# What old horror movie should my friends and I watch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541 "2013-12-31T04:17:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chancetx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@chancetx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chancetx)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/21 "2013-12-31T11:51:48Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve narrowed it down to a shortlist: “Let’s Scare Jessica to Death”, “Burnt Offerings”, “It’s Alive!” or the original “The Crazies.” What’s the Teeming Millions advice? Which of these would you pick - or can you suggest anything else? I love “Burnt Offerings” but it’s kind of a slow-burn and might be a bit dull for a viewing party. Ditto “…Jessica…” “It’s Alive” or “The Crazies” might be better for a group. Or what about “The Car” with James Brolin? A preposterous “Jaws” ripoff (!) about a possessed sedan. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/22 "2013-12-31T13:58:29Z")
[Spider Baby](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058606/) - really bizarre, demented movie about really bizarre, demented people. Starring Sid Haig; can’t really go wrong there, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/23 "2013-12-31T14:19:35Z")
[Freaks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freaks) is just as unsettling today as it was in 1932. “We accept her, one of us! One of us!” ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/24 "2013-12-31T14:29:26Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > [The Frogs.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frogs_%28film%29) A few years ago someone gave me this stinkeroo on DVD. It is gloriously campy and bends the needle on the goofy meter. If you wish to go even further back, and aviod all the gore, it’s hard to beat “The Giant Claw” or even “Plan 9 from Outer Space.” These movies make fun of themselves. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/25 "2013-12-31T14:55:30Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > [trailer for Black Sunday](http://youtu.be/1Q5nV12AgVc). > > Scary for its era, but awesome for all time for the actors’ ability to committ so sincerely to such hoary material. The whole movie, also known as Mask of Satan or Mask of the Demon. https://www.youtube.com/embed/GrJmM1kj584?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/26 "2013-12-31T14:57:55Z")
> [@Einstein\_was\_a\_Hippie](#): > > The original Tales From the Crypt from around 1973. Followed a year or two later by Vault of Horror, both from Amicus, I believe. Definitely not Hammer, tho TFTC does have Peter Cushing. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/27 "2013-12-31T15:01:00Z")
_The Creeping Terror_ or _Ed Wood_ ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/28 "2013-12-31T16:08:05Z")
I vote for “Phantasm”. Not your typical horror film, and sticks out in my mind as one that really spooked me when I first saw it (college days). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/29 "2013-12-31T16:14:37Z")
Not really in the OP’s timeframe, but I think [The Tingler](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053363/) is worthy of consideration. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/30 "2013-12-31T16:53:15Z")
> [@cormac262](#): > > I vote for “Phantasm”. > Not your typical horror film, and sticks out in my mind as one that really spooked me when I first saw it (college days). That’s the one I was going to mention. I remember seeing Phantasm at the drive-in back in the late 70’s or so. Also another vote for Trilogy of Terror. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/31 "2013-12-31T17:02:13Z")
Of the titles mentioned in the OP, my vote would be for “Let’s Scare Jessica to Death.” Some other choices you might consider: “House on the Edge of the Park” from I think the late 70s or early 80s; for a slow buildup of suspense and dread, the original 60s version of “The Haunting” is great, but it seems like you might be looking for something maybe a bit cheesier and less well-known. If you can track down any of the “Coffin Joe” movies like “At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul,” that might be a good choice, as would pretty much anything by Fulci, especially “Zombie” (also called Zombi 2) from '79. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/32 "2013-12-31T17:14:53Z")
Village of the Damned (1960 film) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/33 "2013-12-31T17:19:35Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > _Re-Animator_? All I remember is the exploding head. \*\*Re-Animator \*\*is an awesome \*awesome \*horror movie, with scares and laughs and gross-outs. It does have a very lecherous head, but I think the exploding head you referred to probably is from **Scanners**. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/34 "2013-12-31T17:23:27Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > Of the titles mentioned in the OP, my vote would be for “Let’s Scare Jessica to Death.” Agreed. Slow, yes - but intriguingly weird if I am recalling correctly. Howabout **The Legend of Hell House**? I have a soft spot for that one, with Roddy McDowell and whatsherface from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Or, y’know, you can just watch the **The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie** - it has a fascist in it :D. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/35 "2013-12-31T17:36:37Z")
How about the original silent version of _Nosferatu_? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/36 "2013-12-31T17:48:34Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > \*\*Re-Animator \*\*is an awesome \*awesome \*horror movie, with scares and laughs and gross-outs. It does have a very lecherous head, but I think the exploding head you referred to probably is from **Scanners**. Of course. :smack: Another good one from the 70’s is _They Came from Within_ – I think we saw it at the drive-in on a triple bill with _Rabid_ and _The Brood_. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/37 "2013-12-31T18:08:31Z")
I’m going to violate the rules and suggest a very old but very fun horror movie from the 30’s (one to which I have what might be an obvious admiration): The Old Dark House (original 1932 version please). I have no idea if it’s available on any streaming service or anything, but if you can find it, I think it’s perfect for a group viewing party. The family living in the house has characters that are campy now but were creepy at the time, plus Karloff as the butler. The innocent visitors include Melvyn Douglas, Raymond Massey, Charles Laughton and Gloria Stuart. Don’t forget to look for my namesake! (not Sir) Roderick Femm ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/38 "2013-12-31T19:17:13Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Agreed. Slow, yes - but intriguingly weird if I am recalling correctly. > > Howabout **The Legend of Hell House**? I have a soft spot for that one, with Roddy McDowell and whatsherface from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. > > Or, y’know, you can just watch the **The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie** - it has a fascist in it :D. I’d always heard about _Jessica_, so was really looking forward to it. And although I appreciated it stylistically, it bored me silly. Perhaps I need to watch it again. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/39 "2013-12-31T19:39:59Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Village of the Damned (1960 film) Good one. It’s very short also if anyone is easily bored. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541/40 "2013-12-31T19:48:06Z")
> **[Blood Feast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Feast)** > > Blood Feast is a 1963 American splatter film. It was composed, shot, and directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis, written by Allison Louise Downe from an idea by Lewis and David F. Freidman, and stars Mal Arnold, William Kerwin, Connie Mason, and Lyn Bolton. The plot focuses on a psychopathic food caterer named Fuad Ramses (Arnold) who kills women so that he can include their body parts in his meals and perform sacrifices to his "Egyptian goddess" Ishtar. > Blood Feast is considered the first splatte... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-horror-movie-should-my-friends-and-i-watch/677541.md?page=3)