ONTD Original: 7 Horror Classics to Kick Off Spooky Season!
Happy October, 🎃NTD! It's officially the start of the best holiday season of the year!
I thought I would help kick off celebrations by compiling a short list of remarkable horror classics to enjoy throughout the month of October. By "classic" I mean influential, interesting, and incredible, but I also mean old. And by "old," I really mean that I wanted this list to be compiled of horror content from before 1970 to highlight some of the earlier works that you may have only heard about but never got around to enjoying. Browse the list and contribute your favourites in the comments so we can all enjoy the frights!
Night of the Living Dead (1968) Directed by George A. Romero 🧟
One of the most influential zombie horror thrillers of all time (although in this film they’re referred to as “ghouls”), this classic made its mark on cinematic history in a number of impressive ways. It’s an indie. It’s Romero’s first ever feature film. It had a budget of only a little more than $100,000.00 but grossed millions, making it one of the most profitable productions of the time. The protagonist is played by Duane Jones, one of the first black actors to star in an American horror movie (and it was his first film, too).
If you’re a fan of zombie films, you’ll see just how much this movie influenced the genre. Jordan Peele has even credited the film as being an inspiration in some aspects for Us - specifically how it was a horror movie about race that didn’t explicitly talk about race.
Where you can watch it: Criterion, YouTube (albeit a poor quality version), and for rent on various sites like Amazon Prime and iTunes.
But how scary is it?: It's pretty scary! Jump scares, blood and gore, and ghouls that are a little too human for comfort. And it wastes no time - you’ll be freaked out within the first 10 minutes.
🐈⬛ Kuroneko (1968) Directed by Kaneto Shindo
Where would the horror genre as we know it today be without the contributions of Japanese cinema? This adaptation of a Japanese folktale takes place in war-torn feudal Japan. The film moves and flows in such a beautiful and lyrical way, but the story embedded beneath the images is an eerie tale of anger and revenge. With an incredibly unnerving score, this film will help get you into the spooky mood without making it too difficult for you to sleep at night. This isn’t the kind of movie that will leave you on edge - but the slowly building tension and supernatural elements make it a classic horror tale. It also features a modern day Halloween staple - the black cat!
Trigger warning: This film opens with [TW]the rape and murder of two women [Spoiler] who also happen to be our main characters out for revenge.
Where you can watch it: Criterion streaming. But as is the case with a lot of older movies, there’s a good chance you can find this elsewhere online if you don’t have a Criterion subscription amongst your ever-growing pile of subscriptions.
But how scary is it?: Ultimately, not that scary. This movie is more unnerving and atmospheric. But the classic horror elements and vengeful spirits make for a very cinematic horror film well worth watching.
The War of the Worlds 👽 (1938) 📻 Presented by Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre
Maybe you've watched enough horror for your liking and are looking for something different. Maybe you're too busy to sit down and devote your time to a film. Maybe you have a long commute or a ton of boring chores to do and instead of watching scary things, you want to listen to them. Well...you're in luck.
Before Orson Welles was making movies, he was making a name for himself in theatre. And the theatre company he founded - The Mercury Theatre - was invited to do a radio series called The Mercury Theatre on the Air, which presented a number of wonderfully adapted stories broadcast to people all across America. I'm almost positive you've heard of this adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel - the radio broadcast that purportedly worked listeners up into mass panic because it was so realistically done that people thought an actual alien invasion was taking place (although this is somewhat disputed now and is thought to be a case of media exaggeration and sensationalism). But have you ever listened to it? It. is. brilliant. I promise you that it contains some of the finest acting you'll ever experience. It's even more impressive when you realize it was all done live (yes, including the cuts to the music at the beginning of the story - there was a 27 piece orchestra in the studio - legally, absolutely nothing could be pre-recorded)! And if you enjoy it then you'll be happy to know that there are a bunch of these available - including a critically acclaimed version of Dracula as well!
But how scary is it?: There are moments where it's downright terrifying! If you put yourself into the shoes of someone tuning in late to the broadcast, not knowing that this was a radio play, it's not difficult to imagine how a show like this could cause genuine panic. The adaptation kicks off like a regular radio show - with some news about weather and some beautiful music - only to be interrupted periodically by "breaking news" alerts that gradually grow more horrifying as the show continues.
The Cat and the Canary (1927) Directed by Paul Leni 🏠 👻
Part horror, part comedic thriller - this silent film takes place in the spooky mansion of the deceased eccentric millionaire Cyrus West. His family members have gathered, 20 years since his passing, to attend the reading of his Will. Things get complicated when a strange condition of West's last wishes throw a wrench into everyone's plans. And things get even MORE complicated when word arrives that there's a madman on the loose! It's a little bit Clue, a little bit Knives Out, and a whole lotta spooky creepy fun! And if Haunted Houses are your vibe, then you're in luck because this was a pretty common horror theme in pre-1970s films. You can check out House on Haunted Hill (1959) and The Old Dark House (1932) just to name a couple.
Where you can watch it: BooTube!
But how scary is it?: There are definitely some evil, conniving, creepy people in this one. It shouldn't scare you too much, but it does make for an entertaining October movie night.
🧙♀️🧹The City of the Dead (1960) Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey
Christopher Lee plays a professor who helps guide Nan Barlow, one of his students, to Whitewood, Massachusetts so that she can write her senior paper on the burning of accused witch Elizabeth Selwyn in 1692. When Nan arrives, she slowly realizes that all is not quite right in Whitewood.
Where you can watch it: BooTube!
But how scary is it?: Not too bad, but definitely creepy! The acting here is top-notch and Patricia Jessel makes for an excellent villain!
The White Reindeer (1952) Directed by Erik Blomberg
🧙♀️🦌🧛♀️
Vampires, like Haunted Houses, were absolutely everywhere in early horror tales. Maybe you're a film buff and you've seen all the commonly known ones - Nosferatu, Dracula, Vampyr, etc. But have you ever seen the Finnish one about the witch who marries a reindeer herder but becomes lonely when he's away for work so she goes to a shaman who makes her a love potion which turns her into a vampiric reindeer that feasts on the blood of men?
Where you can watch it: Unfortunately this one doesn't seem to be on any of the regular streaming sites. But, the internet being what it is, you can find it around. You can watch the trailer here.
But how scary is it?: Not at all scary, but the film is well worth watching nonetheless. Actress Mirjami Kuosmanen is absolutely captivating and she also co-wrote the film with her director husband. It's a truly unique horror-drama.
The 7th Victim👿(1943)😈 Directed by Mark Robson
Hail Satan for giving us centuries of horror content! In this film, a young woman named Mary is attending an expensive boarding school when she gets word that her sister, Jacqueline, is missing. Mary leaves school to try and track her sister down but runs into a series of strange characters with something to hide. A chance encounter with a Private Investigator kicks things into overdrive as he helps Mary uncover pieces of the mystery of her sister's disappearance, which appears to involve a satanic cult. The plot is a little all over the place, but the movie is an enjoyable women-driven horror that passes the Bechdel test (the men are truly worthless, secondary characters). We even see Mary put a man in his place for being a condescending dick. There's also some incredible fashion in this one too.
Trigger warning:[TW]There are multiple references to suicide in this film.
Where you can watch it: This one is tough to find but it's on "the internet" if you catch my drift.
But how scary is it?: Not too scary. The plot is also a little meandering, which is apparently the result of several major scenes being cut from the film, but it's still a decent film and it can definitely deliver on some spooky vibes.
Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 /
I thought I would help kick off celebrations by compiling a short list of remarkable horror classics to enjoy throughout the month of October. By "classic" I mean influential, interesting, and incredible, but I also mean old. And by "old," I really mean that I wanted this list to be compiled of horror content from before 1970 to highlight some of the earlier works that you may have only heard about but never got around to enjoying. Browse the list and contribute your favourites in the comments so we can all enjoy the frights!
Night of the Living Dead (1968) Directed by George A. Romero 🧟
One of the most influential zombie horror thrillers of all time (although in this film they’re referred to as “ghouls”), this classic made its mark on cinematic history in a number of impressive ways. It’s an indie. It’s Romero’s first ever feature film. It had a budget of only a little more than $100,000.00 but grossed millions, making it one of the most profitable productions of the time. The protagonist is played by Duane Jones, one of the first black actors to star in an American horror movie (and it was his first film, too).
If you’re a fan of zombie films, you’ll see just how much this movie influenced the genre. Jordan Peele has even credited the film as being an inspiration in some aspects for Us - specifically how it was a horror movie about race that didn’t explicitly talk about race.
Where you can watch it: Criterion, YouTube (albeit a poor quality version), and for rent on various sites like Amazon Prime and iTunes.
But how scary is it?: It's pretty scary! Jump scares, blood and gore, and ghouls that are a little too human for comfort. And it wastes no time - you’ll be freaked out within the first 10 minutes.
🐈⬛ Kuroneko (1968) Directed by Kaneto Shindo
Where would the horror genre as we know it today be without the contributions of Japanese cinema? This adaptation of a Japanese folktale takes place in war-torn feudal Japan. The film moves and flows in such a beautiful and lyrical way, but the story embedded beneath the images is an eerie tale of anger and revenge. With an incredibly unnerving score, this film will help get you into the spooky mood without making it too difficult for you to sleep at night. This isn’t the kind of movie that will leave you on edge - but the slowly building tension and supernatural elements make it a classic horror tale. It also features a modern day Halloween staple - the black cat!
Trigger warning: This film opens with [TW]the rape and murder of two women [Spoiler] who also happen to be our main characters out for revenge.
Where you can watch it: Criterion streaming. But as is the case with a lot of older movies, there’s a good chance you can find this elsewhere online if you don’t have a Criterion subscription amongst your ever-growing pile of subscriptions.
But how scary is it?: Ultimately, not that scary. This movie is more unnerving and atmospheric. But the classic horror elements and vengeful spirits make for a very cinematic horror film well worth watching.
The War of the Worlds 👽 (1938) 📻 Presented by Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre
Click to viewMaybe you've watched enough horror for your liking and are looking for something different. Maybe you're too busy to sit down and devote your time to a film. Maybe you have a long commute or a ton of boring chores to do and instead of watching scary things, you want to listen to them. Well...you're in luck.
Before Orson Welles was making movies, he was making a name for himself in theatre. And the theatre company he founded - The Mercury Theatre - was invited to do a radio series called The Mercury Theatre on the Air, which presented a number of wonderfully adapted stories broadcast to people all across America. I'm almost positive you've heard of this adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel - the radio broadcast that purportedly worked listeners up into mass panic because it was so realistically done that people thought an actual alien invasion was taking place (although this is somewhat disputed now and is thought to be a case of media exaggeration and sensationalism). But have you ever listened to it? It. is. brilliant. I promise you that it contains some of the finest acting you'll ever experience. It's even more impressive when you realize it was all done live (yes, including the cuts to the music at the beginning of the story - there was a 27 piece orchestra in the studio - legally, absolutely nothing could be pre-recorded)! And if you enjoy it then you'll be happy to know that there are a bunch of these available - including a critically acclaimed version of Dracula as well!
But how scary is it?: There are moments where it's downright terrifying! If you put yourself into the shoes of someone tuning in late to the broadcast, not knowing that this was a radio play, it's not difficult to imagine how a show like this could cause genuine panic. The adaptation kicks off like a regular radio show - with some news about weather and some beautiful music - only to be interrupted periodically by "breaking news" alerts that gradually grow more horrifying as the show continues.
The Cat and the Canary (1927) Directed by Paul Leni 🏠 👻
Part horror, part comedic thriller - this silent film takes place in the spooky mansion of the deceased eccentric millionaire Cyrus West. His family members have gathered, 20 years since his passing, to attend the reading of his Will. Things get complicated when a strange condition of West's last wishes throw a wrench into everyone's plans. And things get even MORE complicated when word arrives that there's a madman on the loose! It's a little bit Clue, a little bit Knives Out, and a whole lotta spooky creepy fun! And if Haunted Houses are your vibe, then you're in luck because this was a pretty common horror theme in pre-1970s films. You can check out House on Haunted Hill (1959) and The Old Dark House (1932) just to name a couple.
Where you can watch it: BooTube!
But how scary is it?: There are definitely some evil, conniving, creepy people in this one. It shouldn't scare you too much, but it does make for an entertaining October movie night.
🧙♀️🧹The City of the Dead (1960) Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey
Christopher Lee plays a professor who helps guide Nan Barlow, one of his students, to Whitewood, Massachusetts so that she can write her senior paper on the burning of accused witch Elizabeth Selwyn in 1692. When Nan arrives, she slowly realizes that all is not quite right in Whitewood.
Where you can watch it: BooTube!
But how scary is it?: Not too bad, but definitely creepy! The acting here is top-notch and Patricia Jessel makes for an excellent villain!
The White Reindeer (1952) Directed by Erik Blomberg
🧙♀️🦌🧛♀️
Vampires, like Haunted Houses, were absolutely everywhere in early horror tales. Maybe you're a film buff and you've seen all the commonly known ones - Nosferatu, Dracula, Vampyr, etc. But have you ever seen the Finnish one about the witch who marries a reindeer herder but becomes lonely when he's away for work so she goes to a shaman who makes her a love potion which turns her into a vampiric reindeer that feasts on the blood of men?
Where you can watch it: Unfortunately this one doesn't seem to be on any of the regular streaming sites. But, the internet being what it is, you can find it around. You can watch the trailer here.
But how scary is it?: Not at all scary, but the film is well worth watching nonetheless. Actress Mirjami Kuosmanen is absolutely captivating and she also co-wrote the film with her director husband. It's a truly unique horror-drama.
The 7th Victim👿(1943)😈 Directed by Mark Robson
Hail Satan for giving us centuries of horror content! In this film, a young woman named Mary is attending an expensive boarding school when she gets word that her sister, Jacqueline, is missing. Mary leaves school to try and track her sister down but runs into a series of strange characters with something to hide. A chance encounter with a Private Investigator kicks things into overdrive as he helps Mary uncover pieces of the mystery of her sister's disappearance, which appears to involve a satanic cult. The plot is a little all over the place, but the movie is an enjoyable women-driven horror that passes the Bechdel test (the men are truly worthless, secondary characters). We even see Mary put a man in his place for being a condescending dick. There's also some incredible fashion in this one too.
Trigger warning:[TW]There are multiple references to suicide in this film.
Where you can watch it: This one is tough to find but it's on "the internet" if you catch my drift.
But how scary is it?: Not too scary. The plot is also a little meandering, which is apparently the result of several major scenes being cut from the film, but it's still a decent film and it can definitely deliver on some spooky vibes.
Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 /