B&W moviesthat scare.. suggestions

[plan 13]

Can anyone suggest some old black and white movies that are truely scary?

I recently picked up a double DVD featuring "Carnival Of Souls", and "Horror Hotel" (which I'm sure was originally called smething else?). Both of these movies are VERY creepy.... had I seen these as a child I may have lost my mind!

Does anyone know of other titles I should be searching for along these lines. Keep in mind that I'm not talking about the "spoofy" 50's stuff, but true B&W horror that is meant to scare.

[Will]

I recommend the original "Haunting" from the '50s.  Very spooky and scary.  Nothing like that awful remake that came out not too long ago.

[Vermin Boy]

"Night of the Living Dead," all the way. One of the very few films to actually give me nightmares.

Also, call me crazy, but there are some scenes in William Castle's original "House on Haunted Hill" that make me jump every time.

[Apostic]

Dead of Night (1945), the template of the anthology horror movie.  It seems terribly dated now, but it used to scare people silly.  People who can shift their mindsets back to earlier times should check it out.

regards,

Apostic

[BoyScoutKevin]

All good suggestions. And if it is available, I would like to suggest Tod Browning's "Freaks." The scene with the so-called circus freaks crawling through the mud, through the rain, with knifes clenched between their teeth, towards the wounded circus strongman. No blood. No gore. But, it doesn't get much scarier then that. Enjoy

[Andrew]

Will beat me to suggesting the original "Haunting," but also check out "The Thing from Another World" and Fiend Without a Face.  As a child, the latter title had me deathly afraid of any place with abundant straw and I was a farm boy.  Yikes!

Andrew

[Rombles]

Try Tod Browning's Freaks. Really disturbing stuff.

[Gerry]

I can't believe that no one's metioned CURSE OF THE DEMON!

It's the best B&W horror film ever IMO.

[Hairzilla]

Ok...uh, Plan 13, I first saw this B&W movie many months ago and watched it with the thought that it would be an entertaining "B" flick, but it actually turned out to be genuinely eerie. Unfortunately, I can't remember the title. However, I'll try to describe it as best I can in the hopes that Andrew, or someone else, knows the actual name.

It was a movie staring Peter Cushing, who was part of an expedition that set out to find, and prove the existence of, the abominable snowman. The expedition does encounter and kill a yeti, after which the malicious intentions for the use of the creature, alive or dead, are revealed. Sounds like standard "B" fare, right? But wait, there's more! From that point on the team not only face repeated attacks by more than one creature, but strange psycological phenomena also begin happening to the crew as well....

My description isn't doing this movie justice, because I'm trying to provide enough information for someone to come up with the title without actually giving anything away. But the film is very TWILIGHT ZONEish as things play out and, for an old movie, had a moment during the climax that genuinely startled me.

Oh, just to give you a heads up so you won't be disappointed. The actual creatures are never shown even once, just an arm or a shadowy figure here and there. Upon hearing this during an intro to the movie, I immediately thought that it would turn out to be a stupid decision on the part of the filmmakers. Actually though, the fact that you have to imagine the creatures' appearance works to heighten the eerie tone of the film, especially during a segment where Peter Cushing is trying to find words to describe...something... he sees in it's face.

Ok, guys, we need a name!

[Gerry]

It is THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN (1957) a.k.a. THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN OF THE HIMALAYAS.  I recently reviewed if for my web site:

http://www.scifilm.org/reviews/snowman.html


A genuinely scary film.  I'm surprise I forgot to mention it myself.

[Hairzilla]

Yep, Gerry, that is definitely the one! A really good review too which, amazingly enough,  brought up the same thing I did about the decision not to show the creature.

                                                                                                                     Thanks!


...Dang, now I want to see this film again, and no vid store I know has it.

[Gerry]

It's available on DVD with a commentary from writer Nigel Kneale and director Val Guest.  Thanks for your kind words about the review.  Most online retailers should have it.  Not sure about the VHS though.  AMC has played it occasionally as well.