The Classics (Movie Challenge pt. 1)

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As mentioned in the last post, I have started a movie challenge for the month of October. And because October concludes with the best day of the year, Halloween, my genre of choice is horror films. For this section of the challenge, I will look at the horror classics I have been watching since the start of October. So sit back, relax and prepare for a thrill ride...

1) Nosferatu (1922)

  What better way to start this challenge off than with the Grandfather of horror itself: Nosferatu? I have never actually seen this classic before but of course knew of it and knew how much of an influence it was to other classic horror films. What I didn't know was that the film was based on Bram Stoker's Dracula, without actually getting the copyrights to the work. This resulted in some slight changes to the plot, though not enough to stop being sued by the heirs of Bram Stoker. Still, it is a remarkable film that can be enjoyed without knowing the ties to Dracula. While watching this, even though a modern audience would be desensitised to the amount of horror we have already seen, it is quite easy to imagine how an audience of the 1920s would react to such a film. The film follows Thomas Hutter, a young man who is sent by an Estate Agent, to visit the mysterious Count Orlok to set up plans for the Count to buy a house in the same town Hutter resides. Despite warnings from the residents of the town, Hutter goes to meet Count Orlok, where horror ensues.
I loved watching this film and seeing how things were achieved in the 1920s. It was fascinating to watch how the ending takes place and the devices that influenced future horror movies. Nosferatu defined the genre and *spoiler* the scene of Count Orlok combusting at the conclusion of the film was new to Cinema. It is easy to see how influential Nosferatu is, not only to other horror films, but also to pop culture.

2) Dead of Night (1945)

I have to admit, I only came across this film in my research of classic horror

movies. I decided to give it a whirl on its premise: an Architect is called to review a house but once he comes upon it, he is hit with overwhelming deja vu. The Architect, Walter Craig, meets with the owner of the house, Elliot Foley and his assembled guests. After explaining his deja vu, which has been formed via recurring nightmares, each guest shares their own experience with the supernatural. Each story ranges from the chilling (The Hearse Driver), to suspensful (The Haunted Mirror) to the comical (The Golfer's Story) to tension (The Ventriloquist's Dummy). It is the latter story that is the most effective, creating a long-lasting impression with the audience. One of the rare British films of the time (a ban on horror during the war prevented the production of films), it is a masterpiece in supernatural story-telling. The characters are engaging, and the plot keeps the audience guessing right up until the ending, with a nice little twist along the way. There were some cheesy moments, particularly in the segment of The Christmas Party, but all in all Dead of Night seems like a nice little gem in the horror genre.

3) Dr Terror's House of Horrors (1965)

Again, another movie I am afraid to say I have not come across before but the actors I was well aware of; Dr Terror's House of Horrors stars Christopher Lee, Donald Sutherland and Peter Cushing, among others, famous for their horror features, pre-House of Horrors and for those still to come. The film follows five men who all share a carriage on a train. A sixth man, Dr Schreck, enters the carriage and after informing the other passengers that his surname translates to 'terror', offers to read every man's destiny via tarot cards. Each reading shows the outcome of each man, all destined to end in unpleasant ways. Dr Schreck informs each passenger that the only way to avoid each future is death. All five anthologies can be classified as 'classic' horrors: Werewolf; Creeping Vine; Voodoo; Disembodied Hand; and Vampire. Each reading features a cautionary tale, one that makes the audience think how their actions can affect others.
The ending to Dr Terror's House of Horrors is done really well, with a twist I did not see coming until the last minute. There was one shot in the epilogue that could have been cut to make it more effective (*spoiler* the zoom-in on Death's skeletal face). This made the film a bit more comical than intended and without that shot, they could have made the ending just as chilling without specifically spelling it out to the audience. Overall, I liked House of Horrors and its take on classic tales.

4) Psycho (1960)

 With this next movie on my list, I am sort of cheating as I have of course seen it 

before. But since it's my Movie Challenge, I am going to be including films I have rewatched this month. Alfred Hitchcock was the Godfather of horror and his most famous, classic film was Psycho. Marion Crane is on the run, after stealing money from her place of work. She finds shelter, unfortunately, at the Bates Motel, a seemingly innocent charming establishment, with many skeletons (figuratively and literally) hidden underneath. The owner of the motel, Norman Bates, hides a creepy secret and becomes infatuated with his new female tenant. So much so that he spies on her, eventually killing her in the most iconic scene in horror history: the shower scene. It is not a spoiler in revealing this as the film is so well-known for this scene, the way that it is shot, that piece of music, the last lingering shot of the scene, that most people (even the non movie buffs) know the part of the film verbatium. Psycho still stands up today as a chilling masterpiece in film-making, with a twist that not many people would guess if they hadn't already been spoiled. Hitchcock was innovative in film-making, each shot lovingly crafted that would withstand today's business. Each viewing of this classic brings something new to the audience. Psycho is genius in its genre, with many films and TV shows still referencing it today, showing the lasting impression it has had in pop culture.

5) Les Diaboliques (1955)

 For my final choice, I chose to view the 1955 French horror classic: Les Diaboliques. This film follows two women who have both been wronged by the same man and wanting to exact their revenge for all the ways he has mistreated them. The two women in question are the man, Michel's, wife and mistress respectively, who have teamed up to plan Michel's demise. After committing the deed, things start to go awry, with Michel's corpse going missing, only to show up in unexpected places. Although this film was a slow-burn, it concludes in an interesting fashion, with many twists and turns along the way. The plot, to begin with, definitely feels more realistic of the films in this list and the cast are engaging. The pace could have done with being a bit quicker, to stop audience wanting to tune out but the concept is what keeps the audience captivated. I am used to quicker-paced horrors, but I feel Les Diabolique's pacing helps to cement in one's mind and keeps it being memorable. What is more horrifying than the real subject of domestic violence and the concept of loving someone who you know is bad for you?

I really enjoyed this segment of the challenge, I discovered brand new films that I have never came across, finally watched famous movies that I have heard so much about and have revisited favourites. Feel free to list any favourite classics and stay tuned for the next installment in my Movie Challenge!

Dead of Night pic