Classic Horror Movies That Started The Trends
Scary stories are something that’s been with us for as long as time can remember. For some reason, people have always enjoyed getting a little scared, and whether it be horror movies, ghost stories around a campfire or the chilling books by authors like Stephen King, there’s something perversely satisfying about getting a fright.
Of course when it comes to films, the genre is wide and diverse, with horrors ranging from the wacky and silly, to gory blood feasts, to psychological thrillers and so much more.
It is very difficult to compare horror movies because they can be so diverse. After all you can hardly compare The Nightmare on Elm Street with a movie like Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, other than the fact that both may give you a fright. However the following five films are the best examples of different classic horror genres, and are also responsible for inspiring thousands of other films over the years.
In 1960 the one and only Alfred Hitchcock introduced us to Norman Bates and the Bates Motel in Psycho. This masterpiece, with Anthony Perkins in the role of Norman, continues to stand the test of time. It many not be the scandalous movie it was in 1960, but it is still one of the most tense and nerve-wracking experiences you will have while watching a movie. The famous shower scene with Janet Leigh is perhaps the most iconic on-screen kill of all time.
In 1973 The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin and starring Ellen Burstyn, Max Von Sydow and Linda Blair, hit the screens and scared the world like never before. This was the movie that caused many sleepless nights for its audience, as the scary story of a young girl, played by Blair, is possessed by a demon, and we follow the story of the priests who try to exorcise the demon out of her. It is still as disturbing today, and should not be watched alone, unless you are very brave.
While not the most traditional of all horror movies, there is no doubt that Steven Spielberg’s Jaws scared more people out of swimming in the sea than anything before it. It also inspired hundreds of other movies with a similar story, of a real life creature demonizing ordinary people. Still to this day almost four decades later, humming a few bars of the theme at the beach will scare enough people to believe a shark is nearby.
When it comes to the slasher horror movies, Halloween is perhaps the pinnacle of this sub-genre. Yes, Michael Myers has competition from Friday the Thirteenth’s Jason or Wes Craven’s Nightmarish Freddie Kruger, but John Carpenter’s classic 1978 blockbuster was definitely the best. Carpenter is another fantastic director in this genre, having also made classics like The Fog and The Thing, but Halloween also had great performances from Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance.
Finally, and to show Steven Spielberg’s influence on horror movies, is a movie produced by him, and directed by Toby Hooper, the one and only Poltergeist. Released in 1982, the film revolves around a haunted home, and the family these ghosts decide to terrorize, eventually even taking the youngest child, memorably into the television set. Leading the cast were Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams.
Need to catch up on horror movies starring your favourite actors? Fright Flicks has a variety of free movies to choose from with new arrivals coming in daily. From zombie movies to thrillers, you will find films perfect for you.
