A horror movie’s effectiveness lies in its ability to terrify the audience. Different types of scares create different kinds of scares, from highly effective jump scares to more sophisticated shock experiences. The atmosphere of horror, the ability to create an atmosphere that promotes a state of fear in the audience, is what sets remarkable horror films apart.
This list focused on black-and-white horror because it’s more difficult to create that kind of atmosphere. From timeless classics like Nosferatu When vampire In brave contemporary films like fields of england When lighthousethe list explores those that have best created the atmosphere of horror while captivating audiences with gorgeous visuals.
Ten fields of england
fields of england Set in the English Civil War in the 17th century, directed by Ben Wheatley and written by Amy Jump. The alchemist’s assistant, Whitehead (Reese Shearsmith), is saved from his boss by a soldier called Cutler (Ryan Pope). After meeting defectors Jacob (Peter Ferdinand) and Friend (Richard Glover), the four embark on a journey to escape the war, only to find themselves in a field full of hallucinogenic mushrooms.
fields of england It features monochrome cinematography featuring a soft blend of grays and muted blacks. This particular choice gives the film an ethereal filter that perfectly matches the psychedelic development of the plot. At the same time, I agree that it disorients the audience in much the same way that a magic mushroom confuses characters and eventually throws them into that field. magical cult.
9 carnival of souls
carnival of souls was produced and directed by Hark Harvey, who also played the character in this psychological horror. In Kansas, Mary Henry (Candace Hilligos) has an accident while driving and her car falls into a river. After miraculously saving her life, she moved to Salt Lake City where she started her new job as a church organist. But something goes wrong and Mary begins having visions of a demonic man (Hark Harvey).
carnival of souls Produced on a low budget, it received little attention when it was released in 1955. Decades later, it began to be rediscovered, attracting many reviewers thanks to its dreamlike nightmare sequences and excellent cinematography. The blacks are very deep and dark, but the white and gray tones are mostly sharp and have more contrast. Finally, the shadows created by the high contrast contribute to the nightmarish atmosphere. carnival of souls. Underground beauty.
8 faceless eyes
Co-written and directed by Georges Franju, based on the novel of the same name by Jean Redon. faceless eyes Edith Scobb stars as Christian, a woman who wears a face-like mask to hide her scars after a car accident. Her plastic surgeon father (Pierre Brasseur) takes responsibility for the accident and uses his medical knowledge to try to reconstruct Christian’s face.
faceless eyes It stands out for its mixture of poetic and Gore imagery, perfectly rendered through essential photography by Eugen Schftan, a veteran of the German Expressionist era. Wright is impressive in rendering this bizarre mix, capturing some of his most intense horror sequences and most lyrical sequences. At the same time, Shuftan’s contribution can be seen in the lighting of Cristiane’s mask, making this simple prop as terrifying as it was intended to be. faceless eyes I can’t forget.
7 Addiction
Directed by Abel Ferrara and written by frequent collaborator Nicholas St. John, Addiction is a stylish vampire film featuring Lily Taylor as Kathleen Conklin, a philosophy student whose neck is bitten by a woman. Soon after, Kathleen develops her deep thirst for blood and an aversion to sunlight. Despite its poor box office performance, The Addiction became a true cult with a hidden meaning.
Ken Kelsch is the man behind cinematography and what cinematography is. The same use of intense black mixed with different shades of gray is present, but small white accents brighten and add detail to the visual composition. Addiction It shows that infusing genre films with an art-house sensibility can enhance aesthetics without compromising their essence. Slick.
6 Tetsuo: Iron Man
The mastermind is Shinya Tsukamoto. Tetsuo: Iron ManThis Japanese underground horror has been a cult classic for years due to its visionary metal and flesh aesthetic. After a metal fetishist (Shinya Tsukamoto) is killed by a businessman (Tomorowo Taguchi), the latter is plagued by a mysterious curse that turns his body tissues into iron. Tsukamoto contributed to the script, production, editing, and cinematography in collaboration with Kei Fujiwara.
Tetsuo: Iron Man A masterpiece that combines the aesthetics of experimental cinema and body horror. Cinematography is characterized by beautiful high contrasts between rich tones of black and white highlights and is rendered with an expressionist sensibility. At the same time, the low-budget stop-motion sequences are beautifully composed and shot. Tetsuo: Iron Man Shinya Tsukamoto was brought to the fore for good reason. A cyberpunk attack that everyone admits.
Five Nosferatu
Directed by FW Murnau and based on the iconic novel Dracula By Bram Stoker, Nosferatu Gustav von Wangenheim stars as Thomas Hatter, a real estate employee sent to Transylvania to talk to a new client, the mysterious Count Orlok (Max Schreck). The Count wants to buy a house near the Hatter’s mansion. However, as time goes on, Hutter becomes more and more convinced that Orlok is actually a vampire.Almost completely destroyed due to copyright issues, some copies Nosferatu survived and allowed this film to be recognized as a masterpiece.
By Fritz Arno Wagner and Günther Klumpf, Nosferatu‘s cinematography is characterized by intelligent use of shadows and minimal lighting during horror sequences. This total invisibility heightens the state of fear and contributes to Count Orlok’s mystical aura.
Four lighthouse
Co-written, co-produced and directed by Robert Eggers. lighthouse Robert Pattinson plays Ephraim Winslow, a lighthouse keeper who comes to an island off the coast of New England. He is overseen by Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe), another island resident and skilled keeper. Featuring an impressive performance by the duo of Pattinson and Dafoe, lighthouse is an aesthetic masterpiece exhibiting a 1.19:1 aspect ratio, reminiscent of 1930s movies with its square look.
lighthouse is one of those movies where every shot is meticulously crafted and nothing is out of place. Aspects of the film are also rudimentary, as the scaled-down images on the screen give a claustrophobic feeling that goes along with the plot. At the same time, the crew intelligently used natural scenery to frame and resolve characters in shots. work of art.
3 vampire
Co-written, co-produced and directed by Karl Theodor Dreyer. vampire Starring Nicholas de Gansberg as occult student Alan Gray. The student arrives near Courtonpierre and decides to spend the night at an inn near the village. He does not know that a vampire (Marguerite Chopin) has wandered into the place and bitten the inn owner’s daughter. After receiving mixed reviews upon its release, vampire It would later become a masterpiece of early horror.
This Danish horror is stylistically characterized by atmospheric and brooding cinematography. The washed-out, hazy effect produced by holding gauze in front of the camera contributes to the creation of dreamy visuals and is an intellectual reminder of the terrifying fog present in the film. vampire It was an exercise in terror, an eerie vision that haunted audiences, an achievement that has established itself as a milestone in horror to this day.
2 hunter night
hunter night It was the first and last film directed by actor Charles Laughton. Based on Davis Grubb’s novel of the same name, the film features Robert Mitchum as the ruthless Reverend Harry Powell, a minister who marries and kills widows for money. During his brief stay in prison, he hears about an inmate’s hidden $10,000 treasure, and after the prisoner dies and is released, Powell will do anything to get rich.
Nights of the Hunter is one of the most beautiful films of the 1950s, characterized by an expressionist tone borrowed from German films of the 1930s. At the same time, the night scenes are shot with incredible use of deep blacks and bright accents that make this noir feel like horror.
1 black sundae
black sundae Written, shot and directed by Mario Bava. Vee By Nikolai Gogol. One of his pinnacles in the Master of the Maccabal filmography, this 1960 horror of his is characterized by impeccable cinematography and gothic undertones. Since its launch, black sundae is respected around the world and is a reference for many horror directors.
Mario Bava worked his way up in the Italian film industry as a cinematographer and special effects artist before officially debuting as a director with this horror. black sundae The contrast between light and shade is high, perfect for Gothic stories. Plus, with its perfect camera moves and funeral lights, the opening scene is one of the all-time great inkips of him. Mario Bava is the king of Italian horror and this movie is proof of that.