[customfont1]The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)[/customfont1]
Rather than telling a classic monster story this German silent film forged its own, telling the twisted tale of a mad hypnotist, a sleeptalker, and murder. It’s considered by some to be the first horror film.
[customfont1]Nosferatu (1922)[/customfont1]
Another German silent film, this retelling of Dracula gave horror one of its most visually striking villains, Count Orlok, and was foundational in early horror.
[customfont1]Bride of Frankenstein (1935)[/customfont1]
This immediate sequel to 1931’s Frankenstein expanded on the story of the Monster based on a passing mention in the original novel. Unfortunately the Bride makes only a small appearance, but was enough to cement her in the annals of horror.
[customfont1]White Zombie (1938)[/customfont1]
The original zombie movie, this is a tale of unrequited love, voodoo, and… zombies. Naturally. While it did not attain the same notoriety as George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, White Zombie is a foundational film for the genre.
[customfont1]The Wolfman (1941)[/customfont1]
Yet another movie from the Universal monster line, The Wolfman is as much drama as it is horror. It’s one of the later monster debuts from the studio, but tells a fascinating story of seeking reconciliation and wrestling with the self.
[customfont1]The Uninvited (1944)[/customfont1]
The Uninvited is a good, old-fashioned ghost story about the dangers of getting a good deal on a mysterious house. It’s an overly familiar premise now, but back then it hadn’t been seen on screen nearly as much making this one worth the watch.
[customfont1]The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)[/customfont1]
This is actually the seventh screen adaptation of Gray’s story, but is largely held to be the best. Despite a few narrative departures, the story and its message were maintained in bringing it to the big screen.
[customfont1]War of the Worlds (1953)[/customfont1]
It was published in 1898, scared the hell out of radio listeners in 1938, and adapted to film in 1953. H.G. Wells’ alien invasion horror story is one that persists in culture, even garnering another remake in 2005.
[customfont1]Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)[/customfont1]
Overlooked at the time, Invasion is now considered a sci-fi classic, and mainstay of the genre. It’s been retold many times, but the original is still one of the best.
[customfont1]House on Haunted Hill (1959)[/customfont1]
House on Haunted Hill gave us an excellent execution of a familiar premise: stay in a haunted house for one night, get $10,000 ($80,000+ in 2015). This movie really earns its status as a classic.
[customfont1]Psycho (1960)[/customfont1]
The father of the modern slasher, Psycho is a chilling slow-burn of a film. From the iconic shower scene to the final twist, it’s engaging from start to finish. Seen by many as a bit too much when it debuted, Psycho has been long cemented in the annals of not just horror, but cinema as a whole.
[customfont1]Village of the Damned (1960)[/customfont1]
Kids can be creepy, and Village of the Damned really used that to its full potential. There’s mass pregnancy, synchronized birth-giving, and creepy, creepy children. Village may not have invented kid-horror, but it absolutely nailed it with these psychic little nightmares.
[customfont1]The Haunting (1963)[/customfont1]
Utilizing some innovative effects, editing, and filming techniques The Haunting is a night of paranormal research gone wrong. It was overlooked at the time (and is still fighting some mixed reviews), but make no mistake, The Haunting is a worthy entry in the haunted house genre.
