vintage
Special effects may be lacking, but vintage horror films still manage to keep our palms sweating and blood pumping; a look back at retro horror films, stories, books and characters that prove everything is scarier in black and white.
The Summer My Cousin Died. Top Story - March 2021.
The following contains graphic depictions of a violent crime, and may trigger some readers. He was missing for three days and the police never looked for him. It’s hard to know, so many years later, if the police in Philadelphia routinely didn’t look too hard for missing children living in a homeless shelter. Christopher’s fault was that he liked to trade baseball cards, and at the age of 12 still had a friendly, trusting nature. Baseball had a dark underbelly in its trading cards.
By joy ellen sauter5 years ago in Horror
Fire Exit
He didn’t remember paying the cabbie, or getting into the cab, and he certainly didn’t remember giving any instruction to take him to an ornate private members’ club in the heart of Chelsea. It was raining when he alighted, however, and he had no choice but to walk hastily and neatly inside, stepping through swinging gold doors and nodding in greeting at the austere doorman stood serene and sentinel, his epaulettes gleaming and his moustache shining almost as much. Barclay touched a hand almost self-consciously to his own – it had taken him months to achieve a satisfactory waxed effect, and he was sure his valet had been sniggering behind his back about the supreme efforts it had necessitated.
By Chloe de Lullington5 years ago in Horror
A Filmmaker's Review: "The Invisible Man" (1933)
I think we can all agree that Claude Rains is an incredible actor with buckets full of talent. For a man of his era, he was extremely forward in the world of acting - it was no longer that Vaudevillian stuff but instead, Rains went for a more realistic approach based in the novel's actual character rather than someone who was made more for theatre than film. A film made in the era of the Hayes' Code meant that the punishment of the 'bad guy' was necessary to its release and was done pretty well to be honest. A clever and subtle ending done through atmosphere made for perfect tension. The story stayed in sufficiency, close to the story put forward by HG Wells.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Horror
MANOS
In 1966 an El Paso fertilizer salesman by the name of Hal Warren decided to make a feature film. after raising $19,000 (approximately $125,000 in 2020 money) Hal wrote a script, got a cast, acquired props, found filming locations, and a soundless, wind-up camera & film! Hollywood was within his grasp.
By Tony Trombo5 years ago in Horror
Haunted doll that is creepier than Annabelle
A Haunted doll? In 2014, I found a cloth rag doll at a thrift store one evening and decided to give it to my 3-year-old granddaughter, Jayla. The doll was in fair condition and had a few faded spots. She was wearing a long dress that looked like something out of the Antebellum era, and I visualized a little girl running through the yard playing with her.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Horror
All Good Things Must Come to an End
One hundred and thirty miles per hour. Just me, my fiancee, my Model J, and highway for miles. Pure serenity. The gas light blinking in my dashboard is the only deterrent from cruising at full speed. On my left is a haze of greenery. On my right is my beautiful fiancee; the way the sun hits her jade green eyes brings back sweet childhood memories of soccer fields and freshwater. Her long blonde hair flutters in the wind leaving a light flowery scent behind. There isn’t a place or a person I want to be with more. Other than the bloody hotel room--if only it wasn’t so far away. We’ve been eagerly awaiting a vacation like this; even if it’s only for a weekend. Bright hot sun and sandy beaches. I love places like Florida. Everyone always seems to be having fun no matter where you go. At the moment, though, I’m just glad to be on the road. I look over to my future bride with wonder. Everytime I see her face it reminds me of the first time I saw her. So full of life and wonder. Always able to disable a situation with her jokes. She knows what’s up and always has. This time, I gave her a hopeful smile. One that says, I love you and I’m glad you’re next to me. We have that kind of connection. I can just look at her and know what she’s thinking or what she’s about to say. She knows I’m at peace--which is why she fights through all the dramamine. She’s well equipped nonetheless. With her water bottle and paper bag at the ready, she’s a true car-sick trooper.
By Jeremie Thorpe6 years ago in Horror
A Tale of Two Graveyards
This is a post about the history behind a notable tomb in one of New Orleans' "cities of the dead" and two voyages on the same ship. I love the America's Historical Newspapers (Louisiana State Package) database and I fond out this shivery piece of family history via a newspaper article I found on that database I just HAD to share.
By Caitlin Cooper6 years ago in Horror
'Onibaba' (1964) Review
Onibaba (1964). Abstract, disturbing, and rich in subtext. Takes the classic ghost story narrative and adds layers of depth and nuance. Two women fight for survival by killing unaware Samurai and selling their clothes for food. However their quiet monotonous struggle is rocked by an affair with a returning soldier and an unexpected meeting with a mysterious masked Samurai. Written and Directed by Kaneto Shinido, a member of the loosely termed ‘Japanese New Wave’, Onibaba rocked the film world for its provocative nudity, liberal approach to sexuality, and its dark, disturbing horror steeped in spirituality. Originally going unreleased in British cinemas and causing a storm with censors, it was only after being re-cut four years later did it finally reach British audiences. Shinido forgets the jump scare and choses to instil a sense of dread, lodging itself in the mind of the audience long after the credits have rolled.
By Conor Crooks6 years ago in Horror
