Listmania!
100 years 100 fears! Pt.1
Melies the Magician [DVD] [1997] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Melies the Magician [DVD] [1997] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £31.16
"Le Chaudron Infernal" is a realisation of horror as the perfect vehicle for special effects. Magical.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari [DVD] [1919] [US Import]The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari [DVD] [1919] [US Import]
Buy used from: £7.99
An expressionist nightmare that is still of enormous importance. Full of intricate imagery and freakish performance.
Der Golem [1920] [DVD]Der Golem [1920] [DVD]
Buy new: £8.18 / Used from: £98.00
Eerie and provocative adaptation of the old legend.
Häxan - Witchcraft Through the Ages [1922] [DVD]Häxan - Witchcraft Through the Ages [1922] [DVD]
Buy new: £12.98 / Used from: £15.73
Visually arresting and bizarre "documentary" that was enormously controversial at the time. The director Benjamin Christensen starred as both Jesus and Satan!
Nosferatu (Definitive Fully-restored version with original score) [Masters of Cinema] [1921] [DVD]Nosferatu (Definitive Fully-restored version with original score) [Masters of Cinema] [1921] [DVD]
Buy new: £9.58 / Used from: £9.09
A magical piece with a creepy and shocking archetypal portrayal of a vampire. Murnau was a true innovator of early cinema. A symphony of horrors.
The Phantom Of The Opera [1925] [DVD]The Phantom Of The Opera [1925] [DVD]
Buy new: £13.88 / Used from: £8.99
Lon Chaney brings a macabre tragedy and amazing self make-up to the best of interpretations that inspired the Universal cycle of films that were to follow.
Dracula [DVD] [1931]Dracula [DVD] [1931]
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £2.30
Perhaps inferior to "Nosferatu" in some ways, but with great performances that elevate it and ostentatious set design. The spanish version is arguably an improvement.
The Mummy [DVD] [1932]The Mummy [DVD] [1932]
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £2.50
A subtle and suspenseful movie augmented by Karloff's inimitable presence. The least dated of the Universal cycle and my favourite version of the tale.
Frankenstein/Bride Of Frankenstein [DVD] [1931]Frankenstein/Bride Of Frankenstein [DVD] [1931]
Buy used from: £2.18
Worth watching both movies as one. "Bride.." is still an astonishing film experience over 70 years after it was made.
Island Of Lost Souls / Mystery Of The Wax Museum [DVD] [1932]Island Of Lost Souls / Mystery Of The Wax Museum [DVD] [1932]
These films have a dark savagery lacking in the more well known Universal movies.
The Cat People/The Curse of the Cat People [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]The Cat People/The Curse of the Cat People [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £15.67
An underrated movie and a big influence on later Hitchcock with it's supernatural noir stylings.
I Walked With a Zombie/The Body Snatcher [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]I Walked With a Zombie/The Body Snatcher [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £6.97
More Jacques Tourneur classics closely following "Cat People". Don't be misled by the gaudy titles!
Dead of Night/Queen of Spades [DVD] [1945] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Dead of Night/Queen of Spades [DVD] [1945] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £42.13
A masterful and lingering film and the original horror omnibus. An Ealing classic.
House Of Wax [DVD] [1953]House Of Wax [DVD] [1953]
Buy new: £2.98 / Used from: £2.14
Vincent Price dominates in this excellent and well paced remake of "Horrors of the Wax Museum".
Gojira: The Original Japanese Masterpiece/Godzilla, King of the Monsters [DVD] [2005] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Gojira: The Original Japanese Masterpiece/Godzilla, King of the Monsters [DVD] [2005] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £7.67
Post-atomic anti-war allegory mixed with adrenaline thrills and a rousing score. Decidedly different from the numerous quirky (but fun) sequels.
The Blob [1958] [DVD]The Blob [1958] [DVD]
The quintessential fifties drive-in B movie. An original and unnerving creature, a great turn from Steve McQueen and the campiest theme song ever.
I Bury The Living [1958] [DVD]I Bury The Living [1958] [DVD]
Buy new: £4.07 / Used from: £2.38
Notable for the first screen appearance of The Simpson's Groundskeeper Willie.
House on Haunted Hill [DVD] [1958] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]House on Haunted Hill [DVD] [1958] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £15.38
William Castle's best along with "13 Ghosts" and yet another priceless Price film.
The Curse Of Frankenstein/Horror Of Dracula /The Mummy [DVD] [1959]The Curse Of Frankenstein/Horror Of Dracula /The Mummy [DVD] [1959]
Buy used from: £34.99
Essential and iconic cinema starring the two titans of gothic horror, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. These films exceed the Universal cycle in almost every way.
The Hammer Horror Series [DVD] [1964] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]The Hammer Horror Series [DVD] [1964] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £18.95
Contains Hammer's only werewolf movie, the superb "Curse Of The Werewolf" starring Oliver Reed.
Psycho/The Birds [DVD]Psycho/The Birds [DVD]
Buy new: £6.98
Lurid classics from the master of suspense. Psycho is helped massively by Herrmann's unforgettable score...conversely The Birds doesn't have one.
Village Of The Damned [1960]Village Of The Damned [1960]
Buy used from: £10.00
Technically a sci-fi but a chilling film none the less. The EYES!
Eyes Without a Face [DVD] [1960] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Eyes Without a Face [DVD] [1960] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £13.51
Surreal and cerebral cult classic with images that stay with you for days. A personal favourite that is unlike anything else on this list.
Peeping Tom - Criterion Collection [DVD] [1960] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Peeping Tom - Criterion Collection [DVD] [1960] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £17.79
Way ahead of its time and caused huge scandal on it's release. The uglier and darker sibling to Hitchcock's "Psycho" that deals with some controversial elements with skill and artistry.
Black Sunday / The Mask Of Satan [1968] [DVD]Black Sunday / The Mask Of Satan [1968] [DVD]
Buy used from: £12.59
My second favourite Mario Bava film after "Blood & Black Lace". The cinematography in this is jaw droppingly beautiful. A great performance from Barbara Steele only adds to its greatness.