Director: Ted Newsom
Starring: Christopher Lee
More info: IMDB
Plot: From Frankenstein to Freddie Kruger, Hollywood's horror genre is honored in this documentary hosted by veteran spook star Christopher Lee. The film encapsulates the history of the genre, from the silent era and the first use of special effects to the gratuitously graphic slasher era of the 1970s and 1980s. Includes clips of old-school actors Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, plus interviews with directors such as Roger Corman and John Carpenter.
My rating: 7/10
Will I watch it again? Yeah
This has got to be the most exhaustive filmed look at cinema horror over the past 100 years (at that time). Each of the 26 half hour (roughly) segments deals with a different aspect from vampires to scream queens. It's a total gas to watch but with only 24 minutes or so dedicated to one topic, it's impossible to do more than just scratch the surface of each one, which just whets your appetite for more. It's a fantastic place to start for anyone looking for ideas on some classic horror (very little time is spent on horror post 1970 but there are several mentions) or to learn a little more about it. It's available on Netflix's instant viewing, btw, if you just can't wait to see Lee in his usual narcissistic, yet enjoyable, mode. You can find some of these on YouTube.
01 - Dracula and His Disciples
02 - Blood-Drinking Beings
03 - Frankenstein's Friends
04 - Baron Frankenstein
05 - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
06 - Werewolves
07 - Bela Lugosi
08 - Boris Karloff
09 - Ghosts
10 - Phantoms
11 - Witches
12 - Demons
13 - Mutants
14 - Freaks
15 - Scream Queens
16 - Girl Ghouls
17 - Maniacs
18 - Gory Gimmicks
19 - Sorcerers
20 - Aliens
21 - Mummies
22 - Zombies
23 - Mad Doctors
24 - Man-Made Monsters
25 - Giants
26 - Dinosaurs
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