25 Essential Classic Horror Films

A Listmania! list by G. J. Hardman "Gav"
(REAL NAME)   
 
Curse of the Demon + Night of the Demon (Ws) [1958] (REGION 1) (NTSC) [DVD] [US Import]
1.  Curse of the Demon + Night of the Demon (Ws) [1958] (REGION 1) (NTSC) [DVD] [US Import] DVD ~ Dana Andrews
The list author says:
  "Released shortly after 'Curse of Frankenstein' hailed Hammer's introduction as the genre protagonist. This is a brilliant adaptation of M. R. James' 'Casting the Runes'. Seminal."
Used & New from: £6.40
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
The Wicker Man - Special Edition Director's Cut (2 disc set) [DVD] [1973]
2.  The Wicker Man - Special Edition Director's Cut (2 disc set) [DVD] [1973] DVD ~ Edward Woodward
The list author says:
  "Full of wonderful imagery, atmosphere and weirdness. Now considered a cult classic. The finale lives long in the mind. Great soundtrack too."
Used & New from: £0.85
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
The Exorcist - Director's Cut [DVD] [1974]
3.  The Exorcist - Director's Cut [DVD] [1974] DVD ~ Ellen Burstyn
The list author says:
  "Friedken's finest moment as director. Released in 1973, this tale of demonic possession hasn't aged a jot. Top drawer performances throughout, particularly from Jason Miller as Father Karras."
Used & New from: £0.47
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews) | 6 customer discussions
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
The Shining (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1980]
4.  The Shining (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1980] DVD ~ Jack Nicholson
The list author says:
  "Stephen King wasn't exactly enamoured with Stan Kubrick's adaptation of his story, but Kubrick was never really a people-pleaser. Great brooding atmosphere and a tour de force Nicholson performance."
Used & New from: £8.53
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (133 customer reviews) | 4 customer discussions
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Dracula [DVD] [1958]
5.  Dracula [DVD] [1958] DVD ~ Peter Cushing
The list author says:
  "Hammer's quintessential Dracula. An abridged version of Stoker's novel. Established Christopher Lee's synonymity with the role in which he's largely regarded as numero uno."
£19.99   Used & New from: £13.99
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
Create your own Listmania! with this product
From Beyond The Grave (1973) [DVD]
6.  From Beyond The Grave (1973) [DVD] DVD ~ Wendy Allnutt
The list author says:
  "I'm a big fan of all the Amicus portmanteau films, but if I had to choose one this would be it. Utterly memorable."
Used & New from: £14.99
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Dead of Night [DVD]
7.  Dead of Night [DVD] DVD ~ Mervyn Johns
The list author says:
  "Ealing Studios' 1945 classic portmanteau. I always thought that there was something a tad sinister about ventriloquist's dummies!"
£5.87   Used & New from: £3.99
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Peeping Tom - Special Edition [DVD] [1960]
8.  Peeping Tom - Special Edition [DVD] [1960] DVD ~ Peeping Tom
The list author says:
  "Michael Powell's controversial psycho-killer shocker. Brilliantly directed. Rediscovered by Scorcese in 1979. A gem."
Used & New from: £5.88
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Dawn Of The Dead [1978] [1979] [DVD]
9.  Dawn Of The Dead [1978] [1979] [DVD] 
The list author says:
  "The "Daddy" of zombie films. Romero's visceral masterpiece still delivers more than 30 years on."
Used & New from: £2.96
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
An American Werewolf in London [Special Edition] [DVD]
10.  An American Werewolf in London [Special Edition] [DVD] DVD ~ David Naughton
The list author says:
  "Landis' black comedy has really stood the test of time (even the SFX remain impressive - pre-CGI, remember?). A homage to British horror film cliches. Spot Rik Mayall in the Slaughtered Lamb!"
£9.99   Used & New from: £0.31
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Halloween (2 Disc Special Edition) [1978] [DVD]
11.  Halloween (2 Disc Special Edition) [1978] [DVD] DVD ~ Donald Pleasence
The list author says:
  "This is more than just a slasher flick - it's the ultimate suburban boogeyman nightmare. Barely a drop of claret spilled but the menacing atmosphere and suspense provide the scares. Simply class!"
Used & New from: £1.96
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (138 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Blood On Satan's Claw [1971] [DVD]
12.  Blood On Satan's Claw [1971] [DVD] DVD ~ Patrick Wymark
The list author says:
  "Beautifully shot occult classic set in 17th-century rural England. If you buy the Tigon coffin boxset, a great audio commentary is provided by 'The League of Gentlemen' team."
Used & New from: £22.74
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Martin - Special Edition [DVD] [1978]
13.  Martin - Special Edition [DVD] [1978] DVD ~ John Amplas
The list author says:
  "Romero's unique take on the vampire legend is a must see. Savini effects, a great cameo from the director and a mature performance from John Amplas turn this low budget sleazefest into a work of art."
£15.99   Used & New from: £9.37
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion
Create your own Listmania! with this product
The Devil Rides Out [DVD]
14.  The Devil Rides Out [DVD] 
The list author says:
  "Superb Hammer Wheatley adaptation. Perhaps the definitive British occult film (in terms of imagery at least). Highly influential."
£5.27   Used & New from: £2.98
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Vampyres [DVD] [1974] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
15.  Vampyres [DVD] [1974] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] DVD ~ Marianne Morris
The list author says:
  "Lesbian vampire lovers bleed a picturesque English village dry. A stunner from Spanish director José Ramón Larraz. You'll just want to watch this again and again."
Used & New from: £8.43
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Skull [DVD] [1965] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
16.  Skull [DVD] [1965] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] DVD ~ Peter Cushing
The list author says:
  "One of Amicus' more creepy films. Peter Cushing plays an obsessive collector of all things occult. Witness his descent into madness after acquiring his most precious objet d'art!"
Used & New from: £3.27
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Shivers [1975] [DVD]
17.  Shivers [1975] [DVD] DVD ~ Paul Hampton
The list author says:
  "Cronenberg's iconic 1975 body horror ain't for the squeamish! Phallic-looking parasites infect the residents of an exclusive apartment block, turning them into sex-crazed predators. Vintage grunge!"
£18.00   Used & New from: £3.49
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion
Create your own Listmania! with this product
City of the Living Dead [DVD] [1980]
18.  City of the Living Dead [DVD] [1980] DVD ~ Christopher George
The list author says:
  "My favourite of Fulci's 'Gates of Hell' trilogy. Evil consumes the town of Dunwich following a priest's suicide. The zombies look great. Schlocky but irresistible."
Used & New from: £20.00
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Let's Scare Jessica to Death [DVD] [2006] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
19.  Let's Scare Jessica to Death [DVD] [2006] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] DVD ~ Zohra Lampert
The list author says:
  "A ghostly vampire torments the mentally unstable eponymous lead, played superbly by Zohra Lampert. Creepy and well paced. Great location stuff and an eerie soundtrack. A masterpiece."
Used & New from: £21.63
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
The Haunting [DVD] [1963]
20.  The Haunting [DVD] [1963] DVD ~ Julie Harris
The list author says:
  "Robert Wise's seminal haunted-house flick. Great use of sound. Just pips Clayton's 1961 chiller 'The Innocents' for me."
Used & New from: £8.98
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Frankenstein [DVD]
21.  Frankenstein [DVD] DVD ~ Colin Clive
The list author says:
  "Possibly the definitive Frankenstein film. Clive and Karloff were only ever seriously challenged by Cushing and Lee in Hammer's 'Curse of Frankenstein'. This has more pathos."
£5.00   Used & New from: £3.01
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Witchfinder General [1968] [DVD]
22.  Witchfinder General [1968] [DVD] 
The list author says:
  "Michael Reeves was a genius director who died far too young. Wonderful location stuff. Price's least hammy performance. Civil War England never looked so good on celluloid."
Used & New from: £2.50
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Suspiria [1976] 2 Disc Special Edition [DVD]
23.  Suspiria [1976] 2 Disc Special Edition [DVD] DVD ~ Jessica Harper
The list author says:
  "Mood, gore and Goblin! The list wouldn't be complete without including at least one Argento. This is the first of his 'The Three Mothers' trilogy films. The eyes at the window still haunt me!"
Used & New from: £5.47
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
See buying options
Create your own Listmania! with this product
The Omen [DVD]
24.  The Omen [DVD] DVD ~ Gregory Peck
The list author says:
  "One of the best mainstream horrors to come out of the 1970s. Great cast, great soundtrack. The sequels are worth watching too."
£17.99   Used & New from: £1.95
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions
Create your own Listmania! with this product
Masque Of The Red Death [DVD]
25.  Masque Of The Red Death [DVD] DVD ~ Hazel Court
The list author says:
  "Roger Corman directs, Vincent Price stars. Adaptation of Poe's story concerning a satanic prince and a masquerade ball. One of the best in Corman's Poe series. Lovely cinematography."
£3.76   Used & New from: £2.48
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
Create your own Listmania! with this product

More Actions

Discover more about this author
› See all of their Listmania! lists
Make your own list
› Create a Listmania! list
View your page on Amazon.co.uk
› Go to Your Profile page

Customer Discussions about products in this list
Discussion Replies Latest Post
Dawn of the Dead [Blu-ray] [1978] forum
dawn of the dead from arrow 		4 17 days ago
The Exorcist [Blu-ray] [1973][Region Free] forum
Swapped Version Reviews 		1 25 Jan 2012
Martin (2 Disc Special Edition) [1977] [DVD] forum
Can horror go too far in depicting certain acts or situations? 		1 13 Dec 2011
Blood On Satan's Claw - Digitally Remastered Widescreen Edition [DVD] [1970] forum
Leagaue of Gentlemen Commentary? 		0 15 Nov 2011
Halloween [1978] [DVD] forum
No New Box Set? 		1 29 Aug 2011
The Shining (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1980] forum
Subtitles 		0 31 Jul 2011
The Exorcist [Blu-ray] [1973][Region Free] forum
what are best looking horror blu ray 		0 1 May 2011
The Exorcist [Blu-ray] [1973][Region Free] forum
Where'd it go? 		0 25 Jan 2011
The Wicker Man [DVD] forum
Subtitles 		1 9 Jan 2011
City of the Living Dead [Blu-ray][Region Free] forum
Subtitles??? 		2 23 Nov 2010
Dead of Night [DVD] forum
They're all dead genre 		1 19 Nov 2010
Dawn of the Dead [Blu-ray] [1978] forum
Region 2 or 0 		0 16 Nov 2010
 
   

About this Listmania!

 

Author
G. J. Hardman "Gav"
(REAL NAME)   
Qualifications: Horror film fan
Last updated: 12/04/2012
Report abuse
    

More Listmania!

 

Want to discover modern horror? Want to discover modern horror?

Want to discover modern horror?: A list of 25 items by "trucidare"

MY DVD WISH LIST MY DVD WISH LIST

MY DVD WISH LIST: A list of 25 items by "grantburns1984"

A list of 21 items you HAVE to own. A list of 21 items you HAVE to own.

A list of 21 items you HAVE to own.: A list of 21 items by Hannah Prince "librarian"

Best Horror Films Best Horror Films

Best Horror Films: A list of 19 items by Athanasios Kotsenos

Great British Films - in no particular order. Great British Films - in no particular order.

Great British Films - in no particular order.: A list of 16 items by Rich Hill