This article is part of a directory: Game Rant's Ultimate Guide To Horror Movies
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Since its inception, cinema has had a weird and sordid history. Many of these customs and events seem very bizarre by today's standards, especially when it comes to what was appropriate to show on film and what wasn't. Films push the envelope in so many ways these days when depicting violence and sex, it's hard to fathom what was seen as inappropriate back in the day.

What might be of particular interest to horror fans, is the history of the Hays Code and pre-Code horror films. The Hays Code was a code of ethics that films had to follow if they wanted widespread release. This was before the rating system that cinema-goers will know now, and it pretty much banned any graphic depictions of violence, profanity, and sex. It was made in 1930 but not widely enforced until 1934, which means that from the invention of the talkies until mid-1934 people kind of just went wild.

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Many classics of horror cinema were born in this era, but there are dozens worth checking out. The pre-Code talkie horror films are in many ways seen as better aging and more interesting than what came after the Code's enforcement, and fans should not be holding the fact that they are old against them. From mad scientists creating new life to creepy gothic houses with wild characters, there's a lot to unpack from those few years.

Frankenstein (1931)

frankenstein little girl

Most will know the broad story of Frankenstein, of course, based on Mary Shelley's classic novel. A mad scientist named Henry Frankenstein decides to build his own human using real body parts, thus creating Frankenstein's monster. Boris Karloff plays the monster in his most famous role.

The film is both scary and beautiful, with there being sad elements as well. Karloff's portrayal makes the character so sympathetic, but he still does things that are scary and disturbing to see. At one point, he even murders a little girl by accident. Content like this surely wouldn't have been allowed after the Hays Code was widely enforced, but it's important to Frankenstein being as effective as it is.

King Kong (1933)

King Kong 1933

The creation of King Kong was really the invention of the monster movie. By now, it's surely a classic and surely a staple for any creature feature lover. Despite there being multiple remakes that have performed well, the original will always reign supreme. Currently, it's listed as the best horror movie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes.

King Kong's special effects stand the test of time. The monster was created by stop-motion animation and, while it doesn't look like a real gorilla, it's very captivating and entertaining to watch. There's also more violence shown than one might expect, as the camera doesn't shy away from showing things like Kong squishing or eating people. It's chaotic and interesting, and fans continue to go back to it.

The Old Dark House (1932)

the old dark house

One year after Frankenstein, James Whale and Boris Karloff teamed up again for The Old Dark House. Because of his notoriety, Karloff is actually top-billed in this film despite not even having a speaking role. The story is kind of akin to something like Rocky Horror Picture Show. A couple is on a long drive in a heavy thunderstorm and finds themselves stranded, forced to ask for shelter from a strange family in a crumbling, gothic house.

This was actually one of the first, if not the first, films to have that strange and elaborate gothic house setting. That's a history-making feature of its own, but while the setting is great the plot is even better. It's just plain weird. The characters are bizarre and outlandish, with campy acting to match, and all the events of the film both make total sense and seem out of nowhere. It's just a good time, and it's aged really well. The Old Dark House is also known for its subtle LGBTQ messaging due to some characters and plot points and is now seen as an iconic queer film.

Freaks (1932)

freaks 1932

When it was originally released, Freaks was viewed as an abomination. It was banned by many countries for years and was seen as really grotesque and disturbing. Effectively, it ended the career of director Tod Browning who had previously been very well known for Dracula. Now, it's recognized as one of the most important films in cinematic history and is widely thought of as a masterpiece.

The plot centers on a group of sideshow "freaks" in a traveling circus. One of them becomes the victim of a beautiful trapeze artist who wants to marry him for his inheritance. Unfortunately, her plot gets found out and the freaks want their revenge. What's special about this film is not only the casting of real-life sideshow performers, though that's definitely a selling point. It's the imagery and the absolutely iconic dialogue that was born out of Freaks. Most people will know the "Gooble, gobble, we accept her, we accept her, one of us, one of us!" chant, even if they don't know its origin.

This film is genuinely frightening, and would easily scare new viewers to this day. It remains relevant in its themes, with many scholars believing that the movie makes statements on ableism and eugenics. It's also the source of so many references found not only throughout the world of horror, but cinema in general.

The Invisible Man (1933)

invisible man

Based on the novel of the same name by H.G. Wells, The Invisible Man is another James Whale-directed film starring Claude Rains in the iconic title role. His character is Dr. Jack Griffin who has had a secret experiment performed on him which makes him invisible. Of course, this power has gone to his head, and he begins pulling little pranks on the public-- which escalate into crimes.

There's a lot to love about this film. To this day, the special effects are extremely impressive. This surely would have shocked audiences in the early 1930s. It's also just a lot of fun to have a main character who is the villain. It's interesting and while he's not a sympathetic character in the slightest, his twisted sense of humor makes him easier to root for. For it being as old as it is, The Invisible Man doesn't really suffer at all from issues with pacing or being too dated, it remains pretty relevant both in themes and plot.

Of course, this is a long-beloved film, a Universal Pictures classic, and spawned a remake starring Elisabeth Moss in 2020.

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