Friday, October 14, 2011

Halloween Horror Guide: Part 1 - Dracula Films

        BooOOOOoooo!!  Halloween is coming up so it's time to watch some SCARY movies. I have put together a list of my 31 favourite horror films.  I divided them up into 5 categories WITCH are Dracula, Spirits, Zombies, Psychopaths and Creatures. As the feast of ghouls approaches, I will release each of the SPOOKY parts to this. I hope this is a TREAT to read and that you have a WICKED good time. 
And no, I didn't have someone GHOST-write this.


Dracula Films:


Nosferatu (1922)
At a time when movies were only just beginning, it was natural to use this mysterious new medium to film stories that dealt with the fantastical. And so horror movies felt at home in a dark theatre.  This early silent film about the story of Dracula is memorable due to its overt use of German Expressionism to frame this parasitic portrayal of the Count. In black and white, shadows are used to great effect to mask the horror.


The Horror of Dracula (1958)
The mid-50s saw another rise in sci-fi and horror. After WWII, Nazis were no longer used as the enemies in film. The new threats came from flying saucers and creatures of the night.  Audiences needed levity and so a campier, less serious approach was taken to these genre films. Bringing a lighter tone to the story, Christopher Lee takes his place as one of the most memorable iterations of the Prince of Darkness.  

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Embracing the gothic exaggerations of the 70-year old Nosferatu, and remaining true to the original novel, Francis Ford Coppola tried his hand at Dracula. Loaded with an outstanding cast, most notably Gary Oldman as the Count, Coppola’s version plays with shadows and the fantasy elements to make a well rounded edition of Dracula. Even though the Simpsons parody is more memorable.






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