10 Classic Horror Movies Every Fan Must Watch
You don’t need buckets of blood, jump scares, or sudden shocks to make a truly terrifying movie. Classic horror films rely on suspense and deep storytelling, elements that modern cinema often borrows. In anticipation of Halloween, we’ve compiled a list of 10 horror movies that every fan of the genre should watch at least once in their lifetime.
Night of the Living Dead, 1968
George A. Romero’s classic horror film was re-released in color in 2005. Fun fact: the people who played the zombies were paid $1 each and received t-shirts that said “I Was a Zombie.”
The Creature from the Black Lagoon, 1954
If you think black and white movies can’t give you nightmares, think again. This prehistoric gill-man is far from being our friendly Ichthyander. Interestingly, the creature’s figure was modeled after an Oscar statuette.
Dracula, 1931
The canonical image of Count Dracula was brought to life by actor Bela Lugosi, who didn’t even know English at the start of filming. The director used classical music by Wagner, Schubert, and Tchaikovsky as the soundtrack. In 1998, Philip Glass created new musical compositions that highlighted the tense scenes.
The Haunting, 1963
This adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel is much scarier than the 1999 version starring Catherine Zeta-Jones. The film set a standard for a whole series of movies about haunted houses. The lead actress was reportedly in a state of depression during filming, which added authenticity to her performance.
Carnival of Souls, 1962
The eerie atmosphere of this film inspired cult directors like David Lynch and George A. Romero. Every scene is meticulously crafted, right down to the final credits.
Frankenstein, 1931
You wouldn’t believe how many elements from this film have been borrowed by modern horror directors. The movie underwent numerous censorship edits; for instance, a scene where the Monster throws a little girl into the water, unaware that she could drown, was removed. Fortunately, the deleted scenes were preserved, and the full version is now available online.
Nosferatu, 1922
This film is enjoyable even for those who aren’t fans of old silent movies. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and gets under your skin. It was “Nosferatu” that introduced the belief that sunlight kills vampires, a detail not mentioned in Bram Stoker’s novel.
Cat People, 1942
You’ll start fearing your own cat—what if it’s a descendant of an ancient curse and turns into a monster in moments of rage?
Eyes Without a Face, 1960
This film inspired John Carpenter’s masks in “Halloween.” The scenes of plastic surgery were so horrifying that some viewers fainted in the theater.
Psycho, 1960
We’ll wrap up this list with a classic by Alfred Hitchcock. You can’t call yourself a horror fan if you haven’t seen “Psycho.” The film was intentionally shot in black and white to avoid appearing overly gory.
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