Halloween is coming next month, it may not be soon, but it certainly is coming. So, why not use this time to look into the early classic horror films that we are still building off of today.
I’m sure we are all familiar with names like Dracula, Frankenstein, or the Wolfman. But have you ever watched the originals? I don’t mean watch a couple of pieces or text you boyfriend/girlfriend during the whole thing. I mean have you actually sat down and watched the entire film? If not, you need to do that for sure. No I don’t expect you to be scared of the movie nor do I expect you to be amazed at its special effects. They are cheesy and sometimes humorous in their most serious moments. However, look at this from the perspective of the era it was made in, and you will see the true art and value of these films.
Yes, this trailer can feel comical and you may not even find Bela Lugosi to be that scary as Dracula. However, picture yourself waiting at a bus stop at night with nobody around except that guy standing there staring at you... I’m not going to lie I'd probably scream like a little girl. Bela Lugosi was infamous for playing a creepy fellow, and back in the day he did a fantastic job. Its silly looking when he turns into a little rubber bat on strings, but during this movie's popularity the special effects were out of this world and people were stunned.
Did you ever watch the old cartoon version of the Grinch? You remember the narrator? That’s this guy! Boris Karloff. The man was just naturally creepy, he was tall, lanky, and had a gaunt face. He also played as the original Frankenstein monster. If you say that you are not disturbed by him in this movie...then you’re lying. Boris Karloff was legendary on screen because he looked so natural playing his parts. He knew exactly what the director was looking for in his emotions and mannerisms including his very distinctive voice.
The original Wolfman! If you cannot bring yourself to watch this movie, you should probably seek psychiatric help. The main star of this film is none other than the infamous Lon Chaney Jr. This guy is the son of a legend. His father Lon Chaney was known as the man of a thousand faces. He was responsible for the roles of many creepy characters back in the days of silent films. Now his son got into acting and is very well known mainly for his character... the wolfman!
To sum up this post up, you gotta check these out! These mentioned films are just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to watch these but can’t find them or don’t want to buy them, check your local library. It is very likely they will have these available along with countless other classic horror titles. In the next few days I'm planning on making some more posts on more of these horror classics so check back in if you are interested. In the meantime, I will leave you with this creepy picture of Boris Karloff... try going to sleep at night thinking about this picture...
