miraculously survives and reopens a new wax museum of his own. The locals begin concerned however, when corpses from the city morgue begin to vanish during the grand opening of Henry's wax museum. After further investigating, an astoundingly eerie discovery emerges.
(7.) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) is bewildered when numerous patients of his come to him with the same complaint in which they claim that their loved ones appear to be replaced by emotionless impostors. Despite the dismissive denials of others, Dr. Bennell and his former love interest Becky (Dana Wynter) and his friend Jack (King Donovan) soon discover that there is far more to Dr. Bennell's complaints than what meets the eye.
(8.) Psycho (1960)
Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is on the run after having stolen $40,000 from her employer and after hours of driving, overwhelmed with exhaustion, she decides to take a detour and soon finds herself at "Bates Motel" hopeful to find rest at last. There she meets the seemingly friendly but high strung proprietor Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), a man who's interests reside in both his strangely close relationship with his mother and taxidermy. As peculiar as Norman can seem in some lights, it seems far from Marion's mind, the terror that she'll soon be faced with.
(9.) The Bad Seed (1956)
A pampered and doted on child who's charm is beyond her years and her curtsies and pig tails at the highest level of perfection possible, there seems far from anything wrong with young Rhoda (Patty McCormack). However, despite the image of perfection perceived by both her parents and their lonely land lady, there lies a far darker person within young Rhoda. Self-centered Rhoda has a tendency to allow this darker inner person to come out whenever she desires gifts and prizes. Her mother Christine (Nancy Kelly) has always been aware of this more selfish side of Rhoda but, when a classmate of Rhoda's dies mysterious, her self-deception starts to unravel into something blatantly disturbing.
(10.) The Birds (1963)
Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) meets and becomes enchanted by Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) in a San Francisco Pet Store and opts to follow him home. She brings a gift of two love birds along with her. The couple soon strikes up a romance. One odd day, however, a swarm of terrifyingly violent birds start brutally attacking children at Mitch's sister's Birthday Party. Before everyone knows it, a huge war begins between man and bird as countless other attacks occur within the town.
I hope you have found this list to have provided you with that perfect dose of Autumn fright. Please let me know what movies stood out to you the most!
No comments:
Post a Comment