I think Mr. Blue Sky’s suggestion of An American Werewolf In London is a great suggestion. I see it as a modern classic, along the lines of Exorcist, Omen, and Hellraiser.
I like your idea, and though I won’t be watching a movie per day, I do plan on renting some lesser known movies (to me) this month. I’ve seen The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari suggested on this board, and plan on renting it. I’ve also wanted to see the reportedly camp The Lair Of The White Worm, since I saw a few scenes from it during another show. Those two are available through Netflix, if you’re interested.
For nostalgia purposes, I’d recommend the Universal Monsters DVD collections that came out a few months ago, as part of the “Van Helsing” merchandising wave.
Each set – Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man – contains ALL the movies that Universal made that revolved around that particular character, as well as trailers, extras, behind the scenes stuff, and loads of fun. Only twenty bucks each, too.
Just wish they’d do a Mummy and Creature version… even though the Creature only got three movies… but the Creature also had Clint Eastwood in the first one, and John Agar in the last one!
Here’s a guilty pleasure from 1964: “Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors”
Five men in a carriage on a train journey are joined by the mysterious Dr Schreck who produces a set of tarot cards and offers to tell the fate that will befall each of them.
Look for Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Donald Sutherland.
When I was a kid, one thing I liked about Halloween was the movies local channels would show around the week of Oct 31st. The thing my friends and really liked about these movies was that they were extremely low-budget - but nobody cared. These are probably not the movies you had in mind but does anyone remember these?
Can’t believe no one has mentioned Poltergeist yet. That movie always really creeped me out! Lots of good recommendations here. Think I’ll go on a renting spree (good thing I work at Blockbuster).
A warning about the 1931 Dracula — it’s very slow and static. After the first twenty or so atmospheric minutes, showing Harker’s visit to Dracula’s castle, it bogs down into a talky drawing room melodrama once we get back to England. I’ve always preferred Hammer’s more lurid 1958 Dracula (known in the USA as Horror of Dracula), with Christopher Lee baring his fangs for nubile Englishwomen.
But I do love the old stuff, and so I recommend on DVD:
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920). One of the first great movies that can be watched on its own merits without having to make concessions for its age. The scene in closeup of Cesar slowly awakening remains eerie today.
Nosferatu (1922), an unauthorized version of Stoker’s Dracula. Full of innovation and filmed on authentic European locations by the masterful director F.W. Murnau.
The Cat and the Canary (1927), the original old dark house comedy-melodrama, with a group of heirs forced to spend the night together. Remade twice, this one is the most fun.
Freaks (1932) uses real circus freaks for its cast, treating them sympathetically, but woe to the non-freak who violates their code of honor . . .
Island of Lost Souls (1933). This adaptation of an H.G. Wells science fiction novel about a mad doctor who converts animals into semi-humans still has the power to creep you out. “Are we not men?”
Bride of Frankenstein (1935), the arch and over the top sequel to the already great Frankenstein, thanks to the black humor of director James Whale and the touching performance of Boris Karloff.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), the Charles Laughton version, is perhaps the epitome of studio-era Hollywood’s capabilities, with medieval Paris recreated on the RKO backlot.
The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941). Old Mr. Scratch tries to tempt the American statesman into corruption. A thinking man’s fantasy, with sexy Simone Simon as the devil’s handmaiden, and Bernard Herrmann’s Oscar-winning score.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947). OK, this isn’t a horror movie at all, just a ghostly love story. But everything about it is first rate, including crusty sea captain Rex Harrison and lovely Gene Tierney in the title roles.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949), Disney’s delightful adaptations of an episode of Kenneth Graham’s The Wind in the Willows, and Washington Irving’s classic short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with country schoolmaster Ichabod Crane being chased by the Headless Horseman through the Hudson Valley one dark night.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) relies on one of the most basic and unsettling themes in science fiction: loss of identity. Punchy direction by Don Siegel.
Night of the Living Dead (1968). After all of the sequels, remakes, and parodies (this year’s Shaun of the Dead), there’s George Romero’s undiminished original, showing how good a low-budget horror movie can be.
Halloween (1978). With each passing year, the original teen slasher movie looks better and better. That theme music alone can send shivers down your spine.
I’d like to recommend several of the understated classics that Val Lewton produced in the 1940s, like Cat People, but they are not yet available on DVD.