With some notable exceptions, such asThe ExorcistandThe Silence of the Lambs, the horror genre has historically beenoverlooked by the Academy Awardsand other mainstream awards ceremonies. In general, the genre is often looked down upon by critics as a lower form of cinema, with horror films being dismissed either for being too simple and crowd-pleasing or for being too taboo.
However, many horror films have seriously lasted the test of time, proving themselves to be culturally important and artistically groundbreaking. From the silent movie era to the early 1960s,many classic horror filmswere made that remain in cultural conversation to this day due to their quality and originality. These are the 10 best classic horror films that never received Oscar nominations, either due to their country of origin, pre-dating the Oscars entirely, or simply being overlooked by the Academy.
10’The Invisible Man' (1933)
Directed by James Whale
Written byR. C. Sherriffand directed byJames Whale,The Invisible Manis a 1933 science fiction horror film adapted from the 1897H. G. Wellsnovel of the same name. The film centers around Dr. Jack Griffin (Claude Rains), a chemist who has found the secret to invisibility through his lab experiments and becomes unstable and violent due to side effects of his invisibility drug. Engaging in a murderous crime spree intent upon eventual domination, Griffin is pursued by the authorities as well as his friends and loved ones.
Thebest film in the classic movie seriesit spawned,The Invisible Manfeatures impressive special effects and a fun and engaging plot. The film is critically acclaimed due to its excellentblend of science-fiction and horror- two genres that often complement one another beautifully - as well as its inventive and unique premise, cementing it as one of the greatest classic horror films with no Oscar nominations.
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9’Onibaba' (1964)
Directed by Kaneto Shindō
Directed by Kaneto Shindō,Onibabais a 1964 Japanese historical drama/horror film. The film follows a young woman (Jitsuko Yoshimura) and her mother-in-law (Nobuko Otowa) as their relatively stable life of killing and robbing passing soldiers is interrupted by the arrival of their neighbor Hachi (Kei Satō). Jealous of her daughter-in-law’s growing relationship with Hachi, the older woman begins dressing as a demon to keep them apart at night.
Taking inspiration from traditional Buddhist folklore,Obibabais one ofJapan’s most underrated classic horrorfilms. The film is afavorite of actorWillem Dafoe, who once owned the rights to remake the film but eventually decided it was perfect as it was. Exploring themes of jealousy, isolation and Japanese cultural history,Onibabais an underappreciated classic.
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8’Frankenstein' (1931)
Written byFrancis Edward FaragohandGarrett Fortand directed byJames Whale,Frankensteinis a 1931 science-fiction horror film based onMary Shelley’s sensational 1818 novelFrankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. The film follows Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive), a promising young medical student, as he attempts to create life by building a creature (Boris Karloff) from human body parts and reigniting the brain with electricity.
Karloff’s performance as Frankenstein’s Monsteris one of the all-time great horror performances. He absolutely perfected the creature’s posture and movements, walking with a stiffness and a clumsiness that is completely believable both as someone un-dead and newborn. Alongside Karloff’s performance, the film’s excellent makeup andits menacing, Gothic atmosphereestablishedFrankensteinas anessential classic horror film.
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7’Carnival of Souls' (1962)
Directed by Herk Harvey
Written byJohn Cliffordand directed byHerk Harvey,Carnival of Soulsis a psychological supernatural horror film from 1962.Carnival of Soulsfollows Mary (Candace Hilligoss), a church organ player who begins to experience sinister ghoulish visions following a traumatic car accident. The film has aspooky and surreal atmosphereand asks whether Mary is being haunted, becoming psychologically disturbed or whether something altogether more strange is afoot.
Relatively unappreciated at its time of release,Carnival of Soulshas gained a strong cult following due to its merits as an art horror film. Herk Harvey’s strikingly ghostly cinematography adds an otherworldly quality to the film, placing the audience inside its protagonist’s head. Exploring themes of loneliness and urban alienation,Carnival of Soulsis a thoughtful and alluring classic horror film.
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6’Dracula' (1931)
Directed by Tod Browning
Written byGarrett Fortand directed byTod Browning,Draculais a 1931 horror film adapted fromBram Stoker’s famous novel of the same name. The film starsiconic Hungarian actorBela Lugosias the titular vampire Count Dracula and chronicles his evil deeds after traveling from Transylvania to London with the help of his bewitched slave Renfield (Dwight Frye).Draculawas the first of the famousUniversal monster movies, beginning one of the most significant trend cycles in horror history.
Lugosi’s performance in the film is phenomenal, becoming the most influential and frequently imitated interpretation of Count Dracula with his steely stare and thick Hungarian accent. The film was highlypraised by legendary film criticRoger Ebertdespite some of its more dated elements, with Ebert considering the film highly important for “technical reasons - for the stylized performances, the photography, the sets.“Draculais a vital part of horror history, despite its lack of Academy Award recognition, and it still remains a very entertaining watch.
5’Häxan' (1922)
Directed by Benjamin Christensen
Shot in Denmark and produced by a Swedish company,Benjamin Christensen’sHäxanis a silent horror essay film that focuses on the history and folklore of witches throughout the centuries. Through dramatized scenes, historical texts and documentary sequences, the film covers ideas of demonic interference and religion and explores theories about the origins of witch trials and their potential connections to mental illness.
Despite being over 100 years old,Häxanis still creepyand effective to this day. One of thebest Nordic horror filmsever made, the film features creative and impressive set design and costuming that makes its demonic entities still genuinely eerie. Controversial upon release, especially because of its occult themes,Häxanhas stood the test of time as an extremely original film that remains genuinely compelling.
4’Nosferatu' (1922)
Directed by F. W. Murnau
Directed byF. W. Murnauand written byHenrik Galeen,Nosferatuis a 1922 silent horror film from Germany, based onBram Stoker’sDracula. The film starsMax Schreckas the menacing vampire Count Orlok - the film’s analogue for Count Dracula - who feeds on the blood of innocent townspeople and transports the plague as he travels. Orlok takes particular interest in Ellen (Greta Schröder), the wife of his estate agent Thomas (Gustav von Wangenheim), after being entranced by her “lovely neck”.
With anupcoming remake fromRobert Eggers,Nosferaturemains extremely culturally relevant. Max Schrek’s sinister Count Orlok established the film as one of horror’s all-timegreatest monster movies, with the image of him ascending Ellen’s stairs being one of the most iconic images in the horror genre. Indulging heavily in the Gothic and the macabre,Nosferatuis an indisputable horror classic that pre-dated the Academy Awards by 7 years.
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3’Eyes Without a Face' (1960)
Directed by Georges Franju
Based on the novel byJean Redon,Eyes Without a Faceis a 1960 French horror film directed byGeorges Franju. The film follows a plastic surgeon (Pierre Brasseur) and his assistant (Alida Valli) who routinely kidnap women to use for illegal face transplants to reconstruct his daughter Christiane’s (Édith Scob) face. The film is famous for its graphic content and for the blank and expressionless mask Christiane is forced to wear to conceal her facial disfigurement.
Although her mask makes her visually creepy, Christiane is a sympathetic and gentle character, symbolically represented through images of caged birds and dogs. Scob’s performance is quietly haunting, despite only her eyes being visible for the majority of the runtime.Eyes Without a Faceis a beautiful and subtle horror film that contains images that are genuinely shocking to this day, and did not receive the acclaim it deserved at the time of release.
Eyes Without a Face
A disfigured young woman is confined to her father’s secluded mansion, where he, a once-renowned plastic surgeon, attempts to restore her beauty through illicit surgeries. Driven by guilt and desperation, he captures subjects to create the perfect mask for his daughter, spiraling into madness and terror.
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2’The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' (1920)
Directed by Robert Wiene
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligariis a German Expressionist silent horror film from 1920, written byCarl MayerandHans Janowitzand directed byRobert Wiene. The film takes place in a village brought to life by twisted and surrealist set design, in which a mysterious somnambulist named Cesare (Conrad Veidt) and hissinister caretaker Dr. Caligari(Werner Krauss) perform a sideshow attraction. As the village is plagued by mysterious murders, an investigation begins to uncover dark secrets.
The film’s uncanny scenery - highly inspired by the German Expressionist movement - created some incredibly striking and memorable images. Totally accessible for modern audiences despite its lack of spoken dialogue, the film remains a key staple of the art-horror subgenre.The Cabinet of Dr. Caligariis a shockinglysophisticated and thought-provoking filmthat explores themes of tyranny, exploitation and mental illness and also features one of horror’s first twist endings.
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1’The Innocents' (1961)
Directed by Jack Clayton
The Innocentsis a British horror film from 1961, written byWilliam ArchibaldandTruman Capote- with additional dialogue fromSir John Mortimer- and directed byJack Clayton. The film is an adaptation of the 1898Henry JamesnovellaThe Turn of the Screwand follows a governess (Deborah Kerr) who becomes convinced of supernatural occurrences surrounding her and the children she cares for (played byMartin StephensandPamela Franklin).
The Innocentshas stunning cinematography, making the very most of its vast mansion setting andutilizing eerie darkness and shadowsto emphasize its ghostly atmosphere. The film is psychologically deeply compelling, playing with questions of the protagonist’s sanity and exploring themes of trauma, abuse and repression. Despite being nominated for both Best British Film and Best Film at the 1962 BAFTAs,The Innocentsnever received any Academy Award nominations, making it one of the very best classic horror films without Oscar recognition.
