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Monochromatic Madness: Black and White Horror That Still Holds Up

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As long as we’ve had film, we’ve had horror. Georges Méliès was responsible for bringing sci fi and horror to audiences in the 1890s, shown in silence in glorious black and white. With the development of Nosferatu, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and Frankenstein, the genre was formed. Due to the popularity of Roger Corman classics and Universal Monsters, horror films were widely appealing and readily available. As a result, the relevance of the black and white basics is undeniable.

Some of our most iconic characters are those monochromatic monsters. We can all agree that not all movies age gracefully, however, there are some that keep their teeth long after their release. Here’s my list of 6 of my favorite black and white films that still hold up, some 50+ years after they hit the screen.

The Thing From Another World (1951)

Scientists and American Air Force officials battle a bloodthirsty alien organism while stranded at an arctic outpost. The story will sound really familiar, and it should. John Carpenter’s The Thing was adapted from the same novella.

There’s a lot of dialogue, but they zip from scene to scene at a quick rate. Forget the long, silent stares or slow, dramatic walks across the room. This scene has places to be, dammit! Speaking of the dialogue, for a group facing an unknown threat, they are super sarcastic.

The script is clever and the actors have a great chemistry to tie the whole thing together. Most importantly, they do not shy away from an action sequence. One scene in particular involves a lot of fire and kerosene. Honestly, I don’t know how they didn’t burn the set down. Overall, The Thing From Another World is surprisingly funny, consistently paced, and very satisfying.

Les Diaboliques (1955)

This French film earned a spot on Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments and TIME’s Top 25 Horror Movies. In Les Diaboliques, the wife and extramarital lover of an abusive boarding school headmaster team up to kill him. The chemistry between the two leading ladies is perfect.

The women have a close-knit connection that stems from the knowledge that they’re both subject to the whims of a well-respected brute. That being said, they’re not quite the Thelma and Louise of 50s French cinema. There’s a formal distance that keeps them focused. As a whole, there are some legitimately frightening moments, but the ending is what will stick with you.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a non-stop thriller. There are startling discoveries, creepy effects and chase scenes galore. We follow a dedicated doctor who is a Man! Of! Action! as he is thrown into a frantic mission to stop the invasion of the pod people.

With a run time of only 1hr 20min, it gets right to the meat of the story very quickly. Honestly, you’ll be surprised with how well it keeps up the action, there’s really no room to get bored here. The effects are fantastic; the pods that create the alien impostors are well-made and quite disturbing.

The film has inspired many remakes and references, including an episode of Looney Tunes titled “Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers”. In 1994, it was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. Now, significance aside, Invasion is just a classic, energetic, and engaging film.

Carnival of Souls (1962)

Carnival of Souls is centered on a young organist named Mary who finds herself drawn to an abandoned carnival after she is involved in a car accident. The sound design is super eerie and hauntingly beautiful. The score, composed by Gene Moore, uses an organ to build atmosphere.

It highlights the occupation of our protagonist and creates anxiety where there should be a positive affiliation. The character of John Linden is also very effective in creating discomfort. His slimy persistence to try to win over Mary is, frankly, disgusting.

She struggles between her desire to be left alone and her desperate need to keep someone close to distract her from her terror. Those ghostly faces that plague Mary are far more effective in black and white than they would be in full color. The dizzying scenes that surround the carnival reinforce what we all know; carnivals are creepy as shit.

Psycho (1960)

If you ask anyone about Alfred Hitchcock, chances are, this is the film they’ll know. Psycho is absolutely iconic. It won four Academy Awards and is ranked as one of the greatest films of all time. Not only did it feature the first toilet flush on the silver screen, it also gave us the most memorable shower scene in pop culture history.

Even in black and white, the scene is shocking. We are able to see Hitchcock’s skill as a filmmaker in his use of shadows and lighting. When Mr. Arbogast interviews Norman Bates in the lobby, it’s a wonderful demonstration of how shadows can increase the intensity of a scene of straight dialogue.

The final reveal on the fate of Mrs. Bates uses a swinging overhead lamp to add a dynamic flare to a static shot. As a whole, it’s clever, balanced, and overall just a damn good film.

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

An undisputed all-time classic, Night of the Living Dead has to be on this list. It spawned sequels, remakes, and brought the zombie movie into popular culture. As a whole, the cultural significance is undeniable, particularly when you note the casting of Duane Jones.

Casting a black actor as the protagonist with an all white cast was virtually unheard of at the time. Earlier films, like White Zombie, showed the creation of the zombie as a result of voodoo. NotLD reinvented the genre by establishing the rules we still follow in modern zombie media.

They are relentless reanimated corpses, they feast on the flesh of the living, and you must destroy the brain to stop them. Of course, they were referred to as “ghouls”, but, we know what’s up. It has rightfully earned its status as a cult classic, and I don’t think anyone can argue with that.

Want more classic horror? Click Here for Eleven Criterion Blu-Ray Titles Every Horror Fan Should Own

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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