Pre-1950s in Horror

From the beginning of film, horror has been around. The thirties are the golden age of film horror, but there are a couple examples worth noting before and after that decade:

Pre 30s:

5. Haxan (1922)
A quasi-documentary film about witchcraft, the Malleus Maleficarum, and modern interpretation and explanation of the phenomenon.

4. Frankenstein (1910)
Produced by Thomas Edison, this is the first cinematic Frankenstein, maybe the first horror film.

3. Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Lon Cheney in amazing makeup. One of the earliest Universal Horror films.

2. Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919)
German Expressionismen defined horror for decades to come.

1. Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)
This film should not exist as it was deemed an illegal copyright violation. Thankfully, it does still exist and is scary over 100 years later.

1930s:

8. Dracula’s Daughter (1936)
Subdued and not really scary. However, atmospheric and interesting.

7. Son of Frankenstein (1939)
This film more than any other went on to inspire the look and feel of “Young Frankenstein.”

6. Dracula (1931)
Surprisingly wooden and theatrical for one oft he most influential horror films.

5. Frankenstein (1931)
Boris Karloff defining the monster forever.

4. Dracula (Spanish) (1931)
The better version of this film. The Spanish director (George Melford) understoof the potential of cinema.

3. M: Eine Stadt Sucht Einen Mörder (1931)
A German Expressionist Serial Killer Film.

2. King Kong (1933)
One of the most influential movies ever made.

1. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
The best Universal horror.

1940s

Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
The only 40s horror worth mentioning.