Whether it’s a bunch of teenagers being picked off by a crazed killer or an ominous ghost story in a morbid mansion, audiences have been transfixed by the horror genre and its electric collection of titles such asAlfred Hitchcock’sPsycho,The Shining, andHalloween. Over the years, the genre has evolved and branched out into new territory, utilizing innovative special effects and scare tactics. However, for those who consider themselves dedicated horror fans, there are some classics that more than likely slipped under your radar.
In fairness, it can be a challenge for even the biggest horror fans to sift through the abundance of great movies, especially those from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Thankfully, this list features a selection of underrated but worthy classic horror films, includingPeeping Tom,Diabolique, andDead of Night, that deserve to be added to any horror enthusiast’s watchlist. From the creepy fantasy filmIsland of Lost Soulsto the spine-chilling British thrillerTaste of Fear, these are ten great horror classic movies you’ve never seen.
10’Island of Lost Souls' (1932)
Directed by Erle C. Kenton
The 1930s were a period of experimentation for the horror genre, and the 1932 pre-code filmIsland of Lost Soulsis a twisted fever dream that embodies all the ingredients of an innovative horror classic.Charles Laughtonstars as Dr. Moreau, a scientist who lives on a deserted island inhabited by strange locals. When a sailor, Edward Parker (Richard Arlen), becomes stranded on the island, he soon realizes that he’s become an unwilling participant in Moreau’s deranged human experiments.
Based onH.G. Wells' 1896 novel,The Island of Dr. Moreau,Island of Lost Soulsevokes an authentic fear without relying on high-quality special effects or excessive bloodshed, making it a chilling and highly marginalized horror classic. The movie’s sinister blend of inescapable madness and fantasy creates a suffocating and unsettling atmosphere that lingers with audiences even long after the credits have finished rolling.
Island of Lost Souls
Directed by Karl Freund
When a famed piano player, Stephen Orlac (Colin Clive), is involved in a horrific train crash, his wife and stage star, Yvonne (Frances Drake), takes him to see a surgeon, Dr. Golgo (Peter Lorre), asking him to reconstruct her husband’s hands. While the surgery is successful, Golgo’s secret obsession with Yvonne leads him to replace Orlac’s hands with a less-than-desirable donor, resulting in turmoil for the husband and wife.
Lorre made his American feature film debut as the unhinged Dr. Golgo in the 1935 body horror filmMad Love, an adaptation ofMaurice Renard’s novel,The Hands of Orlac. Despite earning mixed to negative reviews and failing at the box office,Lorre delivers a compelling performance inMad Lovethat epitomizes sheer, uninhibited terror, earning the actor overall praise from critics and other actors, including the prolific silent film star,Charlie Chaplin, who referred to Lorre as “the greatest living actor.”
8’The Halfway House' (1944)
Directed by Basil Dearden
The Halfway Houseis one of the most underrated horror classics, boasting an unexpected depth and sentiment that feels like a tale out ofRod Serling’sThe Twilight Zone. Set during World War II, a severe storm forces several strangers to check into an old countryside inn run by a middle-aged man, Rhys (Mervyn Johns), and his daughter (Glynis Johns). As the guests settle into the quaint hotel, they begin to notice strange occurrences and eventually discover that their arrival at the inn was no mere coincidence.
The Halfway Houseinitially received a less-than-positive reception, but many critics praised the performances of the overall cast, noting them as the movie’s silver lining. Today, the movie is widely regarded as an underappreciated British classic, known for its unique combination ofan alluring supernatural atmosphere and relatable characters, as well as the humanizing themes of grief, death, and war, which ultimately makeThe Halfway Housea rare gem in the horror genre.
The Halfway House
7’The Body Snatcher' (1945)
Directed by Robert Wise
Horror legendBoris Karloffstars inRobert Wise’s 1945 filmThe Body Snatcheras a cab driver, John Gray, who moonlights as a grave robber and is eventually hired by a local physician, Dr. Toddy MacFarlane (Henry Daniell), to supply him with human cadavers for his experiments he has been conducting to help a disabled little girl. When MacFarlane’s associate (Russell Wade) recognizes one of the bodies delivered by Gray and his assistant (Bela Lugosi), questions and suspicions arise, threatening to destroy the trio’s elusive scheme.
The Body Snatcheris based onRobert Louis Stevenson’s short story of the same name, which was inspired by the 1828 Burke and Hare Murders in Scotland. Karloff delivers an impeccable, menacing performance that showcases his versatile talent and impressive ability to portray more than just mere monsters and ghouls. The film remains faithful to Stevenson’s original story, conveyingthe perfect balance of jump scares and unsettling intensity, with a string of riveting performances that solidifyThe Body Snatcheras a must-see horror classic.
The Body Snatcher
6’The Queen of Spades' (1949)
Directed by Thorold Dickinson
The 1949 British horror filmThe Queen of Spadesis a highly marginalized classic set in Russia, where an officer, Captain Herman Suvorin (Anton Walbrook), becomes fascinated by an elderly woman, Countess Ranevskaya (Edith Evans), who, years ago, had sold her soul to the devil in exchange for the secret to winning at cards. As Suvorin attempts to uncover the truth about the Countess’s success, his intrigue is fueled by greed, evolving into an obsession that leads him down a dark path with no turning back.
Based on a short story byAlexander Pushkin,The Queen of Spadesisa blend of a tedious melodrama and a surreal atmospheric thriller that effectively draws audiences in with its masterful cinematography and marvelous performancesby an incredibly gifted cast. Initially, the film received mixed reviews, but in recent years, it has been praised by notable filmmakers, includingMartin Scorsese, who stated that directorThorold Dickinsonis easily one of the most underrated filmmakers of his time and creditsThe Queen of Spadesas “one of the few classic films of supernatural cinema.”
The Queen of Spades
5’Peeping Tom' (1960)
Directed by Michael Powell
Peeping Tomisa must-watch British psychological horror thrillerthat many credit as a pivotal influence in the rise of the modern slasher movie. The movie follows a serial killer, Mark Lewis (Karlheinz Böhm), who by day works at a local film studio and at night, not only brutally murders young women, but also photographs and records them as he kills them, ultimately creating a snuff film for his own personal amusement.
Peeping Tomis a Hitchcockian-type thriller that effortlessly puts audiences in the middle of Lewis' insanity and taps into viewers' raw emotions of fear and anxiety, leaving them hanging in unbearable suspense. At the time, the racy and violent subject matter ofPeeping Tomdidn’t sit well with the majority of audiences and critics. Over the years, it has since become a cult classic and ranks as a masterpiece that essentially defied the traditional tropes of the horror genre.
Peeping Tom
4’Curse of the Demon' (1957)
Directed by Jacques Tourneur
Jacques Tourneur’sCurse of the Demon, also known asNight of the Demon, starsDana Andrewsas American professor John Holden, who travels to London for a conference. Once he arrives, he discovers that the speaker at the conference, Professor Harrington (Maurice Denham), was killed the day before, leading Holden to look further into his colleague’s sudden demise. Holden eventually learns that Harrington had been investigating a Satanic cult, and while Holden is a man of science and skeptical of such nonsense, he soon begins to question his original convictions.
Curse of the Demonwas one of the first folklore horror films, and despite its simplicity, it remains one of the scariest horror classics to date. The movie’s blend of supernatural elements and disturbing realism creates a spellbinding nightmare that effectively grips the audience with unwavering intensity and imagination. While the film may lack today’s high-quality special effects,Curse of the Demonstill manages to incite an unnerving fear in modern audiences with its ominous backdrop and enthralling performances, cementing it as a great horror classic that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.
Curse of the Demon
Directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Robert Hamer, Charles Crichton, and Basil Dearden
Mervyn Johns stars in the 1945 British classicDead of Nightas Walter Craig, an architect who visits a country cottage to meet with the owner, Elliot Foley (Roland Culver), to discuss potential renovations of the inn. Despite never meeting any of the guests at the inn, Craig confesses that he has seen them all in a recurring dream. As Craig recalls the events of the dreams, the unusual revelation prompts the guests to share their own stories of nightmares and strange events.
Dead of Nightis recognized asone of the greatest horror classics of all time and is known for its immense influence on the anthology film genre. The supernatural flick is essentially a story within a story, presenting a string of individual tales that each bring an element of unexpected fear and thrills to the table with pure tenacity. While it is recognized for its substantial fear factor,Dead of Nightisn’t without moments of comic relief, making it an all-around horror classic full of entertaining tricks and treats.
Dead of Night
2’Diabolique' (1955)
Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
The 1955 French psychological horror thrillerDiabolique, also known asLes Diaboliques, takes place in a boarding school in Paris, which is owned by a cruel husband, Michel Delassalle (Paul Meurisse), and run by his wife and teacher, Christina (Véra Clouzot). As Christina endures Michel’s tyranny, she finds comfort in her friendship with his mistress and fellow teacher, Nicole (Simone Signoret). Eventually, the women are pushed too far and devise a plan to eliminate Michel, but just when they think they’ve pulled off the perfect murder, things take an unexpected and grim turn.
Diaboliqueis a lesser-known horror classic that combines a murderous mystery, an enticing ghost story, and an ingenious drama, all rolled into one, and topped off with a shocking plot twist that earns the film a spot on this list. The beauty ofDiaboliquelies in directorHenri-Georges Clouzot’s ability to evoke fear in the unseen and refrain from dwelling on the obvious, allowing the audience to draw their conclusions in this terrifying thriller. Today,Diaboliqueis celebrated for its cleverness and exciting twists, which, even if some catch on before the final reveal, still make it a worthwhile horror classic.
1’Taste of Fear' (1961)
Directed by Seth Holt
Taste of Fear, also known asScream of Fear, is a 1961 horror classic starringSusan Strasbergas Penny Appleby, a young heiress confined to a wheelchair who is sent to live with her estranged father after the sudden death of her caregiver. When Penny arrives, she’s greeted by her stepmother, Jane (Ann Todd), who tells her her father is away on business. As Penny settles into her new home, she begins to notice strange occurrences that lead her to believe that her stepmother isn’t being entirely honest with her.
Taste of Fearis a definitive psychological horror thriller that leaves audiences floored with an explosive final plot twist, ultimately altering the perspective of the events they had previously seen unfold. The film is widely regarded asone of the best moviesthat no one has ever seen, which essentially puts a spin on the traditional suspenseful mystery by incorporating original elements of the paranormal and psychological warfare that effectively capture the audience’s undivided attention.Taste of Fearis a crucial contribution to the horror genre, setting the standard for shock and awe that essentially makes it one of the best horror films ever made in classic cinema history.
