Classic horror films are a timeless and stylish spectacle that continues to be scary and entertaining. Perhaps the old directors did not have newfangled and cool special effects, but this did not prevent them from making films with soul and love.
We have collected the scariest and most interesting retro horror movies for you. Enjoy the interesting images of the actors, and also look at what they were afraid of once upon a time.
“Dracula”, 1931
One of the most famous classic horror films, the image of which is unintentionally copied by everyone who dresses up as Dracula on Halloween. And no wonder, because the image of Count Dracula, played by Bela Lugosi, has become literally canonical!
Why should you watch the movie “Dracula”? Mainly for the incredible performance of Bela Lugosi, who played an incredible role as the main antagonist. It’s stylish, chic, and terrifying. What else do you need for a Halloween movie night?
“Freaks”, 1932
This is both a dramatic and scary film that is based on the short story “Spurs” by Tod Robbins. The director invited most of the famous circus performers with physical disabilities to shoot in his film, and most of the actors are called by their real names. And although the film failed at the box office, and was also banned in a number of countries and US states, in 1961 it acquired cult status.
According to the plot, both ordinary artists and artists with extreme physical disabilities perform in a traveling circus troupe. The beautiful gymnast Cleopatra (played by Olga Baklanova) falls in love with midget Hans, having learned that he inherited a huge pile of money, they are getting married, but other artists understand that something is not right. It turns out that Cleopatra is very dishonest: she wants to kill her new husband and inherit all his fortune.
This film is not for the faint of heart: the original version contains a terrible scene of the massacre of one of the characters, and the ending is rather unpleasant and uncomfortable. This tape, although recognized as a cult, is still not suitable for family viewing.
“Birds”, 1963
Alfred Hitchcock is a legendary director, one of the incredible masters of horror in cinema. This tape, although not as modern as we are used to, is still considered by many to be quite creepy.
Hitchcock, inspired by the events in 1961, when one of the US cities was attacked by hundreds of gray petrels, which, due to poisoning with toxins, attacked passers-by, decided to make a disaster film about angry birds.
According to the plot, Melanie Daniels (played by Tippi Hedren) lives a simple and easy life: she is smug, frivolous. But soon she and other heroes will have to face a terrible disaster: the birds go crazy and start attacking people!
“Nosferatu, a symphony of horror”, 1922
One of the oldest Dracula films. He is so old that he is even dumb, which does not diminish the horror! This tape is very similar to Bram Stoker’s book “Dracula” in many ways, but due to the fact that the studio could not buy the film rights, the director had to make significant changes.
Remember the myth that vampires die in sunlight? This myth came just from this movie. In fact, the real Dracula felt quite at ease in the sun, although he was weakened.
There is nothing new in the plot: the same Dracula (Count Orlok), all the same, real estate agent. But this movie is really worth watching. We promise you will definitely like this retro movie.
“Frankenstein”, 1931
Another classic horror movie that gave us the typical Halloween costume. This film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel is certainly devoid of the philosophical depth that the writer put into the novel, but is still considered a cult classic.
It all starts with the fact that Dr. Frankenstein decided to create something alive from the corpses. That is how, not without the help of his assistant Fritz, the mad scientist manages to create a giant monster. The doctor sends an assistant for the last detail – the brain. But instead of bringing the brain of a brilliant scientist, Fritz brings the brain of a criminal.
Bride of Frankenstein, 1935
It’s more of a Frankenstein fanfiction from 1931: Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, and Mary Shelley are shown first discussing the writer’s new novel. Men ask to continue because the monster should not just die, and yielding to the persuasion of Mary continues the story.
The continuation of the story of Frankenstein’s monster begins immediately after the scene with the windmill in the previous film. Dr. Frankenstein and Dr. Pretorius revive a woman, a friend to the monster. However, in the end, a tragic ending awaits everyone. Which? Watch the movie and find out!
