Twenty Classic Horror Films Free on YouTube
A curated collection of unsettling, terrifying, and ghoulishly fun films to put you in the Halloween spirit
It’s remarkable what film-lovers can find on YouTube. In this article, I’ve curated for you twenty classic horror films that should please anyone who loves the genre or cinema. There’s much to be learned about terrifying people by way of cinema if you study them.
These films span five decades of horror on the big screen, ranging from early silent adaptations of gothic novels (the predecessors to the legendary Universal Monsters), some of the first talkie “chillers”, Cold War monster films, campy standards, atmospheric psychological thrillers, and the first (and greatest) flesh-eating zombie film ever made. Hopefully they’re enough to put you in the Halloween spirit.
Enjoy!
(Note: Some of these may be region-locked, depending upon where you are in the world. Apologies if this proves to be the case.)
THE INNOCENTS (1961)
Dir. Jack Clayton
This film, based on Henry James’s THE TURN OF THE SCREW (1898), will terrify the living shit out of you, while showing you almost nothing. It’s a stunningly beautiful restoration, too.
THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (1964)
Dir. Sidney Salkow and Ubaldo B. Ragona
A Richard Matheson novel. Vampires. And Vincent Price. This film, an adaptation of I AM LEGEND (1954), is one every horror should know well.
(I’m unhappy with the quality of this video, but since I posted this article, the original was taken down. I’ve had to replace it with this, my apologies.)
NOSFERATU (1922)
Dir. F.W. Murnau
The grand-pappy of all vampire films, NOSFERATU still oozes evil and darkness from every frame.
20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH (1957)
Dir. Nathan Juran
One of my favorite Ray Harryhausen monster films.
CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962)
Dir. Herk Harvey
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1923)
Dir. Wallace Worsley
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)
Dir. George Romero
Arguably the most important horror film ever made — and not because it single-handedly inspired the world’s 55-year-long love affair with flesh-eating zombies (or “ghouls” as Romero called them). NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD’s race commentary still feels dangerous and accurate today.
THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932)
Dir. James Whale
From the same director as FRANKENSTEIN (1931), THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933), and THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935).
REBECCA (1940)
Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
One of the greatest ghost stories ever told onscreen, as far as I’m concerned.
WHITE ZOMBIE (1932)
Dir. Victor Halperin
WHITE ZOMBIE is the very first “zombie” film, though not the kind of zombies we’re accustomed to today. Voodoo. I love this film. So does Rob Zombie, which is why he named his band White Zombie after it.
HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL
Vincent Price in a William Castle “chiller”. That’s all you need to know about this film. Click on the link, as you have to go directly to YouTube to watch it.
WITCHFINDER GENERAL (1968)
Dir. Michael Reeves
BLACK SUNDAY (1960)
Dir. Mario Bava
This early Mario Bava film oozes atmosphere. Barbara Steele is brilliant and beautiful and terrifying. Its resurrection scene directly inspired the resurrection of my Dracula in the TV series “DRACULA” (2013), which you can read about here.
SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT (1972)
Dir. Theodore Gershuny
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1920)
Dir. John S. Robertson
BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE (1958)
Dir. Henry Cass
EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS (1956)
Dir. Fred F. Sears
Some would argue this isn’t a horror film, but, like Ray Harryhausen’s other monster films of the period, EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS was meant to tap into humankind’s nuclear anxiety during the Cold War and elicit gasps and screams. That’s as much horror as science-fiction to me.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925)
Dir. Rupert Julian
THE UNDYING MONSTER (1942)
Dir. John Brahm
John Brahm directed a handful of horror films during this period I consider classics. If you’ve never watched one of them, start with THE UNDYING MONSTER (though I believe THE LODGER (1944) and, my favorite, HANGOVER SQUARE (1945) — both starring the wonderful Laird Cregar — are superior).
KISS OF THE VAMPIRE (1963)
Dir. Don Sharp
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This is a wonderful collection of horror and thriller movies.
YouTube is the BEST.