The Mummy (1932)

The Mummy (1932)

Actors:

Boris Karloff, Zita Johann & David Manners

Director:

Karl Freund

Run time:

73 minutes

Plot:

During a British Museum-sponsored archaeological expedition to Egypt led by Sir Joseph Whemple, the recently discovered mummy of a high priest, Im-ho-tep, comes to life and walks away into the desert night. Ten years later a new expedition led by Sir Joseph's son, Frank Whemple, find the tomb of Princess Anck-es-en-Amon, Im-ho-tep's long lost love. In order to revive her completely, Im-ho-tep requires Helen Grosvenor to die so he can revive her and make her a living mummy like himself. 

Trailer:

Review:

This is a classic for a reason and still to this day  is the best mummy picture of all (IMO). Everything about this is at top performance even for this day in age. This movie is all atmosphere. The detail of focusing on Karloff's eyes and the way he pulled off the threatening character carry this film. To me this is the best of the classic horror genre.

If you have not seen The Mummy you must!

The Ape Man (1943)

The Ape Man (1943)

Actors:

Bela Lugosi, Henry Hall & Wallace Ford

Director:

William Beaudine

Run time:

64 minutes

Plot:

Conducting weird scientific experiments, crazed Dr. James Brewster, aided by his colleague Dr. Randall, has managed to transform himself into a hairy, stooped-over ape-man. Desperately seeking a cure, Brewster believes only an injection of recently-drawn human spinal fluid will prove effective. With Randall refusing to help him, it falls to Brewster and his captive gorilla to find appropriate donors. 

Trailer:

Review:

One of the rarer viewed Lugosi films. This is not one of his best films by far. Plot and stoyline (for lack of a better word) sucked. The only real effects are glued hair to Lugosi. Not worth the 64 minutes to watch.

King of the Zombies (1941)

King of the Zombies (1941)

Actors:

Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury & Mantan Moreland

Director:

Jean Yarbrough

Run time:

67 minutes

Plot:

 On a spooky island, three stranded travelers find an evil doctor working with foreign spies and in control of zombies. 

Trailer:

Review:

For warning: zombie movies from this era are not flesh eating, they are more of the voodoo variety zombies. That being said, this movie should be more popular than it is as far as classic horror is concerned. Everything in this works well: acting, lighting and plot. This moved onto my must see classic horror list.

Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man (1943)

Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man (1943)

Actors:

Bella Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. & Ilona Massey

Director:

Roy William Neill

Run time:

74 minutes

Plot:

Grave robbers open the grave of the Wolf man and awake him. He doesn't like the idea of being immortal and killing people when the moon is full, so he tries to find Dr. Frankenstein, in the hopes that the Dr. can cure him, but Frankenstein is dead and only his Monster is alive and this one wants to live, not to die like the Wolf man. 

Trailer:

Review:

A sequel to "The Ghost of Frankenstein" and "The Wolf Man", Universal's first clash of the monster films also considered to be the last great universal horror of it's time. You get the best of both Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi in this film. The studio didn't hold back on special effects or makeup with this one. I loved the storyline in this MUST see classic.

Top 10 Hottest Vampires in Movies and TV.

Top 10 Hottest Vampires in Movies and TV.

 10. Drake – Blade Trinity played by Dominic Purcell

Who doesn't like a well build version of a vampire?

 

9. David - Lost Boys played by Kiefer Sutherland

A classic well rounded, bad boy vamp.

 

8. Santanico Pandemonium – Dusk till Dawn played by Salma Hayek

Females need love too,  especially smoking hot ones!

7. Snowman – Blade 2 played by Donnie Yen

Seriously, hot vamp that can weild a sword like no ones business.

6. William the Bloody aka Spike – Buffy the Vampire Slayer played by James Marsters

Bad boy blonde with serious slayer issues, gotta love him.

5. Queen Akasha – Queen of the Damned played by Aaliyah

The ultimate fem fatale.

4. Eric Northman – True Blood played by Alexander Skarsgard

Bad boy turned good boy, not to mention sexy as hell.

3. Lastat de Lioncourt – Queen of the Damned played by Stuart Townsend

It's all in the eyes.

2. Vlad Tepes- Dracula Untold played by Luke Evans

 A man who gives up his humanity to save his people.

 

1. Jerry Dandridge – Fright Night (2001) played by Colin Farrell

Do I really have to say, come on Colin Farrell with fangs, need I say more? 

 

 

 

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Actors:

Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart & Richard Long

Director:

Robb White

Run time:

75 minutes

Plot:

A very wealthy man gives a haunted house party, offering to give each of his guests $10,000 - if they can survive the night. 

Trailer:

Review:

 Made popular by Vincent Price's stellar performance and use of effects, this is a cult classic if ever there was one. The lighting plays a major roll in the success of this film. This is available in both color and black &white. This is a must see as well as the remake. Both versions carry the same base story line but play out in two different ways.

 

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Actors:

Richard Carlson, Julie Adams & Richard Denning

Director:

Jack Arnold

Run Time:

1h 19 min

Plot:

After Dr. Carl Maia finds unique skeletal remains, a group of scientists led by David Reed head down the Amazon to see if other remains can be found. They have little luck at first until hearing that further downriver lies the Black Lagoon where other fossils might be found. They get more than they bargained for when they discover a living prehistoric creature - a half-man, half amphibious reptile - that doesn't take kindly to their attempts to capture him. The creature takes a liking to Kay Lawrence and kidnaps her but goes to war against the scientists and won't let them leave the lagoon. 

Trailer:

Review:

One of the original classic creature features. Cinematography and effects were great for its time. The creature makeup was innovative for its era. Must see creature feature.

A Bucket of Blood (1959)

A Bucket of Blood  (1959)

Actors:

Dick Miller, Barboura Morris & Anthony Carbone

Director:

Roger Coman

Runtime:

66 minutes

Plot:

A frustrated and talentless artist finds acclaim for a plaster covered dead cat that is mistaken as a skillful statuette. Soon the desire for more praise leads to an increasingly deadly series of works. 

Trailer:

Review:

If you're old enough you'll see some up-in-comers from that generation. This is the original to the remake in 1995 with Anthony Micheal Hall and Justine Bateman. A want-to-be artist finds a creepy, morbid way to find success. While this movie isn't much on the typical horror side, its in the watch once and move on category. It could have been better. The remake was a bit campy but had some comedy it it as well.

Nosferatu (1922)

Nosferatu (1922)

Actors:

Max Schreck, Gustav von Wangenheim & Greta Schroder

Director:

F.W. Murnau

Runtime:

1h 21min

Plot:

Count Orlok's move to Wisburg and brings the plague, this reveals his connection to the Realtor Thomas Hutter, and the Count's obsession with Hutter's wife, Ellen - the only one with the power to end the evil. 

Trailer:

Review:

This silent film, the most silent horror watched. This movie is what started our love of vampires in movies today. Must see for any horror fan. Great use of lighting makes most of the effects and scenes eerie.