"Old" still doesn't equal "boring": Part two of "Top 10 really old horror films you must watch".
In no particular order, here are five more great old horror movies. In case you missed the first five recommendations of this list, here's part 1 of the article.
Der Student von Prag (1926)
The first cinematic incarnation of "The Student Of Prague", a story loosely based on Edgar Allen Poe's "William Wilson", was made in 1913. It's a very nice watch, with some great special effects and atmosphere, but it's a bit limited in its vocabulary. Fast forward 13 years, to this 1926 adaptation of the material, directed by Henrik Galeen: The fantastic element is toned down a little, more implied than actually shown - but every other aspect is scaled up to the max. The advancement in storytelling is nothing short of mindblowing. This "Student Of Prague" has a little bit of unexpected gore effects, some dizzying, dynamic action, fully developed Expressionism (the German kind) visuals, a rhythm alternating between lighthearted and grave, natural acting, and so on - everything you expect from an eerie, exciting, and much (much!) more recent, movie. Outstanding!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017438/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Student_of_Prague_(1926_film)
L'Inferno (1911)
From the infancy of cinematic storytelling comes "L'Inferno", directed by Francesco Bertolini, Adolfo Padovan and Giuseppe De Liguoro. Cinema had been invented only about 15 years earlier, and its roots in stage play are clearly visible in the film. It's Italy's first full length feature production, it's a bit slow, but the longer you watch it, the creepier it becomes. Once you've gotten into the "zone", and begin to see "through" the old film stock, you can fully appreciate and admire the rich mise-en-scene, with lots of infernal decor and strong silent-era make-up and overacting. There are some special effects and montages that wouldn't be possible on stage, creating some bizarre imagery, and of course all of it is Dante Alighieri's "Inferno", meaning hell, from his "Divine Comedy", resulting in an interesting, moody, spooky watching experience.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0002130/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Inferno
Watch the full movie for free in "Streaming Kino"...
Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam (1920)
"directed by Paul Wegener and Carl Boese, is one of the archetypes of horror cinema. It's loosely based on the Jewish legend of the Golem, a clay statue, that is brought to life by sorcery. "The Golem" isn't the most experimental of German Expressionism films, but it's certainly expressionist enough, with the poster giving a surprisingly accurate hint at what you're about to see. It's a slicker version, more like a big scale fantasy epic, with lots of actors and large sets, and some powerful Golem action. The imagery is striking, and, from a modern viewer's perspective, might have some comic strip charm, the kind you'd see much later in movies by directors such as Sam Raimi, George A. Romero, or Peter Jackson.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0011237/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golem:_How_He_Came_into_the_World
The Bat (1926)
Not only in Europe, also across the pond in the US of A, a powerful cinematic language was evolving during the 1920s. "The Bat", directed by Roland West, takes a good hint from the German films of the time, but creates its own, streamlined aesthetic, more reminiscent of printed graphic design, or cutout art. It's a comedy, and a classic crime story with a super-villain, robbery and murder, and it's exceptionally moody, mystical, and beautiful. "The Bat" really is a fun experience, with brilliant use of darkness, light, and camera, nice chills, and the light-footed pacing of a good Hitchcock movie.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016629/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bat_(1926_film)
Alraune (1928)
"Alraune" translates to "mandrake", but the English title of the movie is "A Daughter Of Destiny". This film doesn't scream in your face at all. (Well, it's silent.) Quite the opposite, the horror is all beneath the surface. It's in the audacity of challenging God, and what could go wrong if you play with fire. Written and directed by Henrik Galeen, based on the eponymous 1911 novel by Hanns Heinz Ewers , "Alraune" is a mesmerizing, enchanting tale of science, morale, and responsibility. The beauty and elegance of some of the imagery is unreal. The eroticism, without being even remotely comparable to today's standards, will make the male viewer, and probably also the female viewer, blush. "Alraune" is dramatic, smooth, and sultry, best watched with a glass of red wine at room temperature - but you don't play God for nothing, and it all leads to a bitter end...
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017621/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alraune_(1928_film)
