I AM COMPILING LISTS OF THE BEST HORROR MOVIES BY DECADE, TO CONSULT JUST PRESS THE APPROPRIATE LINK

1919-1939, 1940-1959, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's



I have put together a collection of what I feel are the 13 most influencial horror movies ever produced, I have also put together lists of the 13 best actors, actresses, and directors. All of these are based on what I feel have been most influencial in shaping the horror genre and subsequent players in the field.


The 13 Most Influential Horror Movies

  • Psycho
  • Halloween
  • Hellraiser
  • Cabinet of Dr Caligari
  • Bride of Frankenstein
  • The Haunting
  • Jaws
  • The Exorcist
  • Phantom of The Opera
  • Night of The Living Dead
  • Diabolique
  • The Silence of The Lambs
  • Nosferatu


    The 13 Most Influential Villains

  • Dr Frankenstein/Mad Scientist
  • Count Dracula/Count Orlok
  • Norman Bates
  • Dr Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter/"John Doe"
  • Jason/Freddie/Michael
  • The Devil!
  • Mother Nature!!
  • Pinhead
  • Zuni Fetish Doll (He Rules!)
  • Boogey Man
  • Zombie Menace (Romero types)
  • Aliens/X-Files/Men In Black
  • The Company (Alien Trilogy)


    The 13 Best Horror Actors

  • Vincent Price
  • Bela Lugosi
  • Lon Chaney
  • Lon Chaney, Jr
  • Boris Karloff
  • Christopher Lee
  • Klaus Kinski
  • Donald Pleasence
  • Anthony Perkins
  • Peter Lorre
  • Tony Todd
  • Bruce Campbell
  • John Carradine


    The 13 Best Horror Actresses

  • Fay Wray
  • Simone Simon
  • Jamie Lee Curtis
  • Linnea Quigley
  • Ingrid Pitt
  • Karen Black
  • Hazel Court
  • Evelyn Ankers
  • Mary Woronov
  • Barbara Steele
  • Linda Blair
  • Nancy Allen
  • Caroline Munro


    The 13 Best Directors - Classic

  • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Mario Bava
  • Roger Corman
  • Bert I Gordon
  • Jack Arnold
  • William Castle
  • Tod Browning
  • Henri-Georges Clouzet
  • Ishiro Honda
  • Lucio Fulci
  • Herschell Gordon Lewis
  • Milton Subotsky
  • Terrence Fisher

    The 13 Best Directors - Contemporary

  • Larry Cohen
  • Dario Argento
  • Brian DePalma
  • Wes Craven
  • Clive Barker
  • George Romero
  • Tobe Hooper
  • David Lynch
  • David Cronenburg
  • Sam Raimi
  • John Carpenter
  • Roman Polanski
  • Stanley Kubrik

  • THE BEST HORROR FILMS OF THE CLASSIC MONSTER AGE (1919-1939)


    1919-1939

    This was the beginning of the horror craze with two major boom, the first in 1920’s in Germany and the second in the 1930’s in the US. This was the Age of Classic Monster’s with a number of films featuring the acting talents of Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney and his son Lon Chaney’Jr. The first period featured many silent films but with new technology came the talkies and later color. This era was best noted for some of the most timeless horror classics ever made.


    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.


    **THE LOSMAN'S OTHER PAGES**

    *The Losman's Lair of Horror * The Losman's Horror History * Disturbing Movies *

    * More Disturbing Movies * Lair of The Losman * Horror Movie Clichés*

    * Really Bad Horror Movies* Movie Index*


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    Changes last made on: Fri Sep 6 1996