Top Five Spooky CLASSIC Films

In continuation with my three part series of spooky flicks, I chose five classic films that I feel are bone chilling. It was hard to pick five, honestly there are so many classic films that could have made the list. But I chose them because they either make me think, make me feel, or make me cringe in horror!

What classic films have you found to be the spookiest and why?

Freaks (1932) is the kind of film that could NEVER and I mean NEVER be made today. People are more accepting and sympathetic to those with disabilities and deformities, but worse of all-we are just too politically correct. With that said, I think Tod Browning did a beautiful job with this films. He didn't disrespect any of the people involved or depict them in a lesser light. 

To me, he let them shine and show the world that yeah they make look like freaks but they are inside just like everyone else. And the lesson to be learned in this film is that "don't judge a book by its cover". The woman who is physically the most attractive may be the one with the darkest heart. I spotlighted this film in July of 2011, and you can read more about it here.

What a treat The Invisible Man (1933) was to watch! Starring Claude Rains as Dr. Jack Griffin (the invisible man), Gloria Stuart as Flora, William Harrigan as Dr. Arthur Kemp, and Henry Travers as Dr. Cranley/Flora's father.

Dr. Jack Griffin's experiments have gone wrong and he has been made to be invisible. He has disappeared suddenly and Flora longs to find him and know that he is alright. Dr. Cranley and Dr. Kemp discover the one of the ingredients that Griffin used in his experiments and grow concerned. Cranley informs Kemp that use of that drug and a person will be driven mad.

Griffin rents a room in a pub and attempts to continue his experiments and slowly you see (no pun intended) his mind deteriorate. There is a scene between Griffin and Kemp that gave me the shivers-a threat was given and the look on Kemp's face was sheer terror. Griffin goes on a rampage and it all ends tragically but not without a powerful lesson learned. 

Frankenstein is a masterpiece. I mean, you know it is and it is for a reason. It is the second film based on the Mary Shelley novel that was written in 1818. The first was made in 1910 and it was a box office flop.

This version stars the talented Boris Karloff as the Frankenstein monster. I know he is a monster but after seeing this film and its sequel, The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), I feel as though if he were given a chance he could have been much more. 

Being a creation from parts of other humans and pieced together by the mad and equally passionate, Henry Frankenstein (played by the fantastic Colin Clive), of course it is assumed that this creature is a monster. But there were a few moments in both this film and in "The Bride of Frankenstein" where you can see that he had potential-as we all do-to be good people and do good things.

All the icon scenes lived up to its fame, the scene where Henry says, "He's alive! Alive!" oh man-chills went up and down my spine! If you  love spooky tales, I say this one is must to see. There is also a third film called Son of Frankenstein (1939) in which Karloff reprises his role as the creature but it was to be his last time doing so. I have yet to see it but will try to soon especially since it is available on Netflix right now.

I know Rebecca (1940) is more of a thriller than a horror but this movie just freaks me out every time I see it. Actually I hope to add it to my small collection of Classic movies on dvd but I want to be able to see it again and again. I hope one day to read the novel by Daphne Du Maurier.

I spotlighted this film last October and you can read my review in more detail here. and I had to include it in my list because seriously, can you imagine falling in love with an amazing man only to be told you would be living in the home that his first wife lived in before she died. I mean to make matters worse, everywhere the young bride looks there are reminders of her husband's first wife. 

I can only imagine the terror, fear, anxiety, and hopefulness a young bride has but to walk into a situation where she could possible just be a replacement or worse. Its stars Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier, and they play their roles in such a way that makes you feel as though not only is the Manderly house haunted but they may be haunted as well.

Imagine being told that you shouldn't sleep. That you could never sleep unless you want to stay alive. Good grief! I think I would weep terribly if someone told me that! I like my sleep gosh darnit!

Well, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) not only tells you that you shouldn't sleep but that aliens are taking over humanity by using pods!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh yes it really is scary! Sheesh! It's bad enough that you will never be able to rest but if you do you will become one of many pod people taking over for world domination! Okay, I know I am sounded dramatic but this movie does scare me.

I spotlighted this films as well in October of last year because it really is one of my favorite spooky films. You can read my spotlight here. Thank goodness there is a happy ending! When I first saw this film I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time. My grandma was worried that I was getting stressed out, but the end rocks! I love me a good and happy ending!

I hope you enjoyed Volume Two of my Spooky Flicks lists. Volume Three will be out tomorrow-just in time for All Hallows' Eve!

xox