When the moon is full the legend comes to life.

Starring: Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Geraldine Chaplin, Art Malik, Antony Sher

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"As I don't know where the lunatic will strike, it seems the practical thing to do is to stay as near as possible to the potential victims." - Dr. Aberline

Why watch this? This lycanthrope is true to Lon Chaney Jr., but a lot more lethal.

Plot Summary: Nobleman Lawrence Talbot returns to his estranged father's estate in Victorian-era England after his brother's brutal murder. A suspicious Scotland Yard inspector investigates as a creature terrorizes the village, rumored to be connected to an ancient curse. During his search for the killer, Talbot himself is attacked and falls victim to the very curse he is investigating.

Relativity Media, Stuber Pictures;
Universal Pictures

Six soldiers. Full moon. No chance.

Starring: Sean Pertwee, Kevin McKidd, Emma Cleasby, Liam Cunningham, Darren Morfitt, Chris Robson, Leslie Simpson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"We are now up against live, hostile targets. So, if Little Red Riding Hood should show up with a bazooka and a bad attitude, I expect you to chin the bitch." - Sgt. Harry Wells

Why watch this? A company of British soldiers against a bunch of werewolves. Oh yeah!

Plot Summary: A squad of British soldiers, on a training exercise in the Scottish Highlands, stumble upon the remains of a Special Forces unit and discover they're being hunted by a pack of werewolves. The soldiers take refuge in a secluded farmhouse and must fight to survive the night against the monstrous creatures.

Kismet Ent. Group, The Noel Gray Motion Pic. Co.,
Victor Film Co. Carousel Picture Co.; Pathé

Salem's Lot... where no one rests in peace...

Starring: David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia, Lew Ayres, Julie Cobb, Elisha Cook Jr., George Dzundza, Ed Flanders

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You'll enjoy Mr. Barlow. And he'll enjoy you." - Straker

Why watch this? This is the scariest film I ever watched on network TV. It traumatized me.

Plot Summary: Novelist Ben Mears returns to his childhood hometown of Salem's Lot, Maine, hoping to write about the ominous Marsten House that looms over the town. However, his arrival coincides with the arrival of a mysterious antique dealer and his unseen business partner. Soon, unexplained disappearances and strange deaths begin to plague the residents of the seemingly quiet community.

Warner Bros. Television; CBS

Not since the beginning of time has the world beheld terror like this!

Starring: Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, Whit Bissell, Bernie Gozier

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I can tell you something about this place. The boys around here call it "The Black Lagoon" - a paradise. Only they say nobody has ever come back to prove it." - Lucas

Why watch this? Can undiscovered humanoid creatures exist? Bigfoot? Yeti? A Creature? (My wife thinks so.)

Plot Summary: A scientific expedition ventures into the Amazon, discovering a prehistoric amphibious creature in a secluded lagoon. The creature, known as the Gill-man, becomes fascinated with a female scientist on the team. This leads to thrilling and suspenseful encounters as the team attempts to capture the creature, while also dealing with its attempts to abduct the woman.

William Alland; Universal-International

They Hear You, They Hunt You

Starring: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cade Woodward, Leon Russom, Rhoda Pell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Who are we if we can't protect them? We have to protect them." – Evelyn, speaking about their children

Why watch this? This novel idea for a horror film is refreshing, and really scary, too.

Plot Summary: Earth comes under attack from by alien creatures. Though blind, these 8 ft. tall, armored beasts find their prey using acute hearing. Once there is the faintest sound, they immediately come hunting, intent of wreaking havoc on soft, defenseless humans. One New York rural family manages to survive using sound-silencing measures (sand paths, bare feet). It helps that they have a deaf daughter and can all communicate using sign language. But how long can the family of five avoid detection? The "death angels", as they are known, are mercilessly lethal and quite menacing.

Platinum Dunes, Sunday Night Prod.;
Paramount Pictures

An erotic fantasy about the animal in us all.

Starring: Nastassja Kinski, John Heard, Malcolm McDowell, Annette O'Toole, Ruby Dee, Ed Begley Jr., Scott Paulin, Frankie Faison, Lynn Lowry, John Larroquette

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"We are a incestuous race. We can only make love with our own, otherwise we transform. And before we can become human again, we must kill." - Irena Gallier

Why watch this? This film is as beautiful as it is horrifying.

Plot Summary: Irina, an orphaned young woman, travels to New Orleans to reunite with her estranged brother, Paul. Shortly after her arrival, she discovers a terrifying family secret: she is descended from an ancient line of "Cat People," beings who transform into deadly panthers when sexually aroused. As she navigates this dark truth, Irina finds herself torn between her attraction to a human man and the dangerous, incestuous nature of her family legacy.

RKO Pictures; Universal Pictures

A NIGHTMARE OF HORROR!

Starring: Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan, Herbert Bunston, Frances Dade

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make." - Dracula, regarding wolves

Why watch this? The elaborate sets and Lugosi's haunting, iconic performance.

Plot Summary: Count Dracula, a Transylvanian vampire, travels to England and takes up residence in Carfax Abbey. He begins to exert his influence over local society, specifically targeting the young women, including Mina Seward and her friend Lucy Weston. When Lucy falls ill with a mysterious ailment, Professor Van Helsing is called upon to investigate, soon realizing the danger posed by the Count and working to protect Mina and expose Dracula's true nature.

Tod Browning, Carl Laemmle Jr.;
Universal Pictures

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emily Watson, Rubert Grint, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Well, Well, Lupin. Out for a little walk... in the moonlight are we?" - Professor Snape

Why watch this? This film notably changed in tone from the first two. It's more grown-up.

Plot Summary: In their third year at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, and Hermione learn that a dangerous prisoner named Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban, a wizarding prison guarded by the terrifying Dementors. It is widely believed that Black, a supposed follower of Lord Voldemort, intends to harm Harry, causing a heightened sense of danger throughout the wizarding world and Hogwarts itself. As the year progresses, Harry and his friends unravel a complex web of events surrounding Black's imprisonment and the true nature of the threat he poses, ultimately revealing a story of betrayal.

Heyday Films, 1492 Pictures;
Warner Bros. Pictures

Sinbad Battles the Creatures of Legend in the Miracle of Dynarama!

Starring: John Phillip Law, Tom Baker, Takis Emmanuel, Caroline Munro, Douglas Wilmer, Martin Shaw

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel." - Sinbad

Why watch this? This is vintage, wonderful Ray Harryhausen - it may be his best work.

Plot Summary: Sinbad discovers a magical golden amulet that sets him on a dangerous quest to find the legendary Fountain of Destiny located on the uncharted island of Lemuria. He is joined by a vizier and a mysterious slave girl as they embark on a journey filled with mythical creatures, tempests, and dark interference from the evil sorcerer Koura. Sinbad must battle Koura and his magical creations to unlock the amulet's power and reach the fabled fountain.
 

Dad's Preview: This treasure almost made DML Top50, but lost out to Valley of Gwangi (1969). This is the best of Ray's Sinbad films. As Sinbad and his crew work to restore the Grand Vizier to this rightful throne, they must battle a sorcerer and his powerful magic and monstrous giant creatures. The acting feels natural, the villain is deliciously evil, and the special effects - well... they're freakin' awesome! Also, an un-credited Robert Shaw lent his talents to portray the ghastly "Oracle of All Knowledge" (The British actor felt this cameo was "beneath him", so he insisted on being uncredited).

Morningside Productions; Columbia Pictures

The Terrifying Lover Who Died - Yet Lived!

Starring: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, Carol Marsh, John Van Eyssen, Valerie Gaunt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"To liberate her soul and give her peace we must destroy that shell for all time. Believe me there is no other way." - Dr. Van Helsing

Why watch this? Christopher Lee is the best Dracula on film. Sorry, Bela.

Plot Summary: Posing as a librarian, Jonathan Harker travels to the castle of Count Dracula with the secret intention of destroying the vampire. After Harker falls victim to the Count, his friend and fellow vampirologist, Dr. Van Helsing, investigates his disappearance. Van Helsing soon discovers Dracula has relocated and is preying on Harker's loved ones, forcing the doctor to relentlessly pursue the villain to stop his reign of terror.

Hammer Film Prod.; Universal-International

In darkness, there can be light. In misery, there can be beauty. In death, there can be life...

Starring: Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil, Álex Angulo, Manolo Solor

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I've had so many names. Old names that only the wind and the trees can pronounce. I am the mountain, the forest and the earth. I am... I am a faun. Your most humble servant, Your Highness." - Pan to Ofelia

Why watch this? As wise critic Roger Ebert penned, "It is a fairy tale for grown-ups".

Plot Summary: Set in Spain during WWII, a young girl, Ofelia, and her pregnant mother move into the compound where her ruthless father-in-law, Captain Vidal, resides. Vidal, a sadistic leader, is responsible for suppressing a band of rebels who resist the Francoist regime. He is cruel, especially to Ofelia. To cope, the girl escapes to an imaginary world of fairies and creatures. Within a nearby stone maze, she encounters the bizarre, horned Pan, a faun who gives her three tasks to prove her worthiness to become a princess.

Estudios Picasso, Tequila Gang, Esperanto
 Filmoj, Sententia Ent.; Warner Bros. Pictures

From the Dark Side to Our Side

Starring: Ron Perlman, John Hurt, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor, Rupert Evans, Karel Roden, Biddy Hodson, Corey Johnson, Kevin Trainor

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"In the absence of light, darkness prevails. There are things that go bump in the night, Agent Myers. Make no mistake about that. And we are the ones who bump back." – Professor Broom

Why watch this? It's a great comic book hero adapted to film. Pearlman is awesome!

Plot Summary: Raised by a professor after being summoned to Earth by Nazis during World War II, a demon named Hellboy now works for a secretive government organization known as the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. Alongside his fellow unique agents, Hellboy must protect the world from various supernatural threats that emerge from the shadows. However, his skills and fiery personality are truly tested when a powerful, resurrected sorcerer from his past returns with a sinister plan that seeks to unleash the apocalypse.

Revolution Studios, Lawrence Gordon/Lloyd
Levin Prod., Dark Horse Ent.; Columbia Pics

...He who is doomed to wander alone in darkness.
...He who is condemned to destroy even those whom he loves.

Starring: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz, Roland Topor, Walter Ladengast, Dan van Husen, Jan Groth, Carsten Bodinus, Martje Grohmann, Rijk de Gooyer, Clemens Scheitz

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Death is not the worst. There are things more horrible than death." - Count Dracula

Why watch this? This version of the Nosferatu legend is a true work of gothic art.

Plot Summary: Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania to finalize a real estate deal with the mysterious Count Dracula. Dracula, captivated by a photograph of Harker's wife Lucy, purchases a property in Harker's hometown of Wismar and journeys there, bringing with him a plague of rats and death. Lucy becomes aware of the sinister nature of Dracula and strives to end the reign of terror he unleashes upon Wismar.

Werner Herzog Filmprod., Gaumont, Zweites
Deutsches Fernsehen; 20th Century Fox

There are some very good reasons to be afraid...of the dark.

Starring: Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Stephen Geoffreys, Roddy McDowall, Jonathan Stark, Dorothy Fielding

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You deserve to die, boy. Of course... I could give you something I don't have. A choice. Forget about me, Charley. Forget about me, and I'll forget about you." - Jerry Dandrige

Why watch this? One of the best vampire films ever - scary, gross, and sporting a nice sense of humor.

Plot Summary: This creepy story follows a teenage horror fan named Charley Brewster who discovers his new, charming next-door neighbor is actually a vampire responsible for a string of recent murders. When no one believes his warnings, Charley enlists the help of Peter Vincent, a washed-up actor who hosts a late-night horror movie show and played a vampire hunter in films. Despite Vincent's initial skepticism, they must work together to combat the seductive undead threat lurking in the suburban shadows.

Vistar Films; Columbia Pictures

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Director: Francis Ford Coppola rated R for strong violence, nudity, scary scenes

LOVE NEVER DIES

Starring: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Richard E. Grant, Cary Elwes, Tom Waits

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You will, I trust, excuse me if I do not join you. But, I have already dined, and I never drink... wine." - Dracula

Why watch this? Gary Oldman's portrayal of Dracula is singularly unique... and terrifying!

Plot Summary: In 1897, a young solicitor, Jonathan Harker, travels to Transylvania to handle a real estate transaction for the mysterious Count Dracula. Upon seeing a photograph of Harker's fiancée, Mina, Dracula believes she is the reincarnation of his deceased wife. Imprisoning Harker, the Count travels to London to find Mina, unleashing a reign of terror and seduction upon those seek to protect the girl.

American Zoetrope, Osiris Films;
Columbia Pictures

The Man Who Made A Monster

Starring: Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Boris Karloff, Dwight Frye, Edward van Sloan, Frederick Kerr, Lionel Belmore

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You have created a monster, and it will destroy you!" - Dr. Waldman

Why watch this? It is a landmark in horror cinema history.

Plot Summary: Dr. Henry Frankenstein, obsessed with creating life, pieces together a human body from various sources and successfully brings it to life through electricity. However, the creature, despite its initial innocence, faces fear and rejection from society, leading to tragic consequences. The film explores themes of ambition, the dangers of unchecked scientific advancement, and the impact of isolation and prejudice on both the creator and his creation.

Carl Laemmle Jr.; Universal Pictures

IS HE A MAN... OR UNHOLY BEAST?

Starring: Claude Rains, Lon Chaney Jr., Warren William, Ralph Bellamy, Maria Ouspenskaya, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Even a man who is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night, May become a wolf when the wolf's bane blooms, and the autumn moon is bright." - Maleva, the gypsy

Why watch this? This timeless classic still remains my favorite werewolf movie.

Plot Summary: Returning to his ancestral home in Wales, Larry Talbot becomes entangled with a gypsy carnival and the local folklore surrounding werewolves after a fateful encounter in the woods. A gypsy woman informs Larry that he was bitten by a werewolf, implying that he will transform into one himself. The film then follows Larry's tragic descent as he grapples with the terrifying possibility of becoming a monster.

George Waggner; Universal Pictures

The scariest comedy of all time!

Starring: Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Teri Garr, Kenneth Mars, Madeline Kahn

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Are you saying that I put an abnormal brain into a seven and a half foot long, fifty-four inch wide GORILLA? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?" - Dr. Frederick Frankenstein

Why watch this? It's perhaps now more of a classic than the films it spoofs!

Plot Summary: Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, is a respected neurosurgeon who tries to distance himself from his family's eccentric legacy. He inherits his ancestor's Transylvanian castle and, after discovering his grandfather's scientific journals, becomes intrigued by the potential of reanimating the dead. Aided by his hunchbacked assistant Igor and a lab assistant named Inga, Frederick attempts to bring a corpse to life, inadvertently creating a monster.

Gruskoff/Venture Films, Crossbow Prod.
Inc., Louer Limited; 20th Century Fox

An American Werewolf in London (1981), Director: John Landis, rated R for language, nudity, sex, violence, gore and scary scenes

 BEWARE THE MOON

Starring: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne, John Woodvine, Brian Glover, David Schofield, Frank Oz

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #32 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of An American Werewolf in London

"On the moors, we were attacked by a lycanthrope, a werewolf. I was murdered, an unnatural death, and now I walk the earth in limbo until the werewolf's curse is lifted.” – Jack

Why watch this? The first transformation scene is worth the price of admission.

Plot Summary: Two American backpackers, David and Jack, are attacked by a creature on the English moors. One is killed, while the survivor, recovering in London, experiences terrifying nightmares and hallucinations. Soon, he discovers the horrifying truth about his attack and faces the potential of his own monstrous transformation.

PolyGram Pictures, Lycanthrope Films Limited;
Universal Pictures

She breathes, sees, hears, walks -- but can she love?

Starring: Boris Karloff, Elsa Manchester, Colin Clive, Ernest Thesiger, Valerie Hobson, Gavin Gordon, Douglas Walton, E. E. Clive

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Yes, I know. Made me from dead. I love dead... hate living." - The Monster

Why watch this? This Universal monster film dared to have a sense of humor. Bravo!

Plot Summary: This sequel Frankenstein (1931) follows Dr. Henry Frankenstein as he attempts to abandon his life-creating experiments. However, he is pressured by his eccentric mentor, Dr. Pretorius, and threatened by his creation, the Monster, into constructing a female companion for the Monster. Frankenstein eventually agrees and embarks on the task of creating the Bride, facing the consequences of his ambition and the Monster's desire for companionship.

Carl Laemmle Jr.; Universal Pictures