Horror Classics
The Fundamental Attraction Of Horror
Fear is part of the fundamental core of human existence, as connected to the basic functions of survival and the psyche as the survival instinct or the need to mate. Fear and anxiety, therefore, are among the staples of any genre that deems itself fit to entertain the masses, an art form to be mastered in the hands of a true artiste. Fear, dread, and anxiety are all integral components of any successful horror story, for example, but not everyone who writes horror manages to get the mix of the important elements — pacing, plot, and characterization — all of which must be just right to create a classic that will frighten generations long after the first copy was printed. There are a few that manage to accomplish the difficult feat of being eternal in their horror and long-lasting in their ability to turn anxiety into outright terror.
Edgar Allan Poe, author of “Annabel Lee” and “The Fall of the House of Usher”, is easily recognized as one of the foremost masters of horror and the macabre. His works have inspired terror and anxiety in many individuals, primarily through the use of heavy psychological tones, as opposed to the gore and blood themes used and abused by writers of his time. Poe’s collected works easily counts as some of the most frightening material ever written, especially now, in an age where horror movies are relegated to two hours of bloodshed and senseless violence, lacking any true horror and relying solely on shock value to appear “scary.” Poe also stands out as being among the few who can make even the most mundane things seem utterly terrifying, a feat emulated by Stephen King and several Japanese horror authors, but never truly duplicated.
In a completely different vein of horror from his predecessors, and arguably creating a sub-genre of horror through his works, H. P. Lovecraft also stands out. His works, while lacking in humanity, are difficult to see as anything but terrifying, particularly because of the apparent lack of humanity in them. In contrast to writers of previous generations, Lovecraft focused more on the truly monstrous, ignoring the human element that most horror writers tended to insert into their works since the days of the Gothic era. His stories were littered with monsters that knew neither morality nor mercy, seeing humanity as insignificant insects and, in Lovecraft’s malignant world of ancient races and Elder Gods, humanity was insignificant. He also brought back something from the Gothic horror era, showing his readers that knowledge, even just a little knowledge, can lead to the most terrifying of discoveries. This is perhaps best exemplified by the so-called “Cthulhu Mythos,” a collection of stories that centered around Lovecraft’s anti-mythological beings.
Among the most enduring horror classics in the world is that of Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” which combines the elements of horror with the intrinsic questions that plagued morality and philosophy at the time. In some ways, the story is one that puts a new spin on the old ghost story, in that the “ghost” is inevitably caused by the actions of mortal men who meddled in things they were not meant to. The story, aside from being a genuine tale of terror, also took on the role of a lesson in morality and the limits to just how far medical science could go. Prolonging life is one thing, but bringing back the dead is another thing entirely, which is one of the subtle messages of the novel. The underlying question of whether or not Frankenstein’s creature is the monster, or if it is Frankenstein himself, also contributes to making the story a memorable, chilling tale.
However, very few stories can truly stand up against the pure terror and the subtle anxiety and dread caused by Bram Stoker’s infamous novel, “Dracula.” The novel is a hallmark of the Gothic horror era, presenting a villain of potentially epic scope in the guise of a remarkable gentleman and nobleman. It deviated from other vampire stories of the time in that the vampire, Dracula, was not monstrous in appearance. He looked every inch a master and nobleman, establishing the “lord of the night” archetype that would be a stock image of vampire characters in literature for centuries to come. It also had all the elements necessary to both frighten readers and keep them coming back for more, marking it as the most enduring horror novel in history.
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13 Obscure Horror Classics (Part 1)
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THE WOLF MAN DVD 1941 HORROR CLASSIC MOVIE LON CHANEY WOLFMAN $8.87 |
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HORROR CLASSICS – VOLUME 9 – NEW DVD BOXSET $8.22 |
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HORROR CLASSICS – VOLUME 9 – NEW DVD BOXSET $5.22 |
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HORROR CLASSICS – RING OF TERROR/ THE GHOST/ NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD/ – NEW DVD $1.50 |
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HORROR CLASSICS – RING OF TERROR/ THE GHOST/ NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD/ – NEW DVD $4.50 |
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famous monsters buttons poster classic vintage horror dracula frankenstein mummy $13.00 |
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LOT 75 DVDS NEWER TITLES CLASSIC HORROR ACTION TIMES STEVEN SEAGAL COLLECTION $51.00 |
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Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack (DVD, 2004, 12-Disc Set) $15.99 |
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“RE-ANIMATOR” MINT VHS THE H.P. LOVECRAFT HORROR CLASSIC WITH JEFFREY COMBS !!! $19.98 |
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The BRIDE of FRANKENSTEIN 14×11 Classic Horror Lobby #2 $9.75 |
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PSYCHO – Janet Leigh – Classic 14×11 Horror Poster #1 $9.75 |
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The DUNWICH HORROR – 17×13 Classic Horror poster $13.50 |
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BODY PARTS classic 1980s horror BRAND NEW DVD FREE SHIP $6.66 |
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GREAT HORROR CLASSICS – VOL. 2 – NEW DVD $4.50 |
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GREAT HORROR CLASSICS – VOL. 2 – NEW DVD $1.50 |
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GREAT HORROR CLASSICS – NEW DVD BOXSET $10.82 |
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GREAT HORROR CLASSICS – VOL. 4 – NEW DVD $1.50 |
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LITTLE BOX OF HORRORS; CLASSIC STORIES, TRICKS AND GAMES NIB $5.95 |
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Horror Classics Triple Feature – Volume 1 (DVD, 2002, 3-Disc Set) $0.99 |
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SEALED Horror Classics – Ape/British Intelligence (DVD, 2005) $4.99 |
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Classic Horror Aug 1975 collector’s edition, $5.50 |
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Trick Or Treat Horror Classic T Shirt $18.99 |
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Trick Or Treat Horror Classic T Shirt $18.99 |
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Trick Or Treat Horror Classic T Shirt $18.99 |
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Trick Or Treat Horror Classic T Shirt $18.99 |
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Trick Or Treat Horror Classic T Shirt $18.99 |
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Trick Or Treat Horror Classic T Shirt $22.99 |
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Trick Or Treat Horror Classic T Shirt $22.99 |
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Trick Or Treat Horror Classic T Shirt $22.99 |
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Trick Or Treat Horror Classic T Shirt $22.99 |
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MUSYA CLASSIC JAPANESE TALE OF HORROR Super Nintendo SNES $19.62 |
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FRANKENSTEIN #8 CGC 9.2 OFFWHITE TO WHITE CLASSIC COVER VERSUS DRACULA!!HORROR $75.00 |
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Classic Horror Movies 4 Piece 1.5 oz SHOT GLASS BOXED SET $17.50 Brand New Licensed CLASSIC HORROR MOVIES Brand New Licensed Classic Horror Movie Boxed Shot Glass Set Boxed Set Includes: King Kong, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman |
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DER GOLEM Photo Mugs Paul Wegener directs and stars in this story of a monster conjured up by a rabbi a classic of expressionist film- making and a great horror story….. |
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BATES MOTEL Mug Coffee Cup 11 oz This high quality ceramic mug makes a great gift for anyone! The design is on both sides of the mug! The image is adhered through a heat process that makes it durable and long lasting. The colors won’t fade, so the mug can be enjoyed for years to come!… |
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Star Trek: Original Motion Picture Collection (Star Trek I, II, III, IV, V, VI + The Captain’s Summit Bonus Disc) [Blu-ray] $52.95 Seven-disc set includes “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,” “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,” “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,” “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,” and a disc full of extras…. |
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Godzilla (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] $24.41 Atomic testing in the Pacific awakens a gigantic reptilian creature dubbed Godzilla off the coast of Japan and sends the monstrous menace on a rampage across Tokyo and its environs. Director Ishiro Honda’s “kaiju” classic spawned innumerable sequels; Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura, Momoko Kochi, and Haru Nakajima star. Includes the original Japanese release “Gojira” and the 1956 re-dubbed America… |
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Horror Classics $9.85 Horror Classics is an anthology of great fiction adapted in comics form for readers of all ages. This tenth volume of the Graphic Classics series presents stories by eleven of the original creators of the horror genre, including H.P. Lovecraft`s “The T… |
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Horror Classics (DVD) $9.88 Description not available. |
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Fox Horror Classics (DVD) $24.04 3-Disc Set |
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German Horror Classics Box Set (DVD) $40.57 Contains NOSFERATU THE VAMPIRE, THE GOLEM, WAXWORKS, and THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI all packaged together in one sublimely horr |
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Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack – 12-DVD Set (DVD) $13.82 12-DVD Set This 12-DVD set contains 50 horror films–including NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, NOSFERATU, METROPOLIS, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, SWAMP WOMEN, WHITE ZOMBIE, THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED … |
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Fox Horror Classics Vol. 2 – 3-Disc Set; Checkpoint; Pan and Scan (DVD) $14.84 A set of certain other classic movie studio monsters has nothing on this clan from 20th Century Fox`s golden era of fright. In DRAGONWYCK (1946), an 1800s woman agrees to live in a mysterious manor run by her charming but oddball cousin so that her dau… |
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Universal Horror: Classic Movie Archive – $5 Halloween Candy Cash Offer (DVD) $15.67 Description not available. |
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The Mummy: The Legacy Collection (DVD) $21.72 2-Disc Set This 2-disc set contains Universal Studios’ horror classic, THE MUMMY (1932), and its four sequels: THE |
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Satan’s Playground (DVD) $4.62 With a cast of actors from 1970s and ’80s horror classics, SATAN’S PLAYGROUND has all the proper ingredients for a gore-filled g |
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The Man Who Laughs (DVD) $18.74 This horror classic was produced by Universal (beginning that studio’s string of brilliant horror movies) in response to the suc |
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The Fly (DVD) $11.81 Special Edition Update of the original horror classic about a brilliant scientist who develops a machine that mole |
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The Phantom of the Opera (DVD) $14.84 Lon Chaney, Man of a Thousand Faces, stars in this silent horror classic. In the film, based on Gaston Leroux’s timeless novel, |
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Death Curse of Tartu/Sting of Death (DVD) $7.25 Special Edition Two campy horror classics from 1966 are released on this special double feature. In DEATH CURSE OF |
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The Phantom of the Opera (DVD) $7.9 Lon Chaney, Man of a Thousand Faces, stars in this silent horror classic. In the film, based on Gaston Leroux’s timeless novel, |
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Hell House $10.76 In this horror classic–filmed in 1973 as THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE–a group of investigators attempt to discover the secrets of |
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The Invisible Man: The Legacy Collection (DVD) $23.2 2-Disc Set This 2-disc set contains Universal Studios’ horror classic, THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933), and its four sequ |
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Autopsy (DVD) $14.83 The torrid tale of young Simona Sanna who works on a thesis comparing suicides and certain murders made to look like suicide. As she continues her research, people start disappearing. This Italian horror classic has been restored from it`s original n… |
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Gargoyles (DVD) $14.84 Acclaimed 1972 telefilm in which an anthropologist mistakenly angers a group of living gargoyle-like creatures living in a cave in Mexico. Stan Winston`s still-impressive monster designs contribute greatly to this creepy TV horror classic. |
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The Shining (SE/DVD) $13.94 Special Edition Opening with spectacular aerial shots of a beautiful, mountainous landscape, Stanley Kubrick`s horror classic THE SHINING sucks the viewer into his frightening tale with quiet, relaxing visuals–but the ominous soundtra… |
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Night of the Living Dead 3D (DVD) $12.65 Director Jeff Broadstreet fashions a 3D remake of George Romero`s 1968 horror classic about an army of zombies converging upon a small group of survivors holed up in an isolated farmhouse. |