Hoyle's House of Horror's

Halloween will soon be upon us, and like many, I enjoy watching horror films at this time of the year. However, there are many horror films released every year, and some are naturally going to be better than others. This brings up the question of what makes a good horror film. 

    For me personally, a good horror film is more about atmosphere than about jump scares, a scene where something scary jumps out at you for shock value. A horror film is allowed at least one good jump scare, and afterwards gets repetitive. I have tried to appeal to all tastes with this list, and I consider everything on it more or less equal. That said, here are five horror films that will send shivers down your spine this Halloween. 

    1. The Haunting (1963) 

Directed By: Robert Wise

Distributed by: MGM

    This is what a good horror film should be. Based off the acclaimed novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson, this British film tells the tale of a group of paranormal investigators trying to prove the existence of the supernatural in an old house in New England. While the story may sound trite by today’s standards, it has a leg up on most modern films in that it delves into the psychology of its characters.

    With its creepy atmosphere, clever camera angles, and the sense of absolute horror it pervades without dipping into jump scares, The Haunting is a frightening gothic nightmare that should not be missed.

    2. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Directed by: James Whale

Distributed by: Universal

    While this film is not scary by today’s standards, it is still one of the most enjoyable films on this list. Possibly one of the most solid sequels in existence, this follow-up the 1931 Frankenstein picks up right where the first film left off. While it does not stay true the classic Mary Shelley novel, it captures the sympathetic side of the monster. Boris Karloff returns as the Monster and turns in the performance of his life. 

    As the film progresses, you begin to truly care about the plight of the monster and his simple quest for acceptance. With tenderness as well as chills, Bride of Frankenstein leaves a lasting impression. As a side note, although the first film is not required to enjoy this film, it is also worth a look.

    3. Eraserhead (1977)

Directed by: David Lynch

Distributed by: Libra Films International 

    This is the film that, according to video game designer Keiichiro Toyama, inspired the series Silent Hill. I could just leave it at that. However, I should mention that this is one of the most unsettling films I have ever seen. It was director David Lynch’s first feature length film, and it was all about his fear of being a new father. It has a dreamlike atmosphere where nothing is ever as it seems. There is a great deal of blood and gore, so sensitive viewers beware. Eraserhead is a surrealistic nightmare that will haunt you long after you have finished watching it. It will shock you, and possibly frighten you. However, you will never forget it. 

    4. Nosferatu: A Symphony of Terror (1922)

Directed by: F.W Murnau

    Distributed by: Film Arts Guild

    No list of great horror films would be complete without at least one vampire film. Some would put the 1931 film Dracula starring Bela Lugosi, the 1958 British film Horror of Dracula with Christopher Lee, or maybe even something like 1992’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula or 1994’s Interview With a Vampire. While all of those films are great, none of them quite meet the same raw terror that Nosferatu: A Symphony of Terror instills. 

    This German silent film is essentially the Dracula story we all know and love, but with a few changes because the production studio could not get the rights the classic Bram Stoker novel. For instance, the character of Count Dracula was changed to Count Orlock. 

    However, according to the special features on most DVD copies, that did not stop Bram Stoker’s widow from suing the studio. All copies of the film were burned by court order. Miraculously though, one copy of the film survived in a vault in Brazil. It is because of this copy that we have the film now. Like a real vampire, it rose from the grave and to this day sinks its teeth into the living. While it is silent, do not let that scare you off. It is only an hour and a half long, so it flies by. Go and watch it, even if only to see why Spongebob Squarepants made a joke about it. 

    5. King Kong (1933) 

Directed by: Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack 

Distributed by: RKO Radio Pictures

    I felt compelled to put at least one giant monster movie on this list. While many consider the 1954 film Gojira the best of its kind, it is hard to imagine the cinematic landscape without the legendary King Kong. Released in 1933, this film is about a reckless movie director who hires a movie crew and a street urchin with a pretty face to shoot a film on a lost island simply known as Skull Island. 

    However, when they get there, they discover it is crawling with dinosaurs, desperate natives, and one angry gorilla. What follows is a mad chase for survival that takes them all the way up the Empire State Building. What will strike you immediately is the fantastic Claymation on the dinosaurs and Kong himself. While the effects are dated now, they were revolutionary at the time, and reveling in them is part of this film’s enduring appeal. With a plot reminiscent of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel The Lost World, fun action scenes, and one of the strangest love triangles in film history, King Kong is truly the 8th Wonder of the World.