Halloween Horror Pictures by Susan Granger
This is the most popular time of year for the horror genre, which scares us by manipulating our emotions. And the best horror films are those that rely on suggestion, rather than on-screen violence.
Looking back into early Hollywood history, here are some of the best:
“The Phantom of the Opera” (1925), the highpoint of silent horror, starring Lon Chaney.
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1932), Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale, starring Fredric March.
“Freaks” (1932) Tod Browning’s carnival performers wreak vengeance on a lovely acrobat.
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939), starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara.
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1941), starring Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner.
“Cat People” (1943), starring Simone Simon (forget the 1982 remake with Malcolm McDowell).
“The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1945) with George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed and Angela Lansbury.
“Them!” (1954) David Moreau’s home invasion with Oscar-nominated special effects.
“The Bad Seed” (1956), starring Nancy Kelly, Eileen Heckart and Patty McCormack.
“Psycho” (1960), Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins.
“The Haunting” (1963), starring Julie Harris and based on Shirley Jackson’s novel.
“Night of the Living Dead” (1968), George Romero’s classic.
“Rosemary’s Baby” (1968), Roman Polanski’s gem with Mia Farrow.
“The Exorcist” (1973), William Friedkin’s introduction of Linda Blair as the possessed girl.
“Carrie” (1976), Brian DePalma cast Sissy Spacek as the telekinetic teen.
“Halloween” (1978), John Carpenter’s starter of legend of homicidal Michael Myers.
“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991), starring Anthony Hopkins, the only horror picture to win an Oscar.
“Get Out” (2017), Jordan Peele’s horror picture that won a Best Original Screenplay Oscar.