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As of tonight, I am embarking on a journey to watch fifty classic horror films.
I'm starting with White Zombie, and then the original House on Haunted Hill will follow.

"But why GES, you paragon of massive biceps and dashing moustaches?" I hear you ask.

Simple: To get ready for the inevitable rush of turds that are modern horror films soon to begin coming out this Halloween.
All the better to increase my disappointment.

My aunt lent me a collection of DVD's of aforementioned calssic horror films, after hearing from my mother that I liked
old movies and horror films.

Cool stuff. I hope both Evil Dead films are on your list. Amazing films especially when you realize that ED1 was just Sam Rami and some college pals making a film with no crew and no budget.

How about films that are not horror per se but scary as all heck. The Day After comes to mind.

Kid_Kyoto wrote:Cool stuff.

How about films that are not horror per se but scary as all heck. The Day After comes to mind.

Not sure, it might be in the collection. I'll post a list of films in a moment.

The Thing, for obvious reasons, and Braindead just to celibrate its cult status for its sheer levels of disgustingness

The Thing is definately one of my favorites. Also, is this weird?

Whenver I watch a scary movie or play a scary video game, I sleep alot better then I would otherwise.

And with each movie, I'll try and review each one, and try and explain an impact (if any) on modern horror films.
And here is the list of movies.

Carnival of Souls
Atom Age Vampire
Creature from The Haunted Sea
Nightmare Castle
Black Dragons
Invisible Ghost
One Body Too Many
White Zombie
Attack of the Giant Leeches
The Screaming Skull
Beast of Yucca Flats
The Terror
Revolt of the Zombies
The Giant Gilla Monster
The Fatal Hour
Dead Men Walk
The Mad Monster
Maniac
Metropolis (I had planned on watching anyway, but thisjust gives me an excuse.)
The Vampire Bat
The Ape
The Monster Maker
The Killer Shrews
The Brain that Wouldn't Die
King of the Zombies
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Blue Beard
The Corpse Vanishes
Night of the Living Dead (The zombie movie that started it all. A favorite of mine.)
Doomed to Die
The Phantom of the Opera
The Indestrucible Man
Hunchback of Notre dame
Nosferatu(I'm gonna keep my german book open and see if I can make some of the conversations out without subtitles)
Swamp Women
The World Gone MadThe Little Shop of Horrors
Tormented
The Monster Walks
Monster from a Prehistoric Planet
The Gorilla
A Shriek in the Night
Bloodlust
Amazing Mr. X
Lat Woman on earth
The Bat
House on Haunted Hill(I was five or so when I saw the newer one. Pants=crapped.)
The Last Man on Earth
Dementia 13
Phantom from 10,000 Leagues.

Jesus. Looks like a lot now that it's all there.
Well, best get started.

Good luck in your quest.
Some of those films will make you appreciate just how far special effects have come in the last 50 years. Killer Shrews. Bah.
You do seem to have a well rounded list there though, some are pretty good and others are, well, better left not re-made.

You should cop some of the modern Japanese gorefest horror films such as Tokyo Gore Police, Tokyo Zombie and Chanbara Beauty.

Tonight begins the Journey.
Tonight I'm gonna pop in Carnival of Souls and then Atom Age Vampire (since their on the same DVD).

Carnival of Souls, Metropolis, Night of the Living Dead, The Phantom of the Opera, Nosferatu, and The Little Shop of Horrors (only because it was Jack Nicholson's first role) are the only movies on that list worth seeing. Many of those movies aren't even properly horror films -- A Shriek in the Night is a murder mystery with romantic comedy touches, for example. And Metropolis is a dystopian sci-fi story.

Some of those movies are real stinkers -- The Giant Gila Monster, The Beast of Yucca Flats, the Brain That Wouldn't Die, all are pretty miserable.

Lucky for you Carnival of Souls is first on the list (assuming you watch them in order), because that really is a surprisingly delightful little film. While you watch it, pay close attention to the scene transitions -- how one scene changes into another. When COS was made, it really pushed the boundaries of what had been done and what could be done. There is a scene transition involving the opening of a door in a dark room, you'll know the one I'm talking about as soon as you see it, that is still my favorite scene transition ever.

Gailbraithe wrote:Many of those movies aren't even properly horror films -- A Shriek in the Night is a murder mystery with romantic comedy touches, for example. And Metropolis is a dystopian sci-fi story.

Some of those movies are real stinkers -- The Giant Gila Monster, The Beast of Yucca Flats, the Brain That Wouldn't Die, all are pretty miserable.

I already made the thread, thus a commitment has been made to soldier through even the worst of them.

Plus I bet the aforementioned movies are better then the cinematic excretaion that is sure to be Saw 3-D.

Get this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Hammer-Collection-Disc-Box/dp/B000HN31KQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1283638400&sr=8-2

Golden Eyed Scout wrote:

Gailbraithe wrote:Many of those movies aren't even properly horror films -- A Shriek in the Night is a murder mystery with romantic comedy touches, for example. And Metropolis is a dystopian sci-fi story.

Some of those movies are real stinkers -- The Giant Gila Monster, The Beast of Yucca Flats, the Brain That Wouldn't Die, all are pretty miserable.

I already made the thread, thus a commitment has been made to soldier through even the worst of them.

Plus I bet the aforementioned movies are better then the cinematic excretaion that is sure to be Saw 3-D.

I just died a little more inside at the thought of yet another saw movie. I still don't understand how anyone finds the saw movies entertaining. It's like watching the surgery shows on tv. How is it anything other than boring?

That list you posted is mostly a waste of time! 90% of it is only classic if you think the word is synonymous with old..... I think trying to watch a couple of those films will turn you off to the who project.



First off watch the Cabinet of Dr Caligari, then go for Nosferatu, after that metropolis

Then hit the talkies, make sure to watch all the big monster movies like Frankenstein, Wolf-man, Dracula, The Mummy, The Thing, King Kong, after that hit up the sci-fi horrors like Forbidden Planet, The day the earth stood still, Them, ect.

At this point you will need to find a friend because you will need to venture into the land of B to dig out some steaming gems. First off anything made by Ed Wood (glen or glenda, Plan 9 from outer space, etc)

After all that is done you get to pamper yourself with movies from 1960-1990, Like Pyscho, hellrazor, friday the thirteenth, nighmare on elmstreet, etc.

A quick question Scout,the movies wouldn't happened to be packaged all together and distributed through a company called "Mill Creek Entertainment" would they?

FITZZ wrote: A quick question Scout,the movies wouldn't happened to be packaged all together and distributed through a company called "Mill Creek Entertainment" would they?

They are packeged together, not sure about the distributer. But Boris Karloff is in like five of these movies so far! FIVE! KARLOFF!

I just watched Phantasm the other night. It scared the bejeezus out of me when I was 5 years old, so I figured I'd give it another try. I was surprised how un-scared I was, and realized that it was really pretty campy. The only thing that came remotely close to creepy was Angus Scrimm just because I have always been unnerved by angry old men with perpetual scowls. Nevertheless it is a cult classic sort of horror movie, and I would recommend it if you want to up your list to 51.

Phantasm is the one with the flying billiard ball, isn't it.

Golden Eyed Scout wrote:

FITZZ wrote: A quick question Scout,the movies wouldn't happened to be packaged all together and distributed through a company called "Mill Creek Entertainment" would they?

They are packeged together, not sure about the distributer. But Boris Karloff is in like five of these movies so far! FIVE! KARLOFF!

Just curious,as the contents sound quite similar to a boxed set my Missus bought for me a while back.

Enjoy your journey Scout,there are some great old films in that collection,as well as a few "not so great...but entertaining" ones as well.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Kilkrazy wrote:Phantasm is the one with the flying billiard ball, isn't it.

Yes,the flying brain drilling ball 'o death, and the Tall Man..let's not forget the Tall Man.

I tried watching Carnival of Souls. I got up to the point where the dude comes and gives her some coffee in the morning.
I'm just gonna watch the ones with Bela Lugosi and karloff instead.

Golden Eyed Scout wrote:I tried watching Carnival of Souls. I got up to the point where the dude comes and gives her some coffee in the morning.
I'm just gonna watch the ones with Bela Lugosi and karloff instead.

Some of the films in that collection are definitely an "acquired taste",and believe me,not all of the ones featuring Karloff and Lugosi are "great".
IIRC,some of the "better" films on the collection were.

Dr.Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.
The Phantom of the Opera.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Nosferatu
Metropolis.
The House on Haunted Hill.
The Last man on Earth.
Dementia 13
and of course
Night of the Living Dead.

For some true classic horror fun however,may I suggest watching the various Universal horror films of the late 30's and 40's,The original Frankenstein (and follow up films,Bride and Son), Dracula ( particularly the Spanish version filmed at the same time as Lugosi's classic),The Wolf man and The Mummy just can't be beat.
Also check out the old Hammer films,particularly Christopher Lees Dracula series, The Horror of Frankenstein & The curse of the Werewolf.

Kid_Kyoto wrote:Cool stuff. I hope both Evil Dead films are on your list. Amazing films especially when you realize that ED1 was just Sam Rami and some college pals making a film with no crew and no budget.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/252561.page
I haven't seen the second one, though the first and thirds are some of my favorite movies.

FITZZ wrote:

Golden Eyed Scout wrote:I tried watching Carnival of Souls. I got up to the point where the dude comes and gives her some coffee in the morning.
I'm just gonna watch the ones with Bela Lugosi and karloff instead.

Some of the films in that collection are definitely an "acquired taste",and believe me,not all of the ones featuring Karloff and Lugosi are "great".
IIRC,some of the "better" films on the collection were.

Dr.Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.
The Phantom of the Opera.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Nosferatu
Metropolis.
The House on Haunted Hill.*
The Last man on Earth.*
Dementia 13
and of course
Night of the Living Dead.*

For some true classic horror fun however,may I suggest watching the various Universal horror films of the late 30's and 40's,The original Frankenstein (and follow up films,Bride and Son), Dracula ( particularly the Spanish version filmed at the same time as Lugosi's classic),The Wolf man and The Mummy just can't be beat.
Also check out the old Hammer films,particularly Christopher Lees Dracula series, The Horror of Frankenstein & The curse of the Werewolf.

Ones with an * have been watched, either in part or in whole. Yeah, I realised I would have to get used to some of the movies, but Carnival was just terrible.

@ Scout.

Dr.Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.
The Phantom of the Opera.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Nosferatu
Metropolis.

Are all silent films,so be prepared for that,but they are all very well made (for the time) and quite enjoyable.
The Hunchback and Phantom of the Opera feature the late, great Lon Chaney Sr. and are "must See's" for any horror film fan.

FITZZ wrote: @ Scout.

Dr.Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.
The Phantom of the Opera.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Nosferatu
Metropolis.

Are all silent films,so be prepared for that,but they are all very well made (for the time) and quite enjoyable.
The Hunchback and Phantom of the Opera feature the late, great Lon Chaney Sr. and are "must See's" for any horror film fan.

I liked Silent Movie.

You're doing it wrong!

Want to brace yourself for a ropey looking film, and avoid disappointment? Simply watch a film you know to be terrible and utterly devoid of redeeming features beforehand! Presto! Standards instantly lowered to the point where almost anything is an improvement to be savoured.


See, this is why Uwe Boll is allowed to make films. He is the necessary evil of Cinematic Offerings!

Mr Mystery wrote:You're doing it wrong!

Want to brace yourself for a ropey looking film, and avoid disappointment? Simply watch a film you know to be terrible and utterly devoid of redeeming features beforehand! Presto! Standards instantly lowered to the point where almost anything is an improvement to be savoured.


See, this is why Uwe Boll is allowed to make films. He is the necessary evil of Cinematic Offerings!

HERESY!!! Because of this I hope your balls rot off and you burn in a special kind of hell.

Or at least get punched in the stomach.

Ha! You know it makes sense. It's like why girls always travel around with at least one fat ugly munter. She's there to make them look all the more attractive, and to be palmed off on ugly blokes. It's a simple tactic!

Uwe Boll, the ugly nightmare of Cinema, there to make all other Directors look better.

Golden Eyed Scout wrote:

Mr Mystery wrote:You're doing it wrong!

Want to brace yourself for a ropey looking film, and avoid disappointment? Simply watch a film you know to be terrible and utterly devoid of redeeming features beforehand! Presto! Standards instantly lowered to the point where almost anything is an improvement to be savoured.


See, this is why Uwe Boll is allowed to make films. He is the necessary evil of Cinematic Offerings!

HERESY!!! Because of this I hope your balls rot off and you burn in a special kind of hell.

Or at least get punched in the stomach.

It never ceases to amaze me how much venomous hatred can be conjured up simply by mentioning Uwe Boll.

...Of course I'm one of the main ones screaming for his execution...but that's besides the point.

FITZZ wrote:

Golden Eyed Scout wrote:

Mr Mystery wrote:You're doing it wrong!

Want to brace yourself for a ropey looking film, and avoid disappointment? Simply watch a film you know to be terrible and utterly devoid of redeeming features beforehand! Presto! Standards instantly lowered to the point where almost anything is an improvement to be savoured.


See, this is why Uwe Boll is allowed to make films. He is the necessary evil of Cinematic Offerings!

HERESY!!! Because of this I hope your balls rot off and you burn in a special kind of hell.

Or at least get punched in the stomach.

It never ceases to amaze me how much venomous hatred can be conjured up simply by mentioning Uwe Boll.

I've had the intense misfortune of watching five minutes (and killing off more brain cells then sniffing Febreeze) of BloodRayne.

All I remember is an intense, white hot rage, and then I woke up in a drainage ditch with a trash bag full of dismembered kittens....

Golden Eyed Scout wrote:

FITZZ wrote:

Golden Eyed Scout wrote:

Mr Mystery wrote:You're doing it wrong!

Want to brace yourself for a ropey looking film, and avoid disappointment? Simply watch a film you know to be terrible and utterly devoid of redeeming features beforehand! Presto! Standards instantly lowered to the point where almost anything is an improvement to be savoured.


See, this is why Uwe Boll is allowed to make films. He is the necessary evil of Cinematic Offerings!

HERESY!!! Because of this I hope your balls rot off and you burn in a special kind of hell.

Or at least get punched in the stomach.

It never ceases to amaze me how much venomous hatred can be conjured up simply by mentioning Uwe Boll.

I've had the intense misfortune of watching five minutes (and killing off more brain cells then sniffing Febreeze) of BloodRayne.

All I remember is an intense, white hot rage, and then I woke up in a drainage ditch with a trash bag full of dismembered kittens....

Try watching House of the Dead, I promise you that you'll want to dig your eyeballs out of your skull with an olive fork and set your house on fire after three minutes of the film.

FITZZ wrote:

Golden Eyed Scout wrote:

FITZZ wrote:

Golden Eyed Scout wrote:

Mr Mystery wrote:You're doing it wrong!

Want to brace yourself for a ropey looking film, and avoid disappointment? Simply watch a film you know to be terrible and utterly devoid of redeeming features beforehand! Presto! Standards instantly lowered to the point where almost anything is an improvement to be savoured.


See, this is why Uwe Boll is allowed to make films. He is the necessary evil of Cinematic Offerings!

HERESY!!! Because of this I hope your balls rot off and you burn in a special kind of hell.

Or at least get punched in the stomach.

It never ceases to amaze me how much venomous hatred can be conjured up simply by mentioning Uwe Boll.

I've had the intense misfortune of watching five minutes (and killing off more brain cells then sniffing Febreeze) of BloodRayne.

All I remember is an intense, white hot rage, and then I woke up in a drainage ditch with a trash bag full of dismembered kittens....

Try watching House of the Dead, I promise you that you'll want to dig your eyeballs out of your skull with an olive fork and set your house on fire after three minutes of the film.

Cracked killed my zombie etc. etc.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/313648.page
I don't need Uwe Boll to do it.

Also, I think I might have watched some of it while flipping the channells and hit SyFy.

Does it have a british sailor from the 19th century, a skater punk, a mad scientist from the 17th century and a girl that belong in an anime?