For as long as stories have been told on film, horror has existed on the big screen. The genre has changed the fortunes of major studios, established the careers of iconoclast filmmakers, and voiced each generation’s fears in stories of the supernatural and beyond. Horror films made nearly a century ago are still upheld as classics, retaining their relevance as modern audiences revisit them.
Perhaps cultural fears have remained largely unchanged in generational handoffs, or certain images have a timeless ability to inspire unease, but whatever the case may be, horror has a longer shelf life for general audiences. With that in mind, we’ll look back at the most iconic horror films from the golden age of cinema. The following horror films are classics that can be described as nothing short of legendary, each a masterwork of vision and artistry that continues to stand the test of time.
10
‘House of Wax’ (1953)
Vincent Price was the face of horror from the ’50s to well into the ’70s, and it was movies like House of Wax that established him as king of the genre. Price starred as Professor Henry Jarrod, an eccentric artist and co-owner of a wax museum who is severely injured after his business partner burns the gallery down for insurance money. When Jarrod reopens the museum with new lifelike exhibits, concern grows that the wax creations pass too close a resemblance to the deceased enemies of the owner.
Price’s sympathetic but deranged turn as the brilliant wax artist was the performance that launched his storied career into horror, with roles in genre classics like The Fly and House on Haunted Hill to follow. House of Wax was also notable for treating audiences to one of the first 3D films, a cinematic novelty that continues to sporadically make appearances in modern theaters. Eerie visuals that culminate in a memorable reveal of Jarrod’s true face have positioned House of Wax as a timeless classic.
9
‘Horror of Dracula’ (1958)
The enduring appeal of Dracula and his insatiable thirst for blood led many to don the cape and sharp teeth, but few matched the intensity of Sir Christopher Lee in Horror of Dracula. In the British retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the hunter becomes the hunted when Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen) arrives at Dracula’s castle posing as a librarian, when in actuality he’s a wily vampire hunter. After his true identity is discovered, it will be up to Doctor Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) to stop the immortal Dracula’s reign of terror.
Produced by Hammer Film Productions, Horror of Dracula helped establish the production company as a recognizable and trusted brand for all things that go bump in the night. Lee’s dignified but menacing performance as Dracula captured the polished civility of the Count while also embodying the feral, red-eyed, animalistic hunger of the creature who lurked behind the human disguise. Horror of Dracula’s success led Hammer to produce eight sequels that took the series into the mid-70s, where Lee returned as the Count for six of the entries.
8
‘Them!’ (1954)
Exposure to radiation creates a colony of mutated ants capable of reshaping the Earth in the classic ‘50s creature feature, Them! When impossibly large carnivorous ants are found roaming the deserts of New Mexico, local authorities and outside specialists work together to contain the threat. Unprepared for such an emergency, the group’s goal becomes more complicated after two queen ants escape in search of new areas to colonize.
Even though Them! hit theaters in the ‘50s, and the movie still holds up today, inspiring new phobias for ants that didn’t previously exist until watching the film. Them! represented a growing uneasiness from the public regarding atomic energy and what impact, positive and negative, it could have on a future that looked increasingly less clear. In terms of filmmaking, Them! was a notable step forward in special effects, breaking ground with its approach of bringing the gargantuan insects to life on the big screen.
7
‘The Birds’ (1963)
A town becomes besieged by a surprising and viciously lethal attack from the skies in Alfred Hitchcock’s timeless horror story The Birds. Poised and misunderstood socialite Melanie (Tippi Hedren) strikes up a flirtation with aloof, but charming lawyer Mitch (Rod Taylor) that compels her to surprise him at his family estate in the remote Bodega Bay. A romantic entanglement is put on hold, however, when the local birds begin to attack and kill the townspeople in what appears to be a coordinated effort.
The Birds draws horror from the ambiguous nature of why the birds are attacking, and thankfully, it doesn’t spoil the plot with efforts at an explanation or solution to the problem. Less is also more regarding what the audience does or does not see, showing viewers the aftermath of a bird attack and letting their imagination largely fill in the gaps in the violent moments before the victim died. Hitchcock’s examination of humanity’s fragile relationship to the ecosystem remains a seminal horror film that would influence other creators to also find terror in the ordinary.
6
‘Freaks’ (1932)
Sideshow performers become the star attraction in the unsettling and bold Freaks. When trapeze performer Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova) falls for her carnival co-worker, a little person named Hans (Harry Earles), their unexpected match is cause for celebration among the freak show performers. After it’s revealed that Cleopatra wants Han’s inheritance and not his companionship, a vengeful group of freak show attractions will horrifyingly protect their own.
Although Freaks is now considered an unforgettable piece of social commentary regarding societal norms and the shame of not meeting them, the film experienced widespread backlash upon release. The use of actors with real physical impairments for the sideshow performers granted the film an authenticity that enhanced the message of the story, but shocked audiences who found the film distasteful. Freaks would go on to be banned in theaters, and the notoriety of the film’s grotesque climax would permanently damage the career of director Todd Browning. However, in later years, Freaks would achieve a cult status, finding an audience that praised the same creative decisions that were once vilified.
5
‘The Phantom of the Opera’ (1925)
Deep under the Paris Opera House lurks a dangerous lovelorn figure in the classic silent film, The Phantom of the Opera. The film follows the mysterious character known only as “The Phantom” (Lon Chaney), a disfigured musical savant who stalks the opera house he calls home. When the Phantom becomes obsessed with singer Christine (Mary Philbin), he will resort to drastic, deadly methods to win her affections.
An early entry into the horror genre, The Phantom of the Opera’s haunting, shadowy aesthetic would lay a foundation for future horror directors to build from. The makeup for the Phantom, as designed by Chaney himself, remains one of the most unsettling and iconic visuals in all of horror, still able to shock viewers during the unmasking scene. The Phantom of the Opera was ahead of its time, showcasing a horror villain that defied the simple categorization of a madman in favor of a more complex, tragic individual that Chaney was able to convey solely through facial expressions and body movement.
4
‘Dracula’ (1931)
Nosferatu is an important film in the evolution of horror, but it was Universal Pictures’ Dracula that ignited a passion for the macabre in US moviegoers. Bela Lugosi starred as the titular Count Dracula, a looming, sinister figure who charms the guests of his castle before draining them of their life. Desiring a fresh hunting ground, Dracula uses his powers to arrange a voyage to England, where he encounters new blood and his famed nemesis, Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan).
Dracula is remembered as a legendary film, both for trailblazing the horror genre and giving Universal Pictures momentum to secure its position as a reputable Hollywood studio. Their decision to cast Lugosi was an essential factor in the film’s success, as the actor spent years perfecting the character in the stage production of Dracula before immortalizing his performance in front of the camera. Lugosi’s distinguished interpretation as Dracula was a departure from the more monstrous appearance of Nosferatu and became what audiences widely accepted as the definitive take on the vampire.
3
‘Psycho’ (1960)
Hitchcock made audiences everywhere check the locks on their bathroom doors one more time after they watched his horror masterpiece Psycho. The film followed secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), who, after stealing money from her job, takes an ill-fated stop to rest at the remote Bates Motel. There, she meets the quiet and polite owner, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), setting off a chain of events that will uncover dark secrets long hidden in the house overlooking the motel.
The introduction of Norman Bates was game-changing for horror. Here was a character who did not bear the obvious telltale signs of villainous intentions but was capable of performing viscerally passionate acts of violence on the women disarmed by his gentle demeanor. Psycho’s success ushered in a new wave of horror more firmly based in reality and is considered one of Hitchcock’s greatest films. The fascination with Norman and his conflicted urges has lived on in the form of sequels, a remake, and a prequel TV series, Bates Motel.
2
‘Night of the Living Dead’ (1968)
Zombies are now a staple of pop culture that exists in everything from television shows to mobile games, and likely none of that will come to pass without Night of the Living Dead. The bleak but brilliant story focuses on a group of survivors who barricade themselves into a farmhouse as the dead rise from their graves in search of the living to feed on. As the night grows later and the number of zombies increases around the house, the remaining humans will be forced to choose between a desperate last stand or being eaten alive.
…Night of the Living Dead distills panic and claustrophobic unease into 96 minutes of perfectly paced storytelling.
Director George A. Romero’s goal was to make a movie with the material he had available, but he overachieved by delivering one of the most important horror films ever made. Frightening in the simplicity of its presentation, Night of the Living Dead distills panic and claustrophobic unease into 96 minutes of perfectly paced storytelling. Night of the Living Dead’s legacy is felt in virtually every zombie film to come after it, laying the groundwork for one of horror’s most popular sub-genres.
1
‘Bride of Frankenstein’ (1935)
One of horror’s most celebrated creations seeks companionship but will only find death and heartbreak in Bride of Frankenstein. A direct sequel to the Universal Studios smash hit, Frankenstein, the events of Bride of Frankenstein pick up right after the ending of the original, where it’s revealed Frankenstein’s monster (Boris Karloff) survived his encounter with the angry mob. The monster will be on a collision course with his creator, Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive), when a mad scientist forcefully compels Henry to make a companion for the creature he brought to life.
The thoughtful expansion of the story and the striking design of the cadaverous bride contribute to Bride of Frankenstein’s reputation as arguably the greatest horror sequel ever made. Karloff’s melancholy and lonely turn as the monster imbued the character with a sympathetic plight that made the creature more human than those around him. As tragic as the story is destined to be, director James Whale balanced the film with a playful spirit that allowed Bride of Frankenstein to explore the concept of what it means to be a human, while still giving generations of moviegoers a crowd-pleasing and legendary experience.
Bride of Frankenstein
- Release Date
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April 22, 1935
- Runtime
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75minutes
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