1960s Horror Movies

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin
Rated R

Psycho is a classic thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960. Considered one of the greatest films of all time, Psycho tells the story of Marion Crane, a woman who steals $40,000 from her employer and goes on the run. She ends up at a secluded motel run by the mysterious Norman Bates and his domineering mother. As Marion and Norman's relationship grows, dark secrets from the past come to light and Marion finds herself in grave danger. With its shocking plot twists and iconic score, Psycho is a psychological masterpiece that continues to thrill audiences to this day.

From Robert Aldrich, starring Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Victor Buono, Wesley Addy
Rated Passed

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a 1962 psychological thriller directed by Robert Aldrich. The film stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford as two aging sisters, Jane and Blanche Hudson, living together in a decaying Hollywood mansion. Jane, once a child star, is now an embittered, alcoholic recluse while Blanche, a former movie star, is wheelchair-bound and dependent on Jane for her care. The sisters' relationship quickly becomes hostile as Blanche’s health deteriorates and Jane’s psychological state unravels, leading to a shocking climax. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning both Davis and Crawford Academy Award nominations.

From Jack Clayton, starring Deborah Kerr, Peter Wyngarde, Megs Jenkins, Michael Redgrave
Rated Not Rated

The Innocents is a classic psychological horror film directed by Jack Clayton, based on the novella The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. The film follows the story of Miss Giddens, a young governess, who is hired to look after two orphaned children, Miles and Flora, who live in an isolated country estate. Miss Giddens quickly becomes convinced that the estate is haunted by evil spirits and that the two children are being corrupted by them. As she dives deeper into the supernatural phenomena, she must confront the darkness within and around her. With deeply unsettling imagery and a sense of unrelenting dread, The Innocents is a timeless classic that examines the fragility of innocence and the dangers of unrestrained ambition.

From J. Lee Thompson, starring Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, Lori Martin
Rated Passed

Cape Fear is a psychological thriller directed by J. Lee Thompson in 1962. The film follows the story of Sam Bowden (Gregory Peck), a successful lawyer living in a small town, and Max Cady (Robert Mitchum), a convicted rapist recently released from prison. After Cady begins stalking Bowden and his family, Bowden attempts to use the law to keep Cady away from his family, only to find that Cady has a better understanding of the law than he does. As Cady turns up the pressure on the Bowden family, Sam and his wife Peg (Polly Bergen) enlist the help of a private investigator (Martin Balsam) to stop Cady. The film culminates in a violent confrontation between Bowden and Cady that leads to a shocking conclusion. Throughout the film, director J. Lee Thompson conveys the themes of justice, retribution, and the consequences of one's actions.

From Georges Franju, starring Pierre Brasseur, Alida Valli, Juliette Mayniel, Alexandre Rignault
Rated Not Rated

Eyes Without a Face is a classic French horror film directed by Georges Franju. The story follows Dr. Génessier, a brilliant surgeon who is desperately attempting to reconstruct the face of his daughter Christiane, who was disfigured in an automobile accident. To do this, he kidnaps young women to use as donor organs. But when his former assistant gets suspicious, the doctor must use all his skills to prevent his dark secrets from being exposed. The film is a melancholy and unsettling tale of obsession, sorrow, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette
Rated PG-13

The Birds is a 1963 psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film follows socialite Melanie Daniels as she travels to Bodega Bay, California, to meet Mitch Brenner. As their relationship develops, the birds of the area begin to act strangely, attacking residents in increasing numbers and intensity. After a series of terrifying attacks, Melanie and Mitch must work together to survive the relentless onslaught of birds. The film is a suspenseful and intense exploration of human vulnerability in the face of nature, and is considered one of Hitchcock's best works.

From George Pal, starring Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Sebastian Cabot
Rated G

The Time Machine is a classic science fiction film from 1960 directed by George Pal and starring Rod Taylor. The movie is based on the 1895 novel of the same name by H.G. Wells. It follows the story of Alexander Hartdegen, a scientist and inventor who builds a time machine in order to search for a way to change the past. After several failed attempts, Hartdegen travels 800,000 years into the future, where he is shocked to find a world divided between the peaceful Eloi and the savage Morlocks. He discovers that the Morlocks are using the Eloi as a food source and must use his time machine to travel back to the past in order to prevent the future he has seen. Along the way, he meets several characters who help him on his journey. In the end, Hartdegen is successful in his mission and returns to his own time, where he is a changed man.

From Robert Wise, starring Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn
Rated G

From Wolf Rilla, starring George Sanders, Barbara Shelley, Michael Gwynn, Laurence Naismith
Rated Not Rated

From Roger Corman, starring Vincent Price, Barbara Steele, John Kerr, Luana Anders
Rated Not Rated

From Mario Bava, starring Michèle Mercier, Lidia Alfonsi, Boris Karloff, Mark Damon
Rated Approved

From Roger Corman, starring Vincent Price, Mark Damon, Myrna Fahey, Harry Ellerbe
Rated Approved

From Sidney Hayers, starring Peter Wyngarde, Janet Blair, Margaret Johnston, Anthony Nicholls
Rated Not Rated

From Roger Corman, starring Vincent Price, Hazel Court, Jane Asher, David Weston
Rated Not Rated

From Roger Corman, starring Vincent Price, Maggie Pierce, Leona Gage, Peter Lorre
Rated Not Rated

From William Castle, starring Charles Herbert, Jo Morrow, Martin Milner, Rosemary DeCamp
Rated Not Rated