vintage

Special effects may be lacking, but vintage horror films still manage to keep our palms sweating and blood pumping; a look back at retro horror films, stories, books and characters that prove everything is scarier in black and white.

The Top Creature Films You Need to See
"Frankenstein" (1931) (Gene pick) The Frankenstein monster is one of the most recognizable characters in all of horror, subject of countless cartoons, films, comic books, and films. This was not the first movie adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel, but it is the most imitated, and most successful, and it made actor Boris Karloff an instant star.
By Gene Lass3 years ago in Horror
Goblin Bites: Scary Stories 15
There was one story I heard a long time ago, that I honestly don't know really happened or not. It is a very sad story, to begin with, but I will try to do it justice and recount it to the best of my memory. You have been warned, and I will not judge you should you decide to stop reading here. For those more curious souls, I will continue.
By Natalie Gray3 years ago in Horror
The Elephant Man (The Stage Play)
When I was a child I threw the tantrum of all tantrums because I didn't want to watch the stage play of The Elephant Man on television. I think the year may have been 1982.
By Tom Baker3 years ago in Horror
Goblin Bites: Scary Stories 11
It all began the night after the hanging of Tex Orley. He'd been tried and sentenced for robbing the Gold Valley bank a week prior, and shooting the bank teller in the back in cold blood. Up until the moment of his execution, however, Tex Orley loudly and vehemently proclaimed his innocence. When the judge asked for his final words, Orley vowed that he would wreak his revenge on the citizens of Gold Valley for this injustice, even if that meant returning from the grave.
By Natalie Gray3 years ago in Horror
The World's Most Terrifying Cases
In this collection of terrifying tales, you’ll read about real-life serial killers, haunted asylums, and ghostly apparitions that will make your skin crawl. You’ll also hear about some recent alarming discoveries in the world of science and medicine – not to mention genetic engineering, cloning, and other procedures that are opening new doors to mankind’s potential. From oozing sores and flesh-eating bacteria to mutant mosquitoes with a deadly bite, these accounts of scientific exploration gone wrong will keep you up at night. So prepare yourself for an intriguing – but also terrifying – peek into the macabre world of science gone awry...
By PP3 years ago in Horror
The Top Ghost Films You Need to See
"The Shining" (1980) (Gene pick) The film version of "The Shining" combines two masters at the top of their craft - writer Stephen King and director Stanley Kubrick. Based on King's second novel, King reportedly hated the film, and in 1997 wrote the screenplay for a TV mini-series that was more faithful to his vision. However, the mini-series has been largely forgotten, while the film stands out as a terrifying masterpiece of horror. Known to be fanatic about detail, and adept at working on subliminal levels, Kubrick does more than the viewer realizes to have an increasing sense of wrongness and dread mirroring the feeling the family living in the hotel has that at any time, they could encounter creepy twins in a hallway, or have a vision of elevators full of blood. To see exactly what Kubrick does to achieve this feeling, see the excellent documentary "Room 237."
By Gene Lass3 years ago in Horror
The High Window
I don't know why I hadn’t noticed it. I had taken this cottage in the middle of nowhere to get away from what had just happened in my life and I needed time away.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 3 years ago in Horror
The Terror (1963)
Helene: The crypt! It must be destroyed, and with it the dead. Andre: Don't speak of the dead anymore. You're with me now. Helene: I am possessed of the dead. Andre: You're a warm living woman. Who has told you these things? Helene: The dead.
By Tom Baker3 years ago in Horror
The Top Slasher Films You Need to See
"Psycho" (1960) (BOTH pick) It all begins here. Based on the novel by Robert Bloch, which was in turn inspired by notorious serial killer Ed Gein, this masterpiece by Alfred Hitchcock is the result of Hitchcock being bored and wanting to do something that neither he nor anyone else had ever done. Something that elevated film from suspense to pure terror, and brutal violence. The film does an incredible switch of perspective, as the lead characters change partway through the film, and all of the violence is purposefully, painstakingly realistic.
By Gene Lass3 years ago in Horror
Naked Lunch (1991)
***The curious thing about David Cronenberg's film Naked Lunch is that it seems to have very little to actually do with the book Naked Lunch. Instead, it follows the general arch of its author, William S. Burroughs', life, and a few of his themes: addiction, possession by strange forces, and vast conspiracies to enslave mankind that may not even originate in the human world.
By Tom Baker3 years ago in Horror
Edison's Frankenstein (1910)
What can one say about a film that is a century old? Thought lost for many, many long decades, a complete (if deteriorated) print was finally found in the attic of an ancient theater, and restored until it was watchable. Its "Monster", predating Boris Karloff's iconic flat-topped ghoul, is a semi-idiotic-looking medieval peasant in filthy rags, Kracow shoes (pointed toes), and a few lengths of rope twisted about its torso. Its face is held in a stroke victim's frozen rictus of numb, unfeeling ugliness, and his eyes are wonderingly cow-like orbs under a fright-wig of filthy frizz.
By Tom Baker3 years ago in Horror
Goblin Bites: Scary Stories 6
Long ago, there was a boy named Sean. He was a mischeivious little lad, with a talent for pranks and getting himself in trouble. He was just as talented, however, at getting himself out of trouble, being naturally gifted as a fast talker with lots of charm. Despite his antics, the people in his village were fond of him, and had taken to calling him "Jack" instead of his given name. This seemed to fit his impish nature more, and he found he quite liked the moniker. His mother and father loved him dearly, but often warned about him taking his pranks and jokes too far. "Having fun was all well and good," they would say, "but someday you'll have to grow up, and take responsibility for your deeds." Jack would brush off these warnings, being the heedless youth he was, and often just did as he pleased.
By Natalie Gray3 years ago in Horror