Things that go bump in the night
With my ratings & comments.
Dozens of ways to make your pulse race! Turn out the lights, roll the film--and be afraid. Be very afraid.
I've listed these movies (plus a select few tv shows) chronologically, complete with my highly opinionated pocket reviews. Please note that I am stingy with stars, and try to rate based on criteria more objective than simply "I loved it/hated it"--a movie has to be really outstanding to earn an 8 or higher from me. The lower I've rated a film, the later at night you should watch it.
Dozens of ways to make your pulse race! Turn out the lights, roll the film--and be afraid. Be very afraid.
I've listed these movies (plus a select few tv shows) chronologically, complete with my highly opinionated pocket reviews. Please note that I am stingy with stars, and try to rate based on criteria more objective than simply "I loved it/hated it"--a movie has to be really outstanding to earn an 8 or higher from me. The lower I've rated a film, the later at night you should watch it.
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- DirectorKevin BrownlowStarsKenneth BranaghChristopher AdamsonJohn AugurA documentary examining the early days of horror films, particularly those crafted at Universal Studios during the 1930s.8/10
Just starting your journey through the golden age of horror films? This 95-minute documentary is a great place to learn about must-see movies made circa 1920-1948. Included are clips from many classics, plus a good discussion of how censorship changed the game for filmmakers.
The documentary is included with several Universal horror film DVDs (mine came with the 75th Anniversary edition of Dracula). - StarsMark GatissJohn CarpenterMichael RobertsMark Gatiss examines the history of the horror film, from classic Hollywood monsters to Hammer's glory days and beyond.8/10
Excellent overview of horror films focusing on three key eras: between the World Wars, the Hammer Films years, and modern. Many classic clips. - DirectorConstantine NasrStarsJames CromwellWilliam FriedkinSteve JonesDocumentary about the great 1940s horror movie producer Val Lewton, featured on the 2005 DVD release "The Val Lewton Horror Collection."8/10
Smart, empathetic documentary on producer Val Lewton's career, focusing on his immensely influential work in the 1940s. Essential viewing for fans. (This runs occasionally on TCM, and is included as a bonus feature on the DVD for The Seventh Victim.) - DirectorJeffrey SchwarzStarsForrest J. AckermanJohn BadhamDiane BakerChronicles the last great American showman, filmmaker William Castle, a master of ballyhoo who became a brand name in movie horror with his outrageous audience participation gimmicks.7.5/10
A respectful and amusing overview of William Castle, who was better at promoting cheap horror movies than directing them. I learned things I hadn't known--for instance, Castle produced the classic Rosemary's Baby. This documentary, which features plenty of film clips including stars like Vincent Price and Joan Crawford, runs occasionally on TCM. - DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsJehanne d'AlcyJules-Eugène LegrisGeorges MélièsWith the help of a magic cauldron, Mephistopheles conjures up a variety of supernatural characters.Spend an enjoyable three minutes watching early special effects! Not intended to be scary, but it is a charming reminder of how closely connected fear and laughter can be. (not rated out of respect for its venerable age)
Here it is on the Internet Archive:
[link]http://archive.org/details/The_Haunted_Castle_1896[/link] - DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsVictor AndréBleuette BernonA group of astronomers go on an expedition to the Moon.9/10
Sci-fi cinema is born! This film is genuinely entertaining, and not to be missed.
There are many versions available--restored, hand-coloured, different music tracks; most, unfortunately, are incomplete. Search one out and enjoy!
[link]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Trip_to_the_Moon[/link] - DirectorJ. Searle DawleyStarsMary FullerCharles OgleAugustus PhillipsThe first filmed version of Frankenstein. The young doctor discovers the secret of life, which he uses to create a perfect human. Things do not go according to plan.6/10
Another important piece of horror history, available on the Internet Archive. The director achieves actual suspense during the creation sequence.
[link]http://archive.org/details/FrankensteinfullMovie[/link] - DirectorLucius HendersonStarsJames CruzeFlorence La BadieMarie ElineDr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself.4/10
Before the 1930s monster craze, Robert Louis Stevenson's tale of the tragic doctor was probably the most popular horror story around--there were at least eight versions made before 1931. An adaptation from 1908 is lost; this 1912 one-reeler is the oldest known to have survived. Technically crude, but it does cram lots of action into its 8 minutes. - DirectorHerbert BrenonStarsKing BaggotJane GailMatt SnyderDr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself.6/10
Like most adaptations, this one is based on the 1887 play rather than the Stevenson novella. Compared to other circa-1913 films I've seen, this is not especially good technically. But at twice the length of the 1912 version, it puts considerably more effort into developing characters and some mood. I particularly like the intertitle that describes Jekyll as a "martyr to science."
Available on the Internet Archive:
[link]http://archive.org/details/DrJekyllAndMrHyde1913[/link] - DirectorRobert WieneStarsWerner KraussConrad VeidtFriedrich FeherHypnotist Dr. Caligari uses a somnambulist, Cesare, to commit murders.8/10
Wild sets, wild plot, wild camera, wild acting! (And you thought Conrad Veidt was just that Nazi in Casablanca who was mean to Bogart & Bergman.) The ultimate example of cinematic German Expressionism. Though not one of my personal favorites, this is essential viewing if you want to call yourself a horror fan. - DirectorJohn S. RobertsonStarsJohn BarrymoreMartha MansfieldBrandon HurstDr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself.7/10
Barrymore's first transformation scene is unforgettable. Equally amazing is Nita Naldi's dress, which appears to have been painted onto her rather than sewn.
What I especially like about this version is the attempt to explore the doctor's psychology. And you just have to love a horror flick that quotes Oscar Wilde. - DirectorF.W. MurnauStarsMax SchreckAlexander GranachGustav von WangenheimVampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter's wife.8/10
A wee bit over-worshipped by legions of rabid fans--but its visual phantasmagoria is still engrossing. If all the actors were as good as Schreck, I'd rate it even higher. - DirectorBenjamin ChristensenStarsBenjamin ChristensenElisabeth ChristensenMaren PedersenFictionalized documentary showing the evolution of witchcraft, from its pagan roots to its confusion with hysteria in Eastern Europe.7/10
Wi nøt trei a høliday in Sweden this yër?
Awash with bizarre imagery, some of it created with an innovative optical printer, including the majestik møøse. A Møøse once bit my sister...
Sorry. The persons responsible for creating this review have been sacked. This really is a good movie, and distinctly different from anything else you might see in any other Jazz Age film.
Mynd you, møøse bites Kan be pretty nasti. - DirectorRupert JulianLon ChaneyErnst LaemmleStarsLon ChaneyMary PhilbinNorman KerryA mad, disfigured composer seeks love with a lovely young opera singer.7/10
Chaney at full-throttle amidst splendidly atmospheric sets. This would be vastly better, though, if Philbin & Kerry didn't appear to be animated stick figures; they both must have taken acting lessons from Gustav von Wangenheim.
Incidentally, I'm one of the few people who prefer the finale as it now exists, rather than the soppy romantic version it replaced. - DirectorScott PembrokeJoe RockStarsStan LaurelJulie LeonardThe Wonder Dog PalIn Victorian London the esteemed Dr. Pyckle uses himself as a guinea pig when he experiments with a new drug that changes him into a compulsive prankster.6/10
An early parody of Dr Jekyll. - DirectorPaul LeniStarsLaura La PlanteCreighton HaleForrest StanleyRelatives of an eccentric millionaire gather in his spooky mansion on the 20th anniversary of his death for the reading of his will.8/10
I still get nightmares about that hairy hand. Directed by a master, this film is not only an excellent mix of chills & comedy, it almost single-handedly invented the classic haunted house atmosphere that we look for in movies today.
Leni's films--especially this one and The Last Warning--were strong influences on James Whale.
[link]http://archive.org/details/The_Cat_and_the_Canary[/link] - DirectorTod BrowningStarsLon ChaneyNorman KerryJoan CrawfordA criminal on the run hides in a circus and seeks to possess the daughter of the ringmaster at any cost.7/10
A terrifyingly well-constructed nightmare. - DirectorFritz LangStarsBrigitte HelmAlfred AbelGustav FröhlichIn a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the city planners, the son of the city's mastermind falls in love with a working-class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.7.5/10
Thanks to its immensely stylish cinematography and Art Deco sets, this is a highly influential film. But I confess that, as a movie, it left me cold--the politics are simplistic, and the message heavy-handed. I have nightmares about the present and the future, but they are not the same as Lang's. - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJune TrippIvor NovelloMarie AultA landlady suspects that her new lodger is the madman killing women in London.7/10
Alfred Hitchcock's first suspense film. He didn't direct many films I would classify as horror, but this one surely qualifies.
[link]http://archive.org/details/TheLodgerAStoryOfTheLondonFog_579[/link] - DirectorTod BrowningStarsLon ChaneyMarceline DayHenry B. WalthallThe abandoned home of a wealthy man who supposedly committed suicide five years earlier is taken over by ghoulish figures - could they be vampires?A lost film that can now be experienced only through a TCM-funded reconstruction created from picture stills, the original script, and a new musical score. Chaney's makeup allegedly inspired a terrorized London moviegoer to murder an Irish maid in Hyde Park. Remade as Mark of the Vampire in 1935.
Obviously, I can't rate the film itself--but I did enjoy seeing the reconstruction, which is 7.5/10. - DirectorPaul LeniStarsMary PhilbinConrad VeidtJulius MolnarWhen a proud noble refuses to kiss the hand of the despotic King James in 1690, he is cruelly executed and his son surgically disfigured.8/10
Veidt (and his devoted dog) will touch your heart. - DirectorPaul LeniStarsLaura La PlanteMontagu LoveRoy D'ArcyA producer decides to reopen a theater, that had been closed five years previously when one of the actors was murdered during a performance, by staging a production of the same play with the remaining members of the original cast.6/10
Ever been puzzled as to what inspired Una O'Connor's over-the-top shenanigans in James Whales's horror films? Watch this, and wonder no more. This is far from director Paul Leni's best work, but it's well worth a look, if only to see the "Phantom of the Opera" theater set put to good use. And pay attention to that sinister face cleverly created by the outer facade of the theater (about 15 minutes from the start). - DirectorRobert MiltonRay EnrightStarsLeslie HowardDouglas Fairbanks Jr.Beryl MercerLater remade as "Between Two Worlds."6/10
This movie (based on a 1923 hit play) is the origin of every single film you've ever seen premised on the "she/he doesn't know she/he's dead" trick. The script is lumpy, but there are many moments of mystical foggy moodiness in this spiritual fantasy. Remade with better acting but less atmosphere in 1944 as Between Two Worlds, and also as a dreadful made-for-TV-movie, Haunts of the Very Rich 1972. - DirectorFritz LangStarsPeter LorreEllen WidmannInge LandgutWhen the police in a German city are unable to catch a child-murderer, other criminals join in the manhunt.9/10
Fine performances and a highly original plot, plus Lang's distinctive direction. Everything works here: the complex use of sound, shadows, silhouettes, angles, focus, flashbacks, framing, and reflections; the script and casting; the insights into individual and mob psychology. Cynical, poignant, and forever memorable. One of the great films. - DirectorJames WhaleStarsColin CliveMae ClarkeBoris KarloffDr Henry Frankenstein is obsessed with assembling a living being from parts of several exhumed corpses.10/10
Wonderful from start to finish. Please stop reading this silly list and go watch this movie right now! - DirectorRouben MamoulianStarsFredric MarchMiriam HopkinsRose HobartDr. Jekyll faces horrible consequences when he lets his dark side run wild with a potion that transforms him into the animalistic Mr. Hyde.8/10
March is over-the-top once or twice, the make-up is weird--and it doesn't matter. Distinguished direction, a literate script, and strong performances establish this one as the definitive film version. - DirectorTod BrowningKarl FreundStarsBela LugosiHelen ChandlerDavid MannersTransylvanian vampire Count Dracula bends a naive real estate agent to his will, then takes up residence at a London estate where he sleeps in his coffin by day and searches for potential victims by night.7.5/10
It's not all it should have been, due to a mediocre script and some missed chances in the direction; there are plot holes and more than one forgettable performance (from David Manners especially).
But Lugosi as the Count is indelible: He has been standing on that crumbling staircase waiting for you since time began. If you have time for only one Dracula, this is it. - DirectorArchie MayoStarsJohn BarrymoreMarian MarshDonald CrispThrough hypnotism and telepathic mind control, a sinister music maestro controls the singing voice, but not the heart, of the woman he loves.7/10
Barrymore, looking very like the infamous Rasputin, gives his character evocative body language and vocal mannerisms, building to a pathos-inducing finale (though Marsh, as his victim, is not quite up to his standard). The sets by Anton Grot are eye-popping, and the cinematography is also very good, though needing better lighting. I could have done without the comic Scotsmen. - DirectorGeorge MelfordStarsCarlos VillaríasLupita TovarBarry NortonCenturies-old vampire Dracula preys upon the innocent Eva and her friends.6/10
This Spanish-language version, made in parallel with the Lugosi classic, sometimes generates more atmosphere than its better-known companion; its women are also far sexier. The bad news is that most of its actors cannot act, and, in particular, Villarias has all the charisma of a tube of toothpaste. - DirectorKarl FreundStarsBoris KarloffZita JohannDavid MannersA resurrected Egyptian mummy searches Cairo for the girl he believes to be his long-lost princess.8/10
Elegantly directed by cinematographer Karl Freund. Karloff is surprisingly touching in a relatively complicated role, and the atmosphere is deliciously eerie. Zita Johann is an intriguing heroine, while both Van Sloan and Manners are far more effective here than in Dracula (unfortunately, both also remain notably uncharismatic). Superb make-up by Jack Pierce.
The plot is uncomfortably similar to Dracula; beginning in the 1970s, vampires would return the favour, lifting the reincarnation element from this film for Dracula remakes. - DirectorErle C. KentonStarsCharles LaughtonBela LugosiRichard ArlenA mad doctor conducts ghastly genetic experiments on a remote island in the South Seas, much to the fear and disgust of the shipwrecked sailor who finds himself trapped there.8/10
Don't miss one of Laughton's best performances! And you'll never forget the panther girl. - DirectorTod BrowningStarsWallace FordLeila HyamsOlga BaclanovaA circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.8/10
Emotionally searing, and not for everyone. But the sideshow performers are treated with dignity, and the tale is compelling. - DirectorIrving PichelErnest B. SchoedsackStarsJoel McCreaFay WrayLeslie BanksA psychotic big game hunter deliberately strands a luxury yacht on a remote island, where he begins to hunt its passengers for sport.8/10
Fast, tense, and fantastically stylish. Highly recommended. - DirectorVictor HalperinStarsBela LugosiMadge BellamyJoseph CawthornA young man turns to a witch doctor to lure the woman he loves away from her fiancé, but instead turns her into a zombie slave.7/10
The plot is a bit weak, the acting often even more so--but the film makes up for a lot by generating an incredibly eerie mood. - DirectorJames WhaleStarsBoris KarloffMelvyn DouglasCharles LaughtonSeeking shelter from a storm, five travelers are in for a bizarre and terrifying night when they stumble upon the Femm family estate.7/10
"Have a potato." Never mind the weak plot, this is loads of fun: There's a drunken lecherous butler, a crazed pyromaniac, potholes the size of small counties, one religious zealot, an imminent flood, a mysterious dying man, a couple of fornicators, a knock-out white satin evening gown, and plenty of curtains billowing in gale-force winds. - DirectorRobert FloreyStarsBela LugosiSidney FoxLeon AmesA mad scientist seeks to mingle human blood with that of an ape, and resorts to kidnapping women for his experiments.5.5/10
Dark, with an exceedingly creepy premise. I found the love story more than usually annoying, though. If I focus on the wonderful cinematography, the sub-par acting (from pretty much the entire cast) doesn't bother me as much. - DirectorMichael CurtizStarsLionel AtwillFay WrayLee TracyA wisecracking New York reporter intrudes on a research scientist's quest to unmask The Moon Killer.5.5/10
I love Fay Wray & Lionel Atwill, but I honestly found this tedious to sit through. - DirectorMerian C. CooperErnest B. SchoedsackStarsFay WrayRobert ArmstrongBruce CabotA film crew goes to a tropical island for a location shoot, where they capture a colossal ape who takes a shine to their blonde starlet, and bring him back to New York City.9/10
It could be better only if Joel McCrea had played Cabot's role. Everything else is perfect--and you'll cry at the end. - DirectorJames WhaleStarsClaude RainsGloria StuartWilliam HarriganA scientist finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane.8/10
A delightful Whalesian romp, with terrific special effects. - DirectorMichael CurtizStarsLionel AtwillFay WrayGlenda FarrellThe disappearance of people and corpses leads a reporter to a wax museum and a sinister sculptor.7/10
Nobody screams like Fay Wray. Or has more reason to. - DirectorFrank R. StrayerStarsLionel AtwillFay WrayMelvyn DouglasWhen corpses drained of blood begin to show up in a European village, vampirism is suspected to be responsible.5/10
Poverty Row studio Majestic assembled a fine cast & shot much of this at Universal. While the movie needed a stronger script & direction, it's always worthwhile spending an hour with Dwight Frye's maniacal laugh. - DirectorEdgar G. UlmerStarsBoris KarloffBela LugosiDavid MannersAmerican honeymooners in Hungary become trapped in the home of a Satan-worshipping priest when the bride is taken there for medical help following a road accident.7/10
Heavy cuts damaged the plot. But Lugosi and Karloff both shine here in intriguing roles. Plus we get exciting Art Deco sets, a collection of bottled beauties, and a whole crowd of devil worshippers. What more could a horror fan want? - DirectorMitchell LeisenStarsFredric MarchEvelyn VenableGuy StandingThe Grim Reaper takes the form of a Prince in an attempt to relate to humans and, along the way, also learns what it is to love.7/10
Fantasy rather than horror, with a startling conclusion. I found the ethereal heroine to be stunningly annoying, though; without Fredric March, I wouldn't have made it to the end. Strong cast, high production values. - DirectorJames WhaleStarsBoris KarloffElsa LanchesterColin CliveMary Shelley reveals the main characters of her novel survived: Baron Henry Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds his monster a mate.10/10
My all-time favorite. More importantly, one of the greatest films ever made.
[link]http://stripgenerator.com/strip/692166/bride-of-frankenbunny/#main[/link] - DirectorLew LandersStarsBoris KarloffBela LugosiLester MatthewsA brilliant surgeon with a morbid obsession for instruments of torture grows dangerously obsessed with a young socialite whose life he's saved.7/10
Vivid performances by Karloff & Lugosi are the highlight of this tale about torture (which has little to do with Poe). The supporting cast is merely adequate, yet the direction shows some imaginative touches. - DirectorTod BrowningStarsLionel BarrymoreElizabeth AllanBela LugosiWhen a nobleman is murdered, a professor of the occult blames vampires, but not all is what it seems.7/10
A talkie remake of the lost London After Midnight from 1927. Achieves a really spooky atmosphere, and boasts an unusually strong cast. - DirectorStuart WalkerStarsHenry HullWarner OlandValerie HobsonAfter botanist Wilfred Glendon travels to Tibet in search of a rare flower, the Mariphasa, he returns to a London haunted by murders that can only be the work of bloodthirsty werewolves.6/10
Starring the Elvis wolf man! Starts out well, has a few good moments plus bits of comedy--yet it never quite gels. And why is there a camel in Tibet?
As you'd expect, the transformations are crude, and Hull's rather unsympathetic werewolf actually stops to put on his coat before dashing out to rampage. My favorite scenes were the interactions with a tabby cat and a wolf at the zoo. - DirectorTod BrowningStarsLionel BarrymoreMaureen O'SullivanFrank LawtonAn escaped convict uses miniaturized humans to wreak vengeance on those who framed him.7.5/10
Lionel Barrymore in drag! Ingenious revenge plot!! Assassin Barbie doll victorious!!! And it all seems so very very reasonable. A personal favorite of mine. - DirectorLambert HillyerStarsOtto KrugerGloria HoldenMarguerite ChurchillWhen Countess Marya Zaleska appears in London, mysterious events occur that lead Dr. Von Helsing to believe that the Countess must be a vampire.7/10
Unusual touches of humor, plus strong atmosphere in key scenes--the influence of James Whale is obvious, though this film lacks his panache. Churchill as the heroine is a bit annoying, while Kruger is not quite dashing enough. Nonetheless, this is Holden's film, and she remains one of the most memorable vampires of all time. - DirectorVictor HalperinStarsDorothy StoneDean JaggerRoy D'ArcyAn international expedition is sent into Cambodia to destroy an ancient formula that turns men into zombies.3/10
The actors are so stiff, I thought the zombies had appeared long before they actually did. Weak story, stilted dialogue, and almost no action until the final moments. Skip it. - DirectorRowland V. LeeStarsAnn HardingBasil RathboneBinnie HaleA lottery winner breaks up with her fiancé and marries a fortune hunter who proves to be dangerous.6/10
Sinister Basil Rathbone, a rich blonde, and a charming cottage isolated in the country--what better ingredients for murder? I confess it's only a so-so film--until the finale, which is both creative and well-done. - DirectorRowland V. LeeStarsBoris KarloffBasil RathboneBela LugosiReturning to the ancestral castle long after the death of the monster, the son of Dr. Frankenstein meets a mad shepherd who is hiding the comatose creature. To clear the family name, he revives the creature and tries to rehabilitate him.7/10
You'll hate the adorable tyke--but everything else works well. Crazy Expressionistic sets provide the perfect backdrop for a mad doctor, a hunchback, and a one-armed police inspector to tussle over the immortal monster. - DirectorSidney LanfieldStarsBasil RathboneNigel BruceRichard GreeneSherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate the legend of a supernatural hound, a beast that may be stalking a young heir on the fog-shrouded moorland that makes up his estate.7/10
One of several good adaptations of this classic novella. Rathbone is 10/10 as Holmes; the rest of the film--eh, not so much. - DirectorElliott NugentStarsBob HopePaulette GoddardJohn BealWhen an eccentric family meets in their uncle's remote, decaying mansion on the tenth anniversary of his death for the reading of his will, murder and madness follow.6/10
Good cast in mediocre remake--with not one iota of atmosphere--of Paul Leni's 1927 classic. Hope & Goddard are far more fun in 1940's The Ghost Breakers. - DirectorRowland V. LeeStarsBasil RathboneBoris KarloffBarbara O'NeilIn the 15th century Richard Duke of Gloucester, aided by his club-footed executioner Mord, eliminates those ahead of him in succession to the throne, then occupied by his brother King Edward IV of England. As each murder is accomplished he takes particular delight in removing small figurines, each resembling one of the successors, from a throne-room dollhouse, until he alone remains. After the death of Edward he becomes Richard III, King of England, and need only defeat the exiled Henry Tudor to retain power.Elaborate historical farago, with interesting pairing of Rathbone and Karloff. Spoiled a bit by weak plotting and an extremely silly love story. Favorite quote: Ian Hunter calls Barbara O'Neil "my little porcupine."
- DirectorThorold DickinsonStarsAnton WalbrookDiana WynyardFrank PettingellTwenty years after the murder of Alice Barlow, her house is finally occupied again. However, the husband from the couple who have moved in has a secret which he will do anything to keep hidden.8/10
Better acting and atmosphere than the 1944 remake (but this one, alas, does not have Angela Lansbury). - DirectorGeorge MarshallStarsBob HopePaulette GoddardRichard CarlsonA radio broadcaster, his quaking manservant and an heiress investigate the mystery of a haunted castle in Cuba.7.5/10
The plot & pratfalls come at you fast & furious here. Immensely charming, well-produced comedy. - DirectorJoe MayStarsCedric HardwickeVincent PriceNan GreyThe owner of a coal mining operation, falsely imprisoned for fratricide, takes a drug to make him invisible, despite its side effect: gradual madness.7/10
The (mostly) unseen menace is back, this time voiced by the inimitable Price. For mysterious reasons, his drug of choice is now "duocane" (rather than the original's monocane). It lacks the comedic flair of the Claude Rains outing, but perhaps has more heart. - DirectorA. Edward SutherlandStarsVirginia BruceJohn BarrymoreJohn HowardAn attractive model with an ulterior motive volunteers as guinea pig for an invisibility machine.6.5/10
Fast-paced comedy with immense charm, energetic performances. Barrymore is enjoying himself here, and you should, too. - DirectorErnest B. SchoedsackStarsAlbert DekkerThomas ColeyJanice LoganA mad scientist working in the South American jungle miniaturizes his colleagues when he feels his megalomania is threatened.6.5/10
Many fun moments through special effects, though the narrative lacks consistent momentum and the dialogue is often lame. - DirectorChristy CabanneStarsDick ForanPeggy MoranWallace FordArchaeologists defile the tomb of mummified Kharis, who was buried alive for falling in love with an Egyptian princess.5/10
Universal relaunched The Mummy with this clumsy mix of laughs & chills. The Kharis story line doesn't work for me, & neither does this series. - DirectorJean YarbroughStarsBela LugosiSuzanne KaarenDave O'BrienA mad scientist develops an aftershave lotion that causes his gigantic bats to kill anyone who wears it.4/10
Lugosi is fine here, despite being given little to work with, and a very weak supporting cast. - DirectorGeorge WaggnerStarsClaude RainsWarren WilliamLon Chaney Jr.Larry Talbot returns to his father's castle in Wales and meets a beautiful woman. One fateful night, Talbot escorts her to a local carnival where they meet a mysterious gypsy fortune teller.9/10
One of the most poignant of the classic Universal horror films. Ouspenskaya is the standout in a remarkably good cast. - DirectorArthur LubinStarsBud AbbottLou CostelloRichard CarlsonAfter inheriting a fortune from a gangster, two dim-witted service station attendants find themselves stranded in a haunted house.7.5/10
Enjoyable parody of the haunted house genre--Joan Davis as the professional radio screamer become an instant favorite of mine with this flick. Keep an eye on that candle! - DirectorJules DassinStarsJoseph SchildkrautRoman BohnenOscar O'SheaIn this classic Edgar Allan Poe story, a man commits a murder, but afterward the victim's beating heart torments the murderer's mind.6/10
A weird little live-action short adapted from Poe's story. For no reason I can imagine, it's included as a special feature on The Shadow of the Thin Man DVD. It's not bad at all--but the 1953 animated version is far superior. - DirectorJacques TourneurStarsSimone SimonTom ConwayKent SmithAn American man marries a Serbian immigrant who fears that she will turn into the cat person of her homeland's fables if they are intimate together.8.5/10
The first of producer Val Lewton's legendary psychological horror movies, and arguably the best. The famous set-pieces (the walk through Central Park, the swimming pool sequence) have never been outdone. And you'll be startled by the scenes in which Simone Simon and Tom Conway square off--both erotic and perverse, with violence simmering just beneath the surface. - DirectorErle C. KentonStarsCedric HardwickeLon Chaney Jr.Ralph BellamyDr. Frankenstein's plans to replace the brain of his monster are hijacked by his scheming and malevolent assistant Ygor.5/10
Anker's charm and Lugosi's undoubted menace can't overcome a limp, dull story (and a disappointing set). The adorable-child-victim business is played out, too. - DirectorJacques TourneurStarsFrances DeeTom ConwayJames EllisonA nurse is hired to care for the wife of a sugar plantation owner, who has been acting strangely, on a Caribbean island.8.5/10
Or maybe this one is Lewton's best. I can never decide. I've seen it many times, and that walk through the dark jungle still gives me the shivers. - DirectorMark RobsonStarsKim HunterTom ConwayJean BrooksA woman in search of her missing sister uncovers a Satanic cult in New York's Greenwich Village and finds that they could have something to do with her sibling's random disappearance.7/10
Great noir atmosphere. I find this the saddest of Lewton's films. - DirectorJacques TourneurStarsDennis O'KeefeMargoJean BrooksA seemingly-tame leopard used for a publicity stunt escapes and kills a young girl, spreading panic throughout a sleepy New Mexico town.7/10
The setting is a little drab, with bland leads. But this film contains three astounding murder scenes that frighten me every time I see them. - DirectorRoy William NeillStarsLon Chaney Jr.Ilona MasseyPatric KnowlesThe resurrected Wolf Man, seeking a cure for his malady, enlists the aid of a mad scientist, who claims he will not only rid the Wolf Man of his nocturnal metamorphosis, but also revive the frozen body of Frankenstein's inhuman creation.6/10
Lon terrorizes Wales, then joins Bela in Never-Never-Deutschland for more havoc. Has its moments thanks to Chaney's portrayal of anguish, but lacks the irony and oomph of its predecessors. And the musical moments are silly. - DirectorWilliam BeaudineStarsBela LugosiLouise CurrieWallace FordA crazed scientist accidentally turns himself into a half ape, half human creature, and scrambles to find a cure.3/10
My attention wandered--a lot. - DirectorLewis AllenStarsRay MillandRuth HusseyDonald CrispA composer and his sister discover that the reason they are able to purchase a beautiful gothic seacoast mansion very cheaply is the house's unsavory past.8/10
One of the first films to take ghosts seriously, with convincing atmosphere and an unexpectedly adult story. - DirectorGeorge CukorStarsCharles BoyerIngrid BergmanJoseph CottenTen years after her aunt was murdered in their London home, a woman returns from Italy in the 1880s to resume residence with her new husband. His obsessive interest in the home rises from a secret that may require driving his wife insane.7/10
Bergman was never lovelier, while Boyer is creepy as can be--and, as a bonus, we get Lansbury in a distinctive naughty role. Better plotting than the 1940 original--but it has less atmosphere, and Cotton is hopelessly miscast. - DirectorEdward A. BlattStarsJohn GarfieldPaul HenreidSydney GreenstreetPassengers on an ocean liner can't recall how they got on board or where they are going yet, oddly enough, it soon becomes apparent that they all have something in common.6/10
Remake of Outward Bound 1930. I prefer the earlier version, which has a more intriguing mood. - DirectorErle C. KentonStarsBoris KarloffLon Chaney Jr.J. Carrol NaishA deranged scientist escapes from prison and recruits Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and the Wolf Man to get revenge on his behalf.5/10
Deadly slow and dramatically uneven, with weak special effects. Karloff and Chaney make it worth a look, if only-just; Carradine is no substitute for Lugosi. - DirectorRené ClairStarsBarry FitzgeraldWalter HustonLouis HaywardSeven guests, a newly hired secretary and two staff are gathered at a manor house on an isolated island by an unknown absentee host and are killed off one-by-one. They work together to determine who the killer is before it's too late.8/10
Brilliant black comedy, with a splendid cast of fine character actors. - DirectorRobert WiseStarsBoris KarloffBela LugosiHenry DaniellA ruthless doctor and his young prize student find themselves continually harassed by their murderous supplier of illegal cadavers.8/10
"They killed his wee doggie too!" A really interesting role for Karloff. Daniells and Atwater are also excellent. If only it didn't include that child with the whiney voice. - DirectorAlbert LewinStarsGeorge SandersHurd HatfieldDonna ReedA corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.8/10
Lansbury sings a sweet song, Sanders blithely corrupts nice people, and the villain pays for his crimes in a most unusual way. Far more serious in tone than most horror films. - DirectorMark RobsonStarsBoris KarloffEllen DrewMarc CramerOn a Greek island during the 1912 war, several people are trapped by quarantine for the plague. If that isn't enough worry, one of the people, a superstitious old peasant woman, suspects one young girl of being a vampiric kind of demon called a vorvolaka.6/10
Loads of atmosphere offset a weak plot--and Karloff shines in an unsympathetic role. - DirectorAlberto CavalcantiCharles CrichtonBasil DeardenStarsMervyn JohnsMichael RedgraveRoland CulverGuests invited to a weekend in the country share their supernatural stories, beginning with Walter Craig, who senses impending doom as his half-remembered recurring dream turns into reality.9/10
Several creepy tales (my favorite is the haunted mirror) tied together with a twist that will drive you wild. One of the essentials. - DirectorJoseph H. LewisStarsNina FochMay WhittyGeorge MacreadyJulia Ross secures employment through a rather nosy employment agency, with a wealthy widow, Mrs. Hughes, and goes to live at her house. 2 days later, she awakens - in a different house, in different clothes and with a new identity. She's told she is the daughter-in-law of Mrs. Hughes and has suffered a nervous breakdown. Is Julia really 'Julia', or is it true that she's lost all memory of who she is?7/10
Crazy plot but fun, in a low-budget, noirish kind of way. - DirectorErle C. KentonStarsOnslow StevensJohn CarradineLon Chaney Jr.The Wolf Man and Count Dracula beg Dr. Edelman to cure them of their killing instincts but Dracula schemes to seduce the doctor's nurse.6/10
Another ridiculous plot, but this one gives us some sympathetic characters, plus a strong finale. - DirectorJean YarbroughStarsDon PorterJune LockhartSara HadenA young heiress finds evidence suggesting that at night she acts under the influence of a family curse and has begun committing ghastly murders in a nearby park.4/10
Bedraggled premise in pseudo-Victorian setting. At least it's short. - DirectorCharles BartonWalter LantzStarsBud AbbottLou CostelloLon Chaney Jr.The Wolf Man tries to warn a dimwitted porter that Dracula wants his brain for Frankenstein monster's body.8/10
Surprising amount of spooky atmosphere for a comedy, with excellent performances all around. Even the opening credits are great. Highly recommended. - DirectorWilliam DieterleStarsJennifer JonesJoseph CottenEthel BarrymoreIn Depression-era New York, an impoverished painter has a chance encounter with an enigmatic, old-fashioned little girl in Central Park who inspires him and changes his destiny.6/10
An oddball sci-fi story (concerning rips in the fabric of time, or something like that), which is more notable for its moody, sometimes poetic cinematography than its plot or performances. Jones couldn't be less convincing, but Ethel Barrymore is around to lend this some class and gravitas. - DirectorThorold DickinsonStarsAnton WalbrookEdith EvansYvonne MitchellAn army officer becomes obsessed with learning the secret to a card game for which an elderly countess sold her soul years earlier.7.5/10
Atmospheric, although not very Russian, with lovely use of lighting and costumes to create a unique mood for an unusual tale. - DirectorCharles LamontStarsBud AbbottLou CostelloNancy GuildTwo bumbling private eyes help a man, wrongly accused of murder who has become invisible, to clear his name.6/10
A boxing yarn not as compulsively watchable as A&C Meet Frankenstein. Good special effects, though. - DirectorTed ParmeleeStarsJames MasonJack MatherA madman tells his tale of murder, and how a strange beating sound haunted him afterward.9/10
Stylish, terrifically atmospheric animated version of the classic tale, chillingly narrated by James Mason. Worth any amount of trouble to seek out. - DirectorHilton EdwardsStarsMichael LaurenceShelah RichardsHelena HughesOrson Welles, on break from filming Othello, relates a tale he heard one spooky Irish midnight not so long ago when, driving through the countryside, he picked up a man with car trouble who told of a strange encounter with two hitchhikers.7.5/10
Most enjoyable adaptation of an urban legend that dates back at least as far as the 19th century in the U.S. Despite the Dublin setting, the film unfortunately doesn't have a particularly Irish feel, but the spooky tale is told with a light touch, not too many artsy flourishes, & at just the right (short) length. - DirectorJack ArnoldStarsRichard CarlsonBarbara RushCharles DrakeA spaceship from another world crashes in the Arizona desert and only an amateur stargazer and a schoolteacher suspect alien influence when the local townsfolk begin to act strangely.6.5/10
Maintains good suspense--and I love the jello aliens. - DirectorAndré De TothStarsVincent PriceFrank LovejoyPhyllis KirkAn associate burns down a wax museum with the owner inside, but he survives only to become vengeful and murderous.6/10
A fun color-and-3D extravaganza, with Price a gleeful master of ceremonies. The pacing is off, and the heroine didn't much interest me--but I loved the wax museum sets. - DirectorCurt SiodmakHerbert L. StrockStarsRichard CarlsonKing DonovanJean ByronThe Office of Scientific Investigation sends A-Men agents to investigate reports of unusual magnetic activity in various communities.5/10
Weird concept requires over-much voice-over exposition before reaching undeniably exciting finale. - DirectorCharles LamontStarsBud AbbottLou CostelloBoris KarloffTwo bumbling American cops hunt for the mysterious Mr. Hyde in London, England.4.5/10
Tune in for Karloff, not for the tale. It was distinctly weird seeing A&C in a Victorian setting. - DirectorGeorge MarshallStarsDean MartinJerry LewisLizabeth ScottFleeing a murder charge, a busboy and a nightclub singer wind up on a spooky Caribbean island inherited by a young woman.
- DirectorGordon DouglasStarsJames WhitmoreEdmund GwennJoan WeldonThe earliest atomic tests in New Mexico cause common ants to mutate into giant man-eating monsters that threaten civilization.7/10
The best of the radioactive mutants films: intelligent script, strong performances (especially Gwenn and Weldon) and direction, excellent pacing. Even the "grey men in grey offices" scenes are good. Don't miss Them! - DirectorJack ArnoldStarsRichard CarlsonJulie AdamsRichard DenningA strange prehistoric beast lurks in the depths of the Amazonian jungle. A group of scientists try to capture the animal and bring it back to civilization for study.7/10
Solid script and cast, good cinematography and locations. Very enjoyable, with an interestingly different (if all-too-rubbery) monster.
Incidentally, director Arnold's other credits include The Incredible Shrinking Man, The Mouse that Roared, & The Chicken of Tomorrow. - DirectorDavid MacDonaldStarsHugh McDermottHazel CourtPeter ReynoldsAn uptight, leather-clad female alien, armed with a ray gun and accompanied by a menacing robot, comes to Earth to collect Earth's men as breeding stock.5/10
The plot summary makes it sound funnier than it really is, which is too bad.
[link]http://stripgenerator.com/strip/676295/devil-bunny-from-mars/[/link] - DirectorHenri-Georges ClouzotStarsSimone SignoretVéra ClouzotPaul MeurisseThe wife and mistress of a loathed school principal plan to murder him with what they believe is the perfect alibi.9/10
Sordid, sinister, and satisfying. A must-see. - StarsAlfred HitchcockHarry TylerLillian O'MalleySeries of unrelated short stories covering elements of crime, horror, drama, and comedy about people of different backgrounds committing murders, suicides, thefts, and other sorts of crime caused by certain motivations, perceived or not.8/10
Many episodes of this anthology series were of course suspense or thrillers rather than horror--one of the enjoyable aspects of viewing this show is that you can never be quite sure at the outset which way it will go. I prefer the 30-minute vignettes to the later hour-long episodes.
Hulu often has episodes available. Check out The Gentleman From America, Into Thin Air, The Older Sister (based on the Lizzie Borden case), and Lamb To the Slaughter.