#i really like this rendition of dracula's iconic theme

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Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

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HAPPY HALLOWE’EN 2018: THE TOP TEN

Another year gone by, Creatures of the Night! So much has changed! But it’s All Hallow’s Eve, and we know that means you’re still looking for the best in spooky movies to chill your bones and entertain your live-in ghosts! And so it is that we are pleased to bring you what our infallible reasoning has determined to be the top ten best horror movies covered so far on the show (1895-1941)! Here’s the write-up: what their deal is, pros and cons, and where to find them! We hope it helps your evening’s entertainment! PS. Keep your eyes peeled: not only is our eighty-third episode going up today, but there’s new music and fiction over on our Patreon!

#10 - Dracula (1931)

While the first true horror film to be made in the United States may seem a bit sedate to viewers used to later renditions of its story, Tod Browning’s classic adaptation still manages to chill with its atmospheric visuals courtesy of cinematographer Karl Freund and set designer Charles Hall. But it’s strongest asset is its cast, with unforgettably evocative performances from Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, and Edward van Sloan. If you get the version with music by Phillip Glass, it only enhances the magnetic pull this film can have over you - if you let it. Rental options at $3.99 are the Cineplex and PlayStation video stores, and in HD for $4.99 on iTunes. 1h 25min.

#9 - Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Taking some incidents and ideas from the original novel left out of the first film, and combining them with a unique mix of goth, camp, queer, and horror ideas and themes, James Whale’s sequel to the original 1931 Frankenstein stands as an over-the-top bombastic testament to the horror of being forced to be “normal”. With wonderful performances from Colin Clive, Ernest Thesiger, Boris Karloff, and Elsa Lanchester, the only flaw is perhaps that the titular Bride just isn’t in the movie enough. Rent it for $3.99 on the Cineplex video store, for $4.99 on YouTube and Google Play, and in HD for $4.99 on iTunes. 1h 15min.

#8 - Frankenstein (1931)

The second of Universal Studios’ one-two punch of 1931, James Whale’s classic film manages to outdo Dracula primarily in pathos and theme. While the earlier film was content to merely thrill its audience, the tragedy of Colin Clive’s Dr Frankenstein and his creation looks at the cycle of abuse and confronts viewers with the way society treats its outsiders and outcasts and asks them to question their biases. Boris Karloff’s iconic performance as the Monster echoes through the ages. Available for rent at $3.99 on the PlayStation video store, and in HD for $4.99 on iTunes. 1h 11min.

#7 - Son of Frankenstein (1939)

We might be in the minority for thinking this, but for our money the third Universal Frankenstein movie is the best of the bunch. Set in a suddenly absurdly Expressionist Castle Frankenstein, Basil Rathbone descends into a quivering neurotic madness as the son of the legendary doctor, Lionel Atwell is unforgettable as the one-armed Inspector Kemp, while Bela Lugosi gives perhaps a career best performance as the not-quite-dead hunchback Ygor. It’s the movie that brought horror back from the abyss, and is way more gruesome than its predecessors, especially as it drops the campy tone. Library members who subscribe to Hoopla can stream the film, and it’s available to rent for $3.99 on the PlayStation video store and in HD for $4.99 on iTunes. 1h39min.

#6 - The Invisible Man (1933)

Mark Hamill said it himself - his much acclaimed interpretation of the Joker comes from Claude Rains’ performance as the tragically insane Griffin in this adaptation of the HG Wells novel. The movie shows off James Whale’s great skill at mixing humour and horror, even if some of the British-isms get a bit broad at times, but the true power of The Invisible Man is how it’s gotten more relevant with time - in 2018, the idea that anonymity might lead to immorality is no longer a hypothetical notion. Find it on the PlayStation video store to rent for $3.99, and on iTunes in HD for $4.99. 1h11min.

#5 - The Black Cat (1934)

What do you even say about a movie like Edgar G. Ulmer’s The Black Cat? A metaphor for Austrian/Hungarian relations after World War I, a dip into the world of Satanic cults, a revenge story with elements as unsavoury as Oldboy, and a chance to see Karloff and Lugosi really go at it as adversaries on roughly equal footing at a time when both men’s careers were on about the same level. This movie will draw you in with its gorgeous cinematography, hypnotic editing, and modernist set design, that by the time it’s over, you’ll hardly notice that the story seems to have quite a few holes in it... This underappreciated classic is waiting for you on Google Play and YouTube in HD for $4.99. 1h5min.

#4 - Island of Lost Souls (1932)

Watching this movie is like willingly stepping into a nightmare. The HG Wells’ novel might have somehow wanted to portray Dr Moreau “sympathetically” (fucking Victorians) but this adaptation understands he’s an utter monster and Charles Laughton delivers a bravura performance that underscores the character’s pure insanity. Combine this with the film’s dark and gritty look, the subtle make-up design of the hybrids (including a heavily obscured Bela Lugosi), and the unforgettable chant of The Law, and you have a film that will burn itself into your memory. Unfortunately, Island of Lost Souls has no current streaming options available, but you can find it on Blu-Ray from the Criterion Collection. 1h11min.

#3 - Körkarlen (1921)

The Phantom Carriage is perhaps the… least “fun” entry here in the top ten. Victor Sjöström’s haunting exploration of the horrors of alcoholism, domestic abuse, poverty, and tuberculosis is a critique of Christian naivete while simultaneously an encouragement of spiritual moral values. It has the tone and pace of a dirge, as it seeks to imprint its message on your very soul. All wrapped up in a chilling story of New Year’s Eve and the spectre of Death! This public domain film can be found on The Scream Scene Playlist on YouTube for free. 1h 47min.

#2 - The Old Dark House (1932)

James Whale’s definitive take on the traditional mystery thriller formula is a movie that will have you laughing right until the moment it has you screaming. In some ways, it’s a movie of clichés, with the protagonists seeking shelter in an old mansion during a rainstorm in the night and having to deal with the reclusive family they find within. But the dark, brooding cinematography, and truly shocking twists that rivet up the intensity over the running time, all contribute to make this a harrowing watch. It’s one part Rocky Horror Picture Show, one part The Addams Family, and one part The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I’m not kidding. The Old Dark House is currently streaming on Shudder. 1h12min.

#1 - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

Early on in the first Hollywood horror craze, Paramount Pictures managed to outdo their main competitor Universal with this masterpiece from director Rouben Mamoulian. With a use of sound, visuals, effects, script, and performance far beyond what most films were doing at the time, this adaptation reigns supreme among other versions of the same story. Fredric March utterly inhabits the dual title role, but it’s Miriam Hopkins’ performance that will stick with you in this superb examination of domestic abuse, alcoholism, and the beast that dwells within us. Currently for rent on YouTube, Google Play, and the PlayStation video store for $4.99. 1h 38min. Hope you find something in our top ten that tingles your spine, and until next year – Happy Hallowe’en!