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25 Essential Classic Horror Films
Curse of the Demon + Night of the Demon (Ws) [1958] (REGION 1) (NTSC) [DVD] [US Import]Curse of the Demon + Night of the Demon (Ws) [1958] (REGION 1) (NTSC) [DVD] [US Import]
Buy used from: £46.00
Released shortly after 'Curse of Frankenstein' hailed Hammer's introduction as the genre protagonist. This is a brilliant adaptation of M. R. James' 'Casting the Runes'. Seminal.
The Wicker Man - Special Edition Director's Cut (2 disc set) [DVD] [1973]The Wicker Man - Special Edition Director's Cut (2 disc set) [DVD] [1973]
Buy used from: £7.00
Full of wonderful imagery, atmosphere and weirdness. Now considered a cult classic. The finale lives long in the mind. Great soundtrack too.
The Exorcist - Director's Cut [DVD] [1974]The Exorcist - Director's Cut [DVD] [1974]
Buy used from: £3.25
Friedken's finest moment as director. Released in 1973, this tale of demonic possession hasn't aged a jot. Top drawer performances throughout, particularly from Jason Miller as Father Karras.
The Shining (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1980]The Shining (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1980]
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.49
Stephen King wasn't exactly enamoured with Stan Kubrick's adaptation of his story, but Kubrick was never really a people-pleaser. Great brooding atmosphere and a tour de force Nicholson performance.
Dracula [DVD] [1958]Dracula [DVD] [1958]
Hammer's quintessential Dracula. An abridged version of Stoker's novel. Established Christopher Lee's synonymity with the role in which he's largely regarded as numero uno.
From Beyond The Grave [DVD] [1973]From Beyond The Grave [DVD] [1973]
Buy new: £2.98
I'm a big fan of all the Amicus portmanteau films, but if I had to choose one this would be it. Utterly memorable.
Dead Of Night [DVD] [1945]Dead Of Night [DVD] [1945]
Buy new: £4.98
Ealing Studios' 1945 classic portmanteau. I always thought that there was something a tad sinister about ventriloquist's dummies!
Peeping Tom - Special Edition [DVD] [1959]Peeping Tom - Special Edition [DVD] [1959]
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.49
Michael Powell's controversial psycho-killer shocker. Brilliantly directed. Rediscovered by Scorcese in 1979. A gem.
The Changeling [DVD] [1980]The Changeling [DVD] [1980]
Buy used from: £4.19
Just a good ghost story. Well made with plenty of astmosphere and good performances throughout.
An American Werewolf In London [DVD] [1981]An American Werewolf In London [DVD] [1981]
Buy used from: £0.99
Landis' black comedy has really stood the test of time (even the SFX remain impressive - pre-CGI, remember?). A homage to British horror film cliches. Spot Rik Mayall in the Slaughtered Lamb!
Quatermass 2 [DVD] [1957]Quatermass 2 [DVD] [1957]
Buy used from: £36.99
The best Quatermass. Adapted from Nigel Kneale's 1950s TV series. Perfectly illustrates Cold War paranoia and government mistrust. What aren't they telling us?
Blood On Satan's Claw [1971] [DVD]Blood On Satan's Claw [1971] [DVD]
Buy used from: £49.99
Beautifully shot occult classic set in 17th-century rural England. If you buy the Tigon coffin boxset, a great audio commentary is provided by 'The League of Gentlemen' team.
Phantasm [1979] [DVD]Phantasm [1979] [DVD]
Buy new: £5.99 / Used from: £2.60
Bizarre! A tall mausoleum attendent manufactures zombie dwarves from the dead and consigns them to an alien planet for slavery. However, a local kid scuppers his plans. One for connoisseurs.
The Devil Rides Out [DVD] [1968]The Devil Rides Out [DVD] [1968]
Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £3.55
Superb Hammer Wheatley adaptation. Perhaps the definitive British occult film (in terms of imagery at least). Highly influential.
Night Of The Eagle [DVD] [1962]Night Of The Eagle [DVD] [1962]
Buy new: £4.88
Another early occult classic. Often compared with Tourneur's 'Night of the Demon'. Quite ahead of its time.
The Skull [DVD] [1965] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]The Skull [DVD] [1965] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £30.00
One of Amicus' more creepy films. Peter Cushing plays an obsessive collector of all things occult. Witness his descent into madness after acquiring his most precious objet d'art!
Horrors Of The Black Museum [DVD] [1959]Horrors Of The Black Museum [DVD] [1959]
Buy used from: £8.99
1960 shocker. That old comic strip binoculars trick takes a sinister turn!
Countess Dracula: Special Edition [1970] [DVD] [1971]Countess Dracula: Special Edition [1970] [DVD] [1971]
Buy new: £7.28 / Used from: £7.48
Ingrid's finest hour. Hammer's take on the Bathory legend. Shoddy sets, but it's all good fun. Nice extras on this edition as well.
And Soon The Darkness [DVD] [1970]And Soon The Darkness [DVD] [1970]
Buy new: £7.18
More thriller than horror. Written by Brian Clemens (The Avengers, Thriller, The Professionals) and set in bucolic France. This film has a great pace about it and some clever plot twists too.
The Haunting [DVD] [1963]The Haunting [DVD] [1963]
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Robert Wise's seminal haunted-house flick. Great use of sound. Just pips Clayton's 1961 chiller 'The Innocents' for me.
Frankenstein [DVD] [1931]Frankenstein [DVD] [1931]
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Possibly the definitive Frankenstein film. Clive and Karloff were only ever seriously challenged by Cushing and Lee in Hammer's 'Curse of Frankenstein'. This has more pathos.
Witchfinder General [1968] [DVD]Witchfinder General [1968] [DVD]
Buy new: £3.38 / Used from: £2.00
Michael Reeves was a genius director who died far too young. Wonderful location stuff. Price's least 'hammy' performance. Civil War England never looked so good on celluloid.
Suspiria [1976] 2 Disc Special Edition [DVD]Suspiria [1976] 2 Disc Special Edition [DVD]
Buy used from: £8.95
Mood, gore and Goblin! The list wouldn't be complete without including at least one Argento. This is the first of his 'The Three Mothers' trilogy films. The eyes at the window still haunt me!
The Omen [DVD] [1976]The Omen [DVD] [1976]
Buy new: £5.68 / Used from: £1.76
One of the best mainstream horrors to come out of the 1970s. Great cast, great soundtrack. The sequels are worth watching too.
The Masque Of The Red Death [DVD] [1964]The Masque Of The Red Death [DVD] [1964]
Buy new: £3.98
Roger Corman directs, Vincent Price stars. Adaptation of Poe's story concerning a satanic prince and a masquerade ball. One of the best in Corman's Poe series. Lovely cinematography.