VisualCrack

Dir. Terence Fisher

Cast: Christopher Lee, Andrew Keir, Francis Matthews, Barbara Shelley

Hammer Studios conclusively redefined British horror films in the 50s and 60s with their innovative amalgam of high style, literacy, sophistication, and bloody intensity, commuting the irascible gothic of Universal’s insouciant horror films and the camp sensibilities of the low-budget indies. Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Mummy, the werewolf, and all the other horror commodities were revamped and invigorated by Hammer, but none so categorically as Dracula.  In the first film, Horror of Dracula (1958) Christopher Lee shattered the anemic, deferential image of Lugosi’s count with a mixture of vehemence and sensuality lacking from any Dracula preceding or, debatably, since and made the role irrevocably his own

Dir. Dino Risi

Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Vittorio Gassman, Danilo Mattei, Anicée Alvina

A naive young man studying art in Venice comes to stay with distant relatives, an elderly uncle (Gassman) and a somewhat younger aunt (Deneuve). In "Jane Eyre" fashion he educes that his uncle is apparently keeping his deranged brother in a secret room in an attic. His curiosity is piqued and he begins to investigate with his new artist model/girlfriend (Anicée Alvina), and quickly unearths that all is not as it seems with his mysterious relatives.

Dir.  Kåre Bergstrøm

Cast:  Henki Kolstad, Henny Moan, Bjørg Engh, Georg Richter, André Bjerke

Norway hasn't produced many horror films over the years. A few cross-over hits, such as DARK WOODS, NEXT DOOR, and more recently DEAD SNOW and the COLD PREY series, have seen some global recognition, but before that Norway's genre output was nearly nonexistent. As a matter of fact, a Norwegian Horror keyword search on IMDb results in only three genre titles being made before 1990, LAKE OF THE DEAD (also released as THE LAKE OF THE DAMNED) is one of these. In fact, it's the earliest Norwegian horror film listed and may actually have the claim on being first horror film produced in that country (to add to it's claim of being the first Norwegian film shot in CinemaScope). While well regarded on its home turf, the film isn't much known outside it's native land, but believe me when I say, it really deserves to be.  

Lake is a well-made, intelligently-written and stunningly photographed dark mystery that keeps you guessing and makes unnerving use of its picturesque outdoor locations.

Dir. Dario Argento

Cast: Michael Brandon, Mimsy Farmer, Bud Spencer, Daria Nicolodi

Roberto Tobias (Michael Brandon) is a drummer in a rock band who has noticed a man following him for the last several days. Angered by this, he confronts the stranger in an abandoned theater to find out what he wants. The man claims he does not know what Roberto is talking about, and pulls a switchblade. The two struggle, and Roberto accidentally stabs the man, who falls into an orchestra pit, lifeless.