6 Horror Movies For a Non-Horror Movie Goer

by Wayne Teeter
(Canada)

1. Nosferatu. Directed by F.W. Marnau in 1922. A fine example of German expressionism with it's use of light and shadows. Max Shreck's rodent-like makeup is unique even today. Also it's a miracle this film survived after Bram Stoker's widow orderd it destroyed for copyright infringement against her husband's novel 'Dracula'.

2. Eyes Without a Face. Directed by Georges Franju. In the year 1959, not too many horror movies were showing medical procedures like the ones being perfomed here. Eyes opened up the door for more graphic horror movies. Even in gorgeous black and white, this is pretty intense stuff for the times.

3. Black Sunday. Considerd by many to be the first Italian Gothic film. Mario Bava's masterpiece of beautiful lighting technique and fog-enshrouded castles make this a fairy tale for adults.

4. Psycho. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Is this the first slasher film? I believe it is. Ask anyone if they have watched it and their answer is usually yes, and they often admit to closing their eyes for the famous shower scene because it is too violent. Not once do we see the knife enter the body of Marion Crane - this could be the most complex movie editing of all time. Add to this Bernard Herrmann's music, and you have one of The Hitch's best.

5. Night of the Living Dead. George A. Romero introduced realism to the horror genre with his directorial debut in 1969. This was pretty shocking stuff back then, not only with the dead coming back to life but with matricide and cannabalism.

6. Deep Red. Back in 1970, Dario Argento directed The Bird with the Crystal Plumage which could possibly be considered the first 'Giallo' murder mystery. But with Deep Red he perfects it. There is so much going on in this movie that multiple veiwings is a must. He also throws in many red herrings to side track us from the killer's identity. This film also just looks pleasing to the eye.