Vintage horror movies that will make you fall in love with the 50s to 80s.
Mid-century style isn’t just about decor and architecture, it’s also a lifestyle, and there is a whole culture and art behind it. Back in the 50s to 80s, cinema was a big deal, booming to become the number one source of entertainment, with amazing and talented people acting interesting and engaging characters. One of the most interesting genres back then was horror and vintage horror movies have been influencing art in the present for years.
From Psycho to Pennywise, Dracula and Wolf Man, vintage horror movies don’t disappoint. This spooky October, these are all the vintage horror movies you should be watching (and getting scared of!) this Halloween!
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Based on the real-life Lutz family, living at 112 Ocean Avenue, the site of a grisly mass murder in Long Island, New York, this incredible horror movie scares the viewers with bleeding walls, the glow of a feral animal’s stare, and, of course, a possessed husband on a mission to murder his wife and children. Perfect.
Dead of Night (1945)
This horror anthology is relatively creepy and obscure, telling the tale of the déjà vu had by an architect at a party whose recurring nightmare seems to be bleeding over into reality. Over the course of the night, he and the other party guests, who have all starred in his dream, take turns swapping disturbing and unhinged ghost stories. It all ends as it should, with a plot twist we wouldn’t see coming.
The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick’s all-time critics’ favorite is the ultimate horror film, The Shinning, a masterpiece of horror set in a hotel. Jack Torrance, his family, and his descent into madness is the central focus of this movie and it’s a wild ride from start to finish.
The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter’s extraterrestrial horror movies is easily one of the best interstellar horrors out there, scaring the audience with a shapeshifting alien that goes by simply “The Thing.” It’s a movie that will have you glued to the screen every single time.
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Carnivals can be truly terrifying, especially back in the old days, with black magic, clowns, funhouses that are definitely not fun, and other. As Harper’s Baazar says, the plot focus on how “a woman seemingly drowns, then stumbles out of the river, moves to Utah, and can’t shake a phantom who wants her to dance in the carnival of souls.” Piked your interest?
The Haunting (1963)
If you’re a fan of the incredible Netflix show “The Haunting On Hill House”, then this one is for you. It’s based on the same novel by Shirley Jackson, locking two women in a mansion and watching as they both lose their minds to fear. What better choice for this Halloween?
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Released during the Cold War, this Don Siegle classic focuses on a town whose community is slowly and unassumingly replaced by aliens, and it easily reflects the type of horror that was truly terrifying at the time.
Dracula (1931)
Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi set the aesthetics of Dracula in this 30s movie and catapulted the supernatural genre in American soil with an enchanting performance. Many more vampire and Dracula movies would appear years later but this would definitely still continue to be a classic.
The Wolf Man (1941)
Bushy yak hairs, a fog machine, and a perfected moon howl – that’s how you make a horror movie in the 40s. This was the movie that launched all the werewolf craze and it just so happened to be released two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Still, it’s not a blockbuster classic that you can’t miss watching this Halloween.
Psycho (1960)
Hitchcock and his infamous shower scene starring Janet Leigh completely changed the horror genre with a stunning performance as a movie director, bringing us plot twists and beautiful scares that just look right on the big screen even after so many years.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
This eerie Roman Polanski movies tells the tale of a Manhattan woman who gives birth to Satan’s spawn, quickly turning into a cult movie for many fans. Instead of keeping viewers in the dark, this movie quickly states and showcases the evil, but there is no way to stop it and that’s the scariest thing about it.
Alien (1979)
This classic horror sci-fi blockbuster features Sigourney Weaver in the role of a woman that is a part of a crew of austronauts cruising the deep space, being met with an alien form that isn’t as friendly as one would hope. Many believe this movie set the tone for interstellar horror and we couldn’t agree more. If you’re a fan of sci-fi and are ready to get your spook on this Halloween, this is the movie to watch.
The Exorcist (1973)
Based on the “true”-story possession of a kid named Ronald Hunkeler, movie director William Friedkin brings us the tale of a young girl and the demon that possesses her, successfuly scarring viewers with scandalous scenes that have changed the horror genre for years later.
Halloween (1978)
Originally titled The Babysitter Murders, this incredible horror movie by John Carpenter really took the serial killer horror to a whole other level. With a tiny budget and a whole lot of creativity, he delivered a successful slasher that will forever be the go-to for this spooky Halloween season.
The Innocents (1961)
Jack Clayton’s ghost story completely shatters what tropes of this genre are expected, even today. With interesting and eerie characters, it plays with the viewers’ minds and becomes an obvious choice of a perfect movie to watch this Halloween.
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