Shock (1946)
Though its status as a horror movie is debatable Shock adds to a long list of psychological thrillers based around the terror of losing ones mental faculties so I deemed it worthy of inclusion here; the version I’ve got came on a ‘Three Classic Horrors of the Silver Screen’ DVD too, which is more than good enough for me. Read more
Faust (1926)
Though Nosferatu is probably the most well-known of German director Friedrich Murnau’s films many would argue (me included) that Faust was his true masterpiece. There have been many attempts since to bring Goethe’s tale of tragedy and hubris to the screen but none have the quality or impact of this 1926 offering. More than any of his other films, Faust demonstrates Murnau’s maturity in every aspect of the film-making process. Read more
Ed Wood (1994)
Is Ed Wood a horror movie? Strictly speaking, no, but it earns its place in the Black Lagoon through its illuminating and moving depiction of one of the genre’s most notorious - and intriguing - partnerships. Read more
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
The Night of the Hunter represents actor Charles Laughton’s sole attempt at directing and he presents us with a chilling tale of good versus evil of immense quality and presence. The first thing that strikes you when watching Hunter is the stunning cinematography (the work of Stanley Cortez), which is a seamless combination of German expressionism and American Gothic. Hunter contains some of the most memorable images I think I’ve ever seen on film, from the close-up scenes of the children hiding from a psychopathic Robert Mitchum in the basement through to the closing scenes of him pursuing them across country. Excellent camera work, minimal sets and swift direction combine to add real grit and a melancholy beauty to a simple tale of an evil ‘preacher’-Harry Powell (Mitchum)- who tries ingratiates his way into a family which has recently been widowed to try and steal their cash. Read more
Zombie Flesh Eaters (aka Zombi 2) (1980)
Zombie Flesh Eaters is probably the most celebrated film from a period between the late 70s and mid 80s where Italian horror movies seemed to be competing with each other to produce the most disgusting and horrific images. Directed by Lucio Fulci (who, bizarrely, had directed kids’ movie White Fang only seven years earlier) was presented as a semi-sequel to Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, hence the film’s European title of Zombi 2 (where Dawn had been released as Zombi). This makes it sound like a bit of a cash-in, and by and large Fulci’s movie has got none of social resonance of Romero’s movies; but even though Fulci is concerned with just telling his own story, it’s still a great little self-contained horror flick. Read more
Podcast
