Amanda Norman
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What is Classic Horror?
You might have read that my photography and jewellery is inspired by my love of Classic Horror, but what is my definition of classic horror?
Simply put….
‘Classic horror are the films of yesterday that today still stand the test of time. No CGI, just music, lighting effects and a good story that together builds a powerful atmosphere that you won’t forget’.
I’ve done quite a few posts featuring my favourite classic horror movies and below is my list of classics that should never be forgotten and by no means is this list complete. I’m sure you will add yours.
It worries me when Hollywood and the like make re-makes for the younger generations with all of their CGI and 3D technology that the originals will never want to be watched by future generations. This is one of my reasons why I fully support Richard Gladman’s Classic Horror Campaign and I highly recommend that if you’re a fan of classic horror, you visit the campaign’s website and show your support. Click here for Classic Horror Campaign and look out for future double bill events coming your way and you can then join in on the fun.
Where I’ve wrote about my favourite movies in the past, they will link up to the relevant post for further reading.
This list isn’t in order of preference and feel free to add your thoughts and favourites.
Halloween
John Carpenter’s 1978 film starring Donald Pleasence and Jamie Curtis is one film that scared me simply because Carpenter created a monster called Michael that would never die. What was Michael hiding behind that mask of his?
It’s an all time classic as the music was spooky and eerie and you can’t tell me that you never jumped once when feeling compassion for Jamie’s character, hoping that she will survive. The original version of Halloween is a classic and I would be extremely disappointed if future generations only got to see the sequels.
Exorcist
Absolutely shocking and damn right scary for it’s time. Heads spinning, green puke, scary eyes and OMG that voice that you will never forget!
I can’t believe that I advised my daughter who was 19 at the time to watch this movie and she came back telling me that her and friends couldn’t stop laughing at it and that it was rubbish. OMG! What does this say about generations younger than me?
Cujo
Awwwww, what a cute little puppy….
Is something you won’t say in this film.
The little boy in this film made it for me. Remember when he was having that asthma attack and they’re trapped in the car by the rabid St Bernard that’s drooling down the windscreen just waiting to rip them to shreds? Click here for previous post titled ‘Horror No Go Zone’ for a video clip.
Salem’s Lot
‘You’ll enjoy Mr Barlow and he will enjoy you’.
I’ve wrote so much about this vampire movie made for television that I’m simply going to list the posts that feature Salem’s Lot.
The Legend of Hell House
Again, the music, the settings and that horrid black cat really make this movie an all time classic horror.
So, it’s now up to you to share your favourite classic horror movie and why.
Fantasy Horror Double Bill
As you may or may not know, I’m a huge supporter of @cyberschizoid’s campaign to bring back classic horror to BBC2 and therefore and with great pleasure, I announce my fantasy horror double bill.
Right, I bet you’re thinking I will be picking at least one Hammer Horror movie, but you’re wrong. I think it’s really important to highlight two of the greatest British horror movies that I think future generations should get to see.
So, let’s begin with…
Psychomania (1973)
Tom Latham enjoys riding his motorcycle with his girlfriend and loves his mother dearly, but Tom is no ordinary fellow, he is the leader of a violent, occult motorcycle gang appropriately titled “The Living Dead”. His mother and her sinister butler get their kicks out of holding séances in their home. Through her and following in his father’s footsteps, Tom makes a pact with the devil to return from the dead. One by one, he and his fellow bikers commit suicide with the goal of returning as one of the “undead”. Not all succeed. The ones who do gather together at a secret place called “The Seven Witches”, which refers to a circle of standing stones, after which they continue to terrorize the locals.
This was one of the last films of George Sanders, who committed suicide soon after making this film, in April 1972. Ref: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychomania
Psychomania made a lasting impression on me and it’s another film that inspires my Gothic and horror photography. Who can forget those scenes where the bikers ride through the mist, weaving in and out of those stones?
Every time I see a solitary stone or a stone circle, I get a chill thinking that they were once living people who have been cursed and turned to stone for an eternity. What magic went on in these places?
It’s a fantastic film and if you’re into your classic British motorbikes, you’re in for a real treat.
To complete my double bill, sit back, turn the lights out and be prepared for..
Legend of Hell House (1973)
Absolutely one of my favourite horror movies of all time and most definitely a film that inspires my photography today. The shots outside of the Gothic mansion silhouetted against the mist and the black cat are totally awe inspiring, as they fill me with dread and fear of what is to come if you enter the most haunted house in England, and enter they do.
I’ve already written a full review of this movie, which can be read by clicking here.
Please tweet about this post and do your bit to raise awareness for the campaign and if you haven’t signed the petition yet, please do so by clicking here.
If you have a horror blog, why not write about your fantasy Horror Double Bill and let @cyberschizoid know about it on Twitter. Please tag it with #FantasyHorrorDoubleBill
Check out A M Esmonde fantasy horror double bill by clicking here.
The Legend of Hell House
FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR SANITY, PRAY IT ISN’T TRUE!
What an amazing scary film from 1973 starring Roddy McDowell and Pamela Franklin and directed by John Hough.
An annoying ginger haired physicist played by Lionel Barrett is enlisted by an eccentric millionaire to investigate ‘survival after death‘ in the ‘Mount Everest of haunted houses’, which is Belasco House. Accompanying the sceptical Barrett is his sexy wife, lord knows how he managed to catch her, and two mediums. One of these mediums, (Roddy McDowell) is returning after being the only sole survivor of an earlier investigation.
The Belasco house was the scene of debauchery and murder and this investigative team are about to find out how dangerous it really is. The annoying physicist certainly finds out that that there isn’t an answer for everything. How many will survive?
When we remember the great non gore horror films, lots of us tend to mention Universal Horror, American International Pictures, Hammer Horror and even RKO, but we forget about this gem of Horror, which totally freaked me out as a teenager.
From the start, the imagery and the music set the tone of the film. Do you remember that eerie like bongo music and then seeing the Belasco House shrouded in mist behind those black wrought iron gates?
How many of you remember the possessed black cat that attacks the female medium? When I was watching this film last night (lost count of how many times I’ve watched it), during the attack scene and the wailing cat noises as the medium rips the claws off her skin and throws the cat across the room, my identical black cat sprang up on the back of the couch looking alarmed and I can tell you that I must have looked alarmed as well. Each time she threw the cat, it came back for more until she locked herself in the bathroom.
The same medium eventually succumbs to the spirit that is haunting her and she offers her body in the hope that the spirit will go to heaven. We all knew that she was being fooled and the woman who played her was fantastic, especially when she turned around and started laughing hysterically. Her face was deranged and scary.
How did Roddy McDowel’s character resist the forward desires of the annoying physicist?
This is a great film and there is lots of freaky stuff happening in this film to keep you entertained.
While looking up information, I found out that this is one of only two productions of James H Nicholson after his departure from American International Pictures. I also found out that the Blasco house does exist and it is called ‘Wykehurst Place’, a Gothic revival mansion in Bolney, West Sussex. It was designed in 1871. This is a mansion that I have to visit and take photographs of as it is beautiful and haunting.