Saturday 30 October 2010

HALLOWEEN HORROR FILM WEEKEND pt.1

It's Halloween weekend and I am away from home in rather un-halloweeny circumstances. But at least I will be wearing a black dress... (Uuuuh, spooky). So I thought I'd get us all in the Halloween mood with some good ol' horror movies!

I am a big fan of horror movies. In fact, I have most likely watched too many. I can still bear being home a lone as long as I have the safety lock on (although I do freeze for a moment if the cats react to some sounds in the staircase). But I can't drive out to Eddi's farm on the un-lit winding roads trough the dark (we're talking really dark) woods and mist filled fields without being sure I'll catch a zombie in my headlights at some point. (Or then I just think of Twin Peaks and Bob!). And it freaks me out that Eddi does not lock the door there at night. (Of course, he is not aware of all the serial killers running around in the world as he is sure the area is only full on southwest Finnish farmers.) And you can of course imagine what I come up with when I'm on the night shift and the last ones to leave our part of the harbor, with the dark warehouse and long corridors in the building. I have totally mind fucked myself. But I can't stop watching.

Old horror films however brings up a different kind of scary and do not play a part in the fact that I might hurry a little on my last steps out of a dark room. Films from back in the days may not come out as frightening as the horror movies of today are or freak us out in the dame way, the elements of fear are in most cases more subtle and less raw than those of today. But the old films do create an ambience of spookiness and haunting darkness that I love, especially silent films. And the scariest vampire of all time is of course Nosferatu.

Here are some classics to get you in a Halloween mood:


Robert Wiene's Dr.Caligari, 1920

F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu, 1922

Tod Browning's Freaks, 1932


At least the two first ones can be sen as a whole on youtube.

8 comments:

MothMouth said...

It's so odd how Freaks seems to be quite unknown amongst horror fans, it's one of the best films I've ever seen! I simply adore all those old horror films, none of the films of today can reach on the same level in visual beauty and dark atmosphere ♥

Fiona Timantti said...

Dr.Caligari and Nosferatu <3

BaronessVonVintage said...

I agree completely about silent films and their more subtle fear factor. Dr. Caligari and Nosferatu still freak me out every time.

Pandora said...

Freaks is my all time favorite. Love it!

One of us, Gooble Gobble

Jenni said...

I'm so excited you posted about these movies! I love Freaks and Caligari, and I have Nosferatu on my list of movies to watch before the month is over. Such good films--not so much out-and-out scary and they are unsettling and creepy. They really set a mood.

Hep~Kitten said...

I love horror films nosferatu is one of my favorites he's just so creep looking and Freaks is a great one to.
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Maja said...

I can watch the two first without beeing too scared even though Nosferatu is scaring as hell... but Freaks oh lord! I watched it a few years back at a local cinemathing and I didn't dare to close my eyes all night because those poor creatures are so uhhhh...
Happy halloween ;)

Mei-li said...

aaaa caligari so cool I saw it in school we studied the german cinéma !! great !