Welcome back to The Video Store Podcast, where every week I recommend four films for you to rent from the video store this week. Today, we’re diving into the world of classic horror anthologies. These are films that tell several stories within one, often with a framing device that ties everything together. If you’re a fan of short, chilling tales, this episode is for you.
First up is Dead of Night from 1945. This British film is one of the earliest horror anthologies and remains highly influential. It features five stories, all connected by a group of strangers who meet at a country house and realize they’ve all been having strange dreams. It’s one of the first films to introduce the now-classic “ventriloquist dummy” horror trope, with a segment that stands out as one of the creepiest of the film. Directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Federico Fellini have praised Dead of Night for its surreal and unsettling atmosphere.
Next, we have Black Sabbath, a 1963 Italian horror anthology directed by Mario Bava. It’s made up of three stories, and depending on which version you watch, the order of those stories might change. Boris Karloff, famous for his role as Frankenstein’s monster, appears in the third story and also introduces each segment. Bava’s use of color in this film is incredible, especially in “The Wurdalak,” a tale about vampires, which Karloff stars in. Bava’s visual style and ability to create mood really shine here, and the film is often credited with helping to shape Italian horror.
The third recommendation is Kwaidan from 1964, a Japanese anthology directed by Masaki Kobayashi. The film adapts four traditional Japanese ghost stories, each with a unique, haunting style. It’s a slow-burn film, with gorgeous set design and a painterly use of color, especially in the story “The Woman of the Snow.” Kobayashi originally intended for the film to be much longer, but the studio asked him to cut it down, so there’s even more footage that exists beyond the version most people know. Kwaidan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, which isn’t typical for horror movies, especially one with such a dreamlike, experimental approach.
Finally, there’s The House That Dripped Blood from 1971. This British anthology was produced by Amicus Productions, a studio known for its anthology films, and it’s one of their best. The movie features four stories tied together by a detective investigating mysterious deaths at a house. Each tale explores different horror subgenres, from vampires to haunted waxworks. It stars some familiar faces like Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, who were regulars in British horror films of the era. The script was written by Robert Bloch, who’s probably best known for writing Psycho, so you know the storytelling is solid.
These four films are perfect examples of how diverse the anthology format can be, especially within the horror genre. They span different decades, countries, and styles, but all manage to deliver a range of creepy, atmospheric stories in one package. If you haven’t explored horror anthologies before, these films are a great starting point.
Thanks for listening to The Video Store Podcast. Be sure to check out these films, and I’ll be back next week with more recommendations.
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