The horror genre has a long and fascinating history, going hand-in-hand with the very history of film from almost the very start. As long as people have been using film to tell stories, they’ve also been using those stories to scare people senseless. From innovative camera tricks to impressive makeup wizardry, the films listed here all have their place within film history for good reason. So turn off the light, get comfortable, and get ready for ten silent horror films that’ll give you the chills.
10. Nosferatu (1922)
You can’t have a discussion about classic silent horror without vampires, more specifically one of cinema’s earliest versions of the classic folktale. When most people think about classic vampires, they usually think about Bela Lugosi’s legendary portrayal of Count Dracula in Tod Browning’s 1931 Universal adaptation. However, it was director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau and actor Max Schreck who introduced cinema to vampires just 9 years earlier with Nosferatu.
The film was developed as an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a task that proved difficult when Florence, Bram Stoker’s widow, refused to allow for a sanctioned adaptation. So Murnau, ever the rebel, decided along with his crew, to simply change some key details and go ahead with the film anyway. The film now only barely resembles an adaptation of Dracula, the biggest change being the titular vampire, Count Orlock, played by Schreck.
Schreck just exudes an unnerving vibe, enhanced by the still-impressive makeup and the way the film is shot. From Orlock rising from his coffin to his demonic shadow ascending the staircase, the film is dripping with timeless and creepy imagery. Despite Stoker’s best efforts to sue the filmmakers and destroy all existing copies, the film would survive and go on to be hailed as an influential masterwork. Countless filmmakers have been inspired by Nosferatu, including director Rob Eggers whose big-budget remake will be hitting theaters in December 2024.
9. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
When going through the history of classic silent horror films, it’s important to understand the trend of German expressionism. Starting in the late 1910s and lasting until the 1930s, German expressionism was an artistic movement that prioritized the artist’s feelings and imagination over portraying realism. This meant movies could follow suit and push boundaries with their visuals and storytelling they’d previously been unable to. So a film like Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari could run wild with its surreal storytelling, especially with its art direction.
The entire film, told entirely via flashbacks, tells the story of the titular Doctor Caligari and his somnambulist, Cesare. It soon becomes clear that Caligari is using Cesare to carry out moonlight murders, and even goes after Jane, the main character’s love interest. The story is a bizarre and disorienting one, helped in major part by the visuals which are perfectly in line with German expressionism. Shadows are painted across the floor and background, often contorting into offputting spirals and patterns, as well as defying any physical logic. Additionally, things like doors and windows are anything but normal looking, frequently looking more like something you’d see in a child’s drawing. The whole film feels like a very creative nightmare and still stands out as a classic to this day.
8. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Long before he was belting out showstopping ballads on Broadway, the Phantom was gracing movie screens with his macabre presence. Adapted from Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, the film tells the story of a deformed murderer known as the Phantom who is haunting the Paris Opera House. Amidst his rampage, the Phantom takes an interest in Christine, a singer whom he wants to see become a star. This leads Christine down into the sewers beneath the opera house where she soon uncovers the truth of the Phantom, as well as his horrific true face.
The Phantom is played by Lon Chaney, often referred to as the “Man of a Thousand Faces,” due to his incredible makeup talents. Chaney had previously played Quasimodo in the screen adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, so he was more than prepared. The makeup for the Phantom is simple yet effective, giving him a horrific pig-like nose, as well as piercing and demonic eyes. These enhancements work beautifully in tandem with Chaney’s performance which, given the film’s silent nature, is completely physical. Every second he’s on screen you can’t take your eyes off of him and he perfectly embodies the Phantom’s foreboding yet alluring presence. If your only knowledge of the character is the musical, definitely give the original silent horror film a watch, it’s more than worth your time.
7. Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922)
Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages is an oddity of a film, even amongst other silent films of its time, especially due to its unique format. Long before the likes of The Blair Witch Project or Hell House LLC, Häxan was utilizing a faux-documentary format to tell its story. It would be more accurate to describe the film as an early example of a video essay with dramatized sequences about the occult and witchcraft.
This means several sequences dedicated to the history of witchcraft, often explaining aspects of it with models and illustrated diagrams. Despite its dry tone, the film is quite enthralling, almost as if you’ve been transported back in time to a 19th-century lecture on occult history.
This doesn’t mean the film is without any artistic merit, as the dramatization sequences showcase some truly memorable visuals. For a film from 1922, it definitely pushed boundaries, including depictions of satanic worship, female nudity, and even horrific demons brought to life through impressive makeup effects. While it doesn’t get brought up as much as the likes of Nosferatu or The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the film still has its appreciators. So this Halloween, if you need something a bit different to set the mood, check out Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages.
6. The Golem (1920)
Jewish folklore has a rich assortment of legends, myths, and fables, many working their way into various pieces of different media. One of the more famous among these tales is the Golem of Prague, a clay being sculpted by a 16th-century rabbi.
The Golem: How He Came into the World from 1920 is very much in line with the aforementioned legend, doing ample justice to the Golem’s cultural context. Rabbi Loew, a rabbi in the ghetto of medieval Prague, creates the titular Golem out of humble clay to protect his fellow Jews from an impending disaster. The film, directed by Paul Wegener and Carl Boese, sets many impressive precedents for horror cinema, especially when it comes to the presentation of the Golem. This is most evident in the Golem’s makeup, worn by Paul Wegener himself, which is still an impressive use of prosthetics even now. The design is imposing and a bit offputting which, given the nature of the film, is more than appropriate.
One could easily see this film as a precursor to the likes of Frankenstein, especially with the angle of a man creating a monster. The Golem is a great watch, especially if you are interested in seeing a key piece of Jewish folklore brought to life.
5. The Cat and the Canary (1927)
The horror genre, like many other genres, has countless sub-categories that encompass a wide range of styles and subjects. Horror comedy is by far one of the most widespread, with countless films that possess both great humor and horror simultaneously. Films like Night of the Creeps, Shaun of the Dead, or Freaky are all perfect examples of this. But long before any of those films hit the scene, The Cat and the Canary was balancing chills and giggles as far back as 1927.
The film concerns Cyrus West, a wealthy man who has ordered that his last will and testament go unread until the 20th anniversary of his death. This brings his greedy, conniving family out of the woodwork, all looking to acquire his West’s vast fortune. However, on the night the family arrives to hear the will’s contents revealed, an escaped lunatic called the Cat breaks into the house! While the film boasts quite a fair bit of comedy, it never forgets to lay on the thick eerie atmosphere of an old dark house film.
The Cat and the Canary isn’t brought up as much as other famous 20s and 30s horror films but deserves its roses for being such a unique outing.
4. The Man Who Laughs (1928)
The Man Who Laughs is an interesting outlier among this list, as it’s more of a romantic melodrama that is often identified as a horror film. Its classification stems largely from the appearance of the main character, Gwynplaine, and his hideous permanent smile.
Played by Conrad Veidt, Gwynplaine is shown to be the son of Lord Clancharlie, an exiled nobleman, with the grin mentioned above carved on his face during his childhood. Following his disfigurement, a young Gwynplaine finds an abandoned baby, a blind girl named Dea, while trudging through a snowstorm. After being taken in by Ursus, a kindly philosopher with a pet wolf, the trio forms a bizarre found family. In their adulthood, Gwynplaine and Dea are now traveling actors, performing plays that Ursus has written for them. Gwynplaine and Dea are also madly in love with each other, a prospect Gwynplaine is resistant to, given the shame over his disfigurement.
The film is a very heartwarming affair but still possesses all the trappings of a German expressionist film, especially with its gloomy visuals. While not quite a horror film, The Man Who Laughs is still offputting, especially due to Veidt’s offputting smile. His appearance was so iconic that it would be the visual inspiration for the Joker, Batman’s greatest archenemy.
3. The Phantom Carriage (1921)
How often do you think about your death? Regardless of your faith or religion, we’re certain you’ve all thought about your demise, as well as the afterlife, at least once. Well if you’ve ever pondered that grim reality, definitely check out The Phantom Carriage from 1921, directed by Swedish director Victor Sjöström.
The best way to describe The Phantom Carriage would be a hybrid between a moody horror film and a visually experimental fantasy film. Based on the 1912 novel Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness! by Selma Lagerlöf, the film follows a boozer named David Holm who dies at midnight on New Year’s Eve. He then finds himself whisked away by Death himself aboard the titular phantom carriage, helping collect souls for the next year. This journey allows David to see the key moments of his now-defunct life and reflect on the countless mistakes he’s made.
When the topic of important Swedish cinema pops up, this film is usually one of the most frequently lauded in terms of its importance. Not only did it help pioneer several special effect techniques, but its moody tone truly helped cement it as one of the first true horror films.
2. The Hands of Orlac (1924)
The concept of body horror has carved out a very prominent niche within the world of horror cinema and for good reason. We, as humans, are very protective of our physical forms, so the idea of our autonomy being turned against us is a very distressing concept.
Well before the likes of The Thing and Tusk, there was The Hands of Orlac, a 1924 German horror film directed by Robert Wiene. We already mentioned Wiene when discussing the impact of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and his prowess as a director is still fully on display here. The film’s plot concerns a concert pianist named Paul Orlac who loses his hands in a railway accident, forcing a surgeon to act quickly! He gives Orlac a set of hands that he reveals once belonged to Vasseur, a recently executed murderer. Needless to say, Orlac is disturbed by this revelation and begins fearing that he too will become a murderer due to the hands’ influence.
Much like Caligari, the film oozes a palpable sense of dread and psychological disorientation, praying on your nerves just like Orlac. If you’ve never seen this one, definitely give it a watch, it’ll have your hands nervously tapping on your seat for its entire runtime!
1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
When it comes to adaptations of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the first version many think of the 1996 Disney animated version. While an impressive adaptation in its own right, the film is far from the most accurate translation of Hugo’s story.
However, long before the House of Mouse put its stamp on it, the story had already been adapted quite a few times. The version we’re highlighting here, while not the first, is one of the most famous and influential, especially due to its portrayal of the titular hunchback. In the 1923 Wallace Worsley-helmed version, Quasimodo is played by Lon Chaney just a few years before he’d portray the Phantom. Much like in that film, Chaney is untouchable in this role, giving an impressively physical performance even under heavy makeup and body modifications.
Not to be forgotten is the film’s tremendous sense of scale when it comes to the sets, all perfectly capturing the vibe of 14th-century France. While also not a one-for-one adaptation of Hugo’s writing, the film still does a fine job of capturing the sadness of the story.