The Horror Zone


This listing is a collection of significant films in the horror genre. Some of them are considered classics while others are just there. I have included movies that I feel are important and those that I feel are just plain fun to list. If you happen to notice any movie that I have not listed then drop me a line and I will reveiw it and place it on this archive. I have decided to seperate the list by decade and era which you notice as there are patterns to the horror movie genre. So enjoy and let me know what you think......

Index

Genesis of Horror (1919-1930)

  1. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
  2. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
  3. Nosferatu
  4. The Phantom of the Opera

Age of the Classic Monster (1931-1949)

  1. Bride of Frankenstein
  2. The Devil-Doll
  3. Dracula
  4. Dracula's Daughter
  5. Frankenstein
  6. Freaks
  7. Ghoul, The
  8. Hunchback of Norte Dame
  9. Island of Lost Souls
  10. King Kong
  11. M
  12. Mad Love
  13. Man They Could Not Hang
  14. Maniac
  15. Mark of the Vampire
  16. Mask of Fu Manchu, The
  17. Monster Walks, The
  18. Mummy, The
  19. Murder by the Clock
  20. Murders in the Rue Morgue
  21. Murders in the Zoo
  22. Mystery of Edwin Drood, The
  23. Mystery of the Wax Museum
  24. Night of Terror
  25. Old Dark House
  26. Phantom Creeps, The
  27. Raven, The
  28. Return of Dr. X, The
  29. Revolt of the Zombies
  30. Son of Frankenstein
  31. Son of Kong, The
  32. Tower of London
  33. Vampire Bat, the
  34. Vampyr
  35. Walking Dead
  36. Werewolf of London
  37. White Zombie

Genesis of Horror (1919-1930)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari-(1919) Long considered to be the first true horror movie, Dr. Caligari is the archtype mad scientist out to do evil deeds with the aide of a sleepwalker named Cesere. Cesere murders those whom the the Doctor feels are too close to his evil deeds. The setting is both nightmarish and expressionistic in its use of exagerated sets and weird angles. The shock ending is only the icing in a movie that literally invents a whole genre of horror devices- the mad scientist, the zombie, the helpless heroine carried onto the roofs.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-(1920) Of the dozen or so silent versions of this story by Robert Louis Stevenson, John Barrymore is best remembered as the spidery Mr. Hyde in this the first and most famous version of the classic tale. One of the first American made horror movies and readily available for audiences today. Also the first version to introduce the idea of two seperate woman for each personality. Remade countless times.

Nosferatu-(1922) In all of cinema history no villian has ever topped Dracula in darkness and evil and no version of the vampire has yet to match Max Schreck as the dreaded Count Orlok. Considered to be the first vampire movie and as one of the most creepy looking vampires to grace the screen. Count Orlok swept through the German town of Bremen like as plague claiming the innocent until a fair heroine takes it upon herself to stop this monster. Schreck's rather stiff and corpse-like Count makes this film a pure classic and would forever be known. Remade in 1979.

The Phantom of the Opera-(1925) After 70 years no one has yet to match the unforgettable presence of Lon Chaney as the disfigured skull-faced Erik, who courts a lovely young singer in the Paris Opera behind a faceless mask. A sad tale of a man who is driven into madness and becomes a monster due to rejection and hatred from those around him. Chaney's presence is unforgettable in such scenes as his appearnce as Poe's Mask of the Red Death during the masked ball, the abduction scene through the catacombs of the opera house and the famous unmasking which even today packs a shocking blow. Phantom will be remembered as a classic horror and trajedy and Chaney's portayal would setup an archtype that has yet to be matched even by today's musical version of The Phantom.


Age of the Classic Monster (1931-1949)

Bride of Frankenstein-(1935) The monster having survived the fire in the mill which had supposedly killed him is taken in by a blind hermit who teaches him to speak and falls under the evil influence of another scientist who influences him to demand a mate from Dr. Frankenstein. A rare sequel which is better then its predecssor, the film marks the reappearance of Boris Karloff as the monster and Elsa Lanchester as both Mary Shelley and the classic bride we all remember. Remade as The Bride.

The Devil-Doll-(1936) Lionel Barrymore portrays a Devil's Island escapee who steals a shrinking machine from a scientist and uses it to create small assasins to avenge those who where responsible for his imprisonment.

Dracula-(1931) Bela Lugosi will always be remembered as Count Dracula and in this his first film as the famous blood sucker we see the Count leaving his native Transylvania for the fresh blood of London. His stiffness and ethnic charm add to this classic which would be his hall mark role for the next three decades. Remade at least once or twice a year since.

Dracula's Daughter-(1936) An underratted sequel to Bela Lugosi's classic 1931 movie which features Gloria Holden as the lovely and waxen daughter of the vampire who seeks a cure for her immortality. She is then forced to kidnap the secretary of her psychiatrist to force him to join her in the underworld.

Frankenstein-(1931) Rarely does a monster draw more sympathy and love from an audience then does Mary Shelley's tragic monster. Boris Karloff portray's Shelley's monster with a childlike grace that is a cinema classic. We all know the story, a mad scientist by the name of Frankenstein steals bodyparts and creates a man who his bent on muder due to his criminal brain. The monster kills a young girl and is hunted by angry townsfolks. Several sequels were to follow with Karloff returning as the monster.

Freaks-(1932) Tod Browning gives the viewers a look at a carnival sideshow and shows us a world were the freaks are every bit as human as we are. A midget inherits money and is seduced by a greedy aerialist into marriage. From there she hopes to poison him and run off with her lover yet is caught and hunted by the freaks for hurting one of their own. Browning wisely portrays geniune carnival performers as circus freaks and shows the audience that it is the normal humans who are the monsters and the freaks as normal. A classic which has to be seen.

Ghoul, The-(1933) Boris Karloff portrays an Egyptologist who rises from his death to retrieve a valuable scarab taken from by his servant. Another flick made to cash in on Karloff's Hollywood fame.

Hunchback of Norte Dame-(1939) Remake of the 1923 classic has Charles Laughton as the hunchbacked bell ringer Quasimodo, features Maureen O'Hara as a gypsy girl who is saved by Quasimodo from certain death at the hands of angry townsfolk who wish to execute her for murder and witchcraft.

Island of Lost Souls-(1932) A most frightning film for its time, this version of HG Wells Island of Dr. Moreau was so controversal the author himself hated it. nevertheless it is pretty intense and may well be one of the greatest horror movies of the thirties. Charles Laughton portrays Dr. Moreau, who takes in animals and through surgery transforms them into hideous humanoid creatures on his tropical island home. Remade as The Island of Dr. Moreau.

King Kong-(1933) King Kong will always be remembered as the monster on the rampage but even more it is a classic in every sense and will be known as an FX triumph. Fay Wray plays the fair maiden who soothes the giant ape as he is taken from his island home to New york where he escapes and climbs the Empire State building where he meets his sad fate. Tragic and Endearing, Kong is so convincing that the veiwer forgets he is not real and sees him as a tragic victem of circumstance. Yet another classic which would be followed by inferior sequels and an awful remake.

M-(1931) Set in an industrial darkworld, M is the tale of a frighented city which is held hostage by a child killer. The search is so intensive that the local crime organizations join in because the killer is bad for business. When found he is identified with the M that is placed on his back, soon after he is hunted down and revenge follows. A powerful German Crime/Drama which has great horror elements and will remain a classic of all three genres. Peter Lorre's first film and a great career he would have.

Mad Love-(1935) Peter Lorre is a doctor who replaces the mangled hands of an injured pianist with those of a knife murderer. A novel idea which would later be done to death.

Man They Could Not Hang-(1939) Boris Karloff is a mad doctor who is imprisoned for the death of his assistant whom he tried to save with an artificial heart. Soon after he is executed, he is revived with the heart and he exacts revenge upon those who had been responsible for his death.

Maniac-(1934) Very low budget stinker which pretends to be both a documentary on insanity and an adaotation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cat. A Maniac kills a doctor and assumes his identity after he bricks up the dead doc. Known for its use of gory violence and early nudity, played in adult movie houses.

Mark of the Vampire-(1935) Bela Lugosi star's as Dracula (DUH!!!), in this remake of London After Midnight. Yet another Dracula cash-in is remarkably enjoyable and gorgeously photographed.

Mask of Fu Manchu, The-(1932) Boris Karloff is the evil Chinese Fu who is looking for the lost treasure of Ghengis Khan. Great MGM production features great dialogue and supurb sets. Myrna Loy plays the evil and sadistic daughter of the evil Fu.

Monster Walks, The-(1932) An heiress is chased by a crazed ape and his evil keeper. Obscure shocker saved by video.

Mummy, The-(1932) Boris Karloff once again sets the screen afire with yet another great performance as a classic monster. He portrays an excavated mummy who is brought back to life by a sacred Scroll. Ten years later the mummy, who is now in the guise of a scientist seeks to return his beloved princess with whom he is reminded of by another modern woman. All the elements are present is this wonderful classic horror film which would be disgraced by many inferior copycats and a Hammer remake.

Murder by the Clock- (1931) Creepy, creaky mystery designed and played like a horror film. Complicated plot involves elderly woman who installs a horn in her crypt in case she's buried alive, a mysterious reincarnation drug, and drooling half-wit Pichel. Plenty of atmosphere if not much sense.

Murders in the Rue Morgue-(1932) More of a Cabinet of Dr. Caligari then a the Poe short story it is named from. Bela Lugosi stars as a crazed scientist in another classic role.

Murders in the Zoo-(1933) Astonishingly grisly horror film about an insanely jealous zoologist and sportsman (Atwill) who dispatches his wife's suitors (genuine and otherwise) with the help of various animals. Pretty potent stuff, right from the opening scene of Atwill sewing a victim's mouth shut!

Mystery of Edwin Drood, The-(1935) Seemingly respectable Rains is responsible for series of horrible murders. Fine thriller adapted from Dickens' unfinished novel, which inspired a hit Broadway musical in the 1980s.

Mystery of the Wax Museum-(1933) An early technocolor version of House of Wax. In the story a disfigured sculptor is trying to bebuild his lost wax collection by dipping dead bodies into wax. This classic does show its age and is considered to be inferior to the later House of Wax.

Night of Terror-(1933) Empty, inept "B" chiller about ugly homicidal madman prowling the grounds of swanky estate. Top-billed Lugosi is wasted in nothing part as Hindu servant; Ford plays mandatory wise-cracking reporter. Almost worth sitting through for really unbelievable ending.

Old Dark House-(1932) Outstanding melodrama (with tongue-in-cheek) gathers stranded travelers in mysterious household located in the Welsh countryside, where brutish butler Karloff is just one of many strange characters. A real gem, based on J.B. Priestley's Benighted; screenplay by Benn W. Levy and R.C. Sherriff. Remade in England in 1963.

Phantom Creeps, The-(1939) U.S. government and hostile spies vie to gain control of the "secret element," an invention of mad scientist Dr. Zorka (Lugosi). So bad it's actually quite entertaining; the whole kettle of fish is thrown in here, including stock footage of the Hindenburg disaster! And look for Lee J. Cobb as a road-crew foreman. Edited down from a 12-episode Universal serial of the same title.

Raven, The-(1935) Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff at their terrifying best, Lugosi is a mad doctor who wishes to wed a fair dancer he has saved yet is denied the request by already promised woman's father. The result is Lugosi indulging into his obesession for EA Poe by setting up a Pit and the Pendulum style torture for the father. A must for fans of Lugosi.

Return of Dr. X, The-(1939) Only Bogart as a zombie makes this low-grade sci-fi yarn worth viewing. Despite the title, not a sequel to DR. X.

Revolt of the Zombies-(1936) A rather poor sequel to White Zombie, in it a zombie master leads a group of walking dead soldiers durinf World War I. What worked well for White Zombie is missing as Lugosi is not present in this film.

Son of Frankenstein-(1939) Boris Karloff's final appearance as the famed monster, in this sequel to the classic movie we find Basil Rathbone playing the son of famed doctor who happens to discover the still living monster in the ruins of the laboratory. Lugosi is perfect as Ygor who has cared for the monster in the time before his discovery. Great settings and an impressive score only help to make this movie a classic.

Son of Kong, The-(1933) Robert Armstrong plays the original man who had captured Kong, and is this sequel he returns to Skull Island in search of treasure but finds a 12 foot albino ape. Released a mere nine months after its more famous original.

Tower of London-(1939) This elaborate period piece is a chiller. Rathbone is the power-mad leader who along with Boris Karloff as the chief torturer play very evil and sadistic tyrants of terror. Vincent Price makes his debut as a horror icon portraying an ill-fated Duke. An outstanding cast is well used in this timeless classic.

Vampire Bat, The-(1933) A somewhat hokey but enjoyable low-budget film patterned after both Dracula and Frankenstein. Lionel Atwill is the standard mad scientist who uses a hynotized servant to murder and gather blood for his hideous experiments. Also staring Fay Wray and Melvyn Douglas.

Vampyr-(1932) A German-French production of Le Fanu's Carmilla is still considered a minor classic in the horror circle. A young man is asked to locate and rescue a pair of lovely sisters from the clutches of an old hag who happens to be a vampire. Unique camera work helps to create a spooky atmosphere for this early vampire film.

Walking Dead-(1936) Karloff is framed and executed, but professor brings him back to life. As he regains his memory, he seeks out those who framed him. Good horror tale.

Werewolf of London-(1935) One of the first werewolf movies has Henry Hull playing the unfortunate botanist who is biten by a werewolf in Tibet. Yet is this version it is petals of a rare flower which will cure him of the curse. Intended for Boris Karloff and Lugosi, Hull is not that great but Warner Olan is great as the werewolf.

White Zombie-(1932) Bela Lugosi is at his frightful best as a voodoo master in Haiti who puts a curse on a bride-to-be Madge Bellamy at the request of a jealous jilted suitor. Afterwards Lugosi decides to take Bellamy for himself and spirits her off to a cliff-top castle where he hopes to dispose of the suitor. Lugosi's performance adds well to this independently made film.

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**THE LOSMAN'S OTHER PAGES**

*Losman's Lair of Horror * The Really Bad Horror Movies * The Best Horror Movies *

* Really Disturbing Movies * More Disturbing Movies * Lair of The Losman *

* Horror Movie Clichés * Movie Index*


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Changes last made on: Sat Sep 28 1996