Horror: 244

The giallo film, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970), marks Dario Argento’s directorial debut. It follows Sam Dalmas, an American writer on holiday in Rome with his English model girlfriend, Julia, in an attempt to overcome writer’s block before their impending return to the United States. During a walk home one evening, Sam witnesses a woman being assaulted by a figure dressed in black raincoat and gloves within an art gallery. He tries to intervene but becomes trapped between the gallery’s glass doors as the attacker flees. Monica Ranieri, wife of the gallery owner Alberto Ranieri, survives the ...

The American independent horror film, Night of the Living Dead (1968), was directed, photographed, and edited by George A. Romero and written by Romero and John Russo. On a night in rural Pennsylvania, siblings Barbra and Johnny went to visit their father’s grave but were suddenly confronted by a pale man in a tattered suit. After Johnny is killed and Barbra is attacked, she escapes to a nearby farmhouse where she discovers a half-eaten corpse on the stairs. As more ghouls begin to gather outside the house, a stranger ...

Dementia 13 (1963) is an independently made black-and-white horror-thriller film produced by Roger Corman, and written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola in his feature film directorial debut. While rowing in the middle of a dark lake, John Haloran and his young wife Louise have a heated argument about his wealthy mother’s will. Louise is distressed that everything is designated for charity under the name ‘Kathleen’. Eventually, the argument escalates and John suffers a heart attack from the physical exertion. He warns Louise that if he passes before ...

Psycho (1960), an American horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, was based on the eponymous 1959 novel by Robert Bloch. The screenplay, penned by Joseph Stefano, brought the chilling story to life. In it, Phoenix real estate secretary Marion Crane steals $40,000 from her employer after her boyfriend, Sam, laments his financial troubles are delaying their marriage. As she heads towards Fairvale, California in her car, a suspicious policeman prompts her to switch vehicles. When a heavy rainstorm forces Marion to seek ...

The British horror film The Mummy (1959) was directed by Terence Fisher and starred Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. In Egypt, three archaeologists – John Banning, his father Stephen, and his uncle Joseph Whemple – were in search of Princess Ananka’s tomb. However, due to a broken leg, John couldn’t join them when they opened the tomb. An Egyptian named Mehemet Bey warned them against entering, fearing the curse that awaited desecrators. Despite the warning, Stephen and Joseph proceeded and ...

The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) is an American monster horror film and the third installment in the Creature from the Black Lagoon franchise by Universal Pictures. After escaping from Ocean Harbor Oceanarium in Florida, the Gill-man is pursued by a group of scientists led by Dr. William Barton. As they travel on the Vagabondia III to capture the creature in the Everglades, it becomes evident that Barton is mentally unstable and treats his wife Marcia poorly. His possessiveness and paranoia intensify as their guide Jed Grant continually flirts with Marcia, despite her rejection of his advances. Despite her husband’s ...

Jack Arnold directed Revenge of the Creature (1955), a 3D monster film. After surviving multiple gunshot wounds, the Gill-man is taken to the Ocean Harbor Oceanarium in Florida for further observation. There, animal psychologist Professor Clete Ferguson and ichthyology student Helen Dobson study him. Despite Joe Hayes’s objections, Helen and Clete develop feelings for each other. Unfortunately, this causes obstacles for Clete’s attempts to communicate with the Gill-man, who seems quite taken with Helen. In the end, the Gill-man breaks free from his tank and fatally injures ...

The American black-and-white 3D monster horror film, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), was produced by William Alland and directed by Jack Arnold. During a geology expedition in the Amazon, a skeletal hand with webbed fingers from the Devonian period is discovered, providing a direct link between land and sea animals. Expedition leader Dr. Carl Maia instructs his two assistants to remain at camp while he visits the marine biology institute. There, he meets up with his friend and former student, ichthyologist Dr. David Reed. After working at an aquarium in California, ...

The American movie House of Wax (1953), directed by Andre de Toth and released by Warner Bros, is set in New York City during the early 1900s. The main character, Professor Henry Jarrod, is a talented sculptor who owns a wax museum featuring historical figures who have met gruesome ends. However, his business partner Matthew Burke is dissatisfied with Jarrod’s refusal to create more sensational exhibits that would draw larger crowds, like their competitors’. Burke decides to end their partnership and proposes burning down the museum for its twenty-five thousand dollar insurance money. When wealthy art critic ...

Made by Ealing Studios, Dead of Night (1945) is a black and white British anthology supernatural horror film. It is a rare example from the 1940s, as horror films were prohibited from production in Britain during World War II. Its influence can be seen in subsequent British films of the same genre. John Baines’ stories were reused for later films, while the episode with the ventriloquist dummy was adapted for the pilot episode of CBS radio series Escape. Architect Walter Craig arrives at Elliot Foley’s country cottage in Kent, where he has been invited to consult on renovations. Strangely enough, despite never having met any of them before, Craig claims to ...

Based on Gaston Leroux’s novel and the 1925 film starring Lon Chaney, Phantom of the Opera (1943) is an American romantic horror film directed by Arthur Lubin. After revealing that he is losing the use of his left hand, violinist Erique Claudin is dismissed from the Paris Opera House. Despite facing financial struggles, he secretly funds voice lessons for Christine Dubois, a young soprano to whom he is devoted. Meanwhile, Inspector Raoul Dubert pressures Christine to leave the Opera and marry him, while famous opera ...

The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), directed by Erle C. Kenton and featuring Cedric Hardwicke, Lon Chaney Jr., and Bela Lugosi, is an American horror film. The villagers in Frankenstein’s town believe they are cursed and attribute all their misfortunes to Frankenstein’s creation. As a result, the Mayor allows them to demolish his castle. However, Ygor discovers that the monster has been freed from his sulfuric grave due to the explosions. Although weakened, the ...

The American science-fiction horror film, Man-Made Monster (1941), directed by George Waggner, tells the story of a tragic accident. A bus collides with a high power line, resulting in the death of all passengers except for Dan McCormick, who miraculously survives due to his immunity to electricity. McCormick becomes known as Dynamo Dan and is presented in a sideshow exhibit. He catches the attention of Dr. John Lawrence, who takes an interest in studying him. However, Dr. Lawrence’s colleague, the mad scientist Dr. Paul Rigas, has darker motives and aims to create an army of electrobiologically-driven zombies. To ...

Directed by Rowland V. Lee, Son of Frankenstein (1939) tells the story of Baron Wolf von Frankenstein, the son of infamous scientist Henry Frankenstein. In an attempt to redeem his father’s name, Wolf moves his wife Elsa and young son Peter to their family castle. However, he quickly realizes that this will not be an easy task as the villagers hold a deep resentment towards the Frankenstein family due to past events involving Henry’s Monster. The only person who offers Wolf any friendship is Inspector Krogh, a local police officer with an artificial arm from a childhood encounter with the creature. While ...

Released by Universal Pictures, Dracula’s Daughter (1936) is a chilling vampire horror film that serves as a sequel to the popular 1931 movie, Dracula. Directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Garrett Fort, the story follows Professor Van Helsing who has just defeated Count Dracula. However, his victory is short-lived when he is apprehended by two Whitby policemen named Sergeant Wilkes and Constable Albert. They had stumbled upon the body of Dracula, with a stake through its heart, as well as Renfield’s lifeless body with a broken neck in Carfax ...

The  American horror film, The Raven (1935), directed by Lew Landers and starring Boris Karloff and Béla Lugosi, tells the story of a young dancer named Jean Thatcher who is injured in a car accident. Her father, Judge Thatcher, and fiancé, Dr. Jerry Halden, seek out neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Vollin for assistance. Despite now only conducting research, Vollin is renowned for his skill in performing delicate operations on cranial nerve roots. Initially uninterested in helping due to his insensitivity towards human suffering, ...

In the horror flick Werewolf of London (1935), directed by Stuart Walker, Henry Hull takes on the role of the titular werewolf. The story follows Wilfred Glendon, a wealthy and renowned English botanist who sets off to Tibet in search of an elusive plant known as Mariphasa lupina lumina. This plant is said to only bloom under the light of the moon. While in Tibet, Glendon is attacked and bitten by a wild humanoid creature but manages to obtain a specimen of the rare plant. Back in his London laboratory, he creates a lamp that mimics moonlight in hopes of seeing the ...

Bride of Frankenstein (1935) is an American sci-fi horror sequel to Universal Pictures’ original film, Frankenstein. In a castle during a stormy night, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron praise Mary Shelley for her story about the infamous Frankenstein and his creation. Mary reminds them that her purpose in writing the novel was to teach a moral lesson about the dangers of playing God. She reveals that she has more of the story to share. The scene then shifts to the end of Frankenstein, where villagers celebrate as the Monster seemingly perishes in a burning windmill. However, Hans, whose daughter was killed by the creature, wants to see its ...

Based in America, The Black Cat (1934) is a pre-Code horror film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and featuring renowned actors Boris Karloff and Béla Lugosi. During their honeymoon in Hungary, American mystery writer Peter Alison and his bride Joan are surprised to learn that they will be sharing a train compartment with Dr. Vitus Werdegast, a Hungarian psychiatrist who claims he is visiting an old friend. As the night progresses, the couple discovers that Werdegast left his home 18 years ago to fight in World War I and has not ...

Directed by Erle C. Kenton, Island of Lost Souls (1932) is an American science fiction horror film produced and distributed by Paramount Productions. Based on H.G. Wells’ 1896 novel The Island of Doctor Moreau, the film follows the story of Edward Parker, a shipwrecked traveler who is rescued by a freighter transporting animals to an isolated South Seas island owned by Dr. Moreau. While onboard, Parker witnesses the mistreatment of M’ling, a passenger with beast-like features, by the drunken captain. In retaliation, Parker is thrown overboard into Mr. ...