By John W. Whitehead
October 23, 2006

“To a new world of gods and monsters.”—Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

The public mood had changed—and radically. “The crack in the fabric of reality known politely as the year A.D. 1931,” writes David J. Skal in his book The Monster Show, “appeared to many Americans to be the end of all possibilities.” The sting of the Great Depression of 1929 was about to hit bottom. But within a year, the world’s unemployed population would reach an estimated 30 million people. A popular song of the time, “Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries,” had the hint of sour grapes. As one author noted, “The phrase came into common use because it expressed a common state of mind. The bottom had fallen out of the tubs into which America had poured its hopes and faiths; the great horn of plenty had voided itself and all that was left of its unimaginable riches was a bowl of cherries.”

Much like today, bitterness, despair and fear ruled the cultural landscape. Millions awaited a scapegoat or a deliverer. Instead, a monster in the flesh—Adolf Hitler—was about to wreak havoc on the world. It is little wonder, then, that 1931 would be the year that the modern horror film was born.

Such has been the history of both horror and science fiction films, which reflect the angst, fear and paranoia of the times. This is true of the present horror genre. How else can one explain such modern films as The Ring (2002), Saw (2004) and Descent (2006)—all focusing on the darkness, chaos and cruelty of human beings and the demonic nature of modern technology? As such, the horror genre has much to teach us about ourselves and our culture.

However, much modern horror—with its abundance of blood and guts—is not for the faint of heart. Yet this was not true of the early horror films, many of which have now become classics. The older black-and-white horror films, while encapsulating their times, are as entertaining as they are fun to watch.

Unlike most horror films in the theaters today, you won’t have to worry about gore or blood—especially since most of these films are in black and white. In other words, unlike most modern films, you’ll have to use your imagination. However, there are some genuinely chilling moments in all these classic movies. And all are available on DVD.

Welcome to the world of gods and monsters. Here are some of my favorites:

Dracula

(1931)

Bela Lugosi in his most famous role as a vampire who terrorizes the countryside in search of human blood. The influential film The Last Man on Earth (1964) is a fine adaptation of the vampire tale.