Horror Movies From The 60s

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

Psycho is a 1960 horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It follows the story of Marion Crane, a young woman who impulsively steals $40,000 from her employer and goes on the run. She stops at the Bates Motel, run by a peculiar man named Norman Bates. As Marion’s stay at the motel progresses, mysterious and unnerving events begin to unfold. It is eventually revealed that Norman Bates is suffering from a mental disorder that has resulted in a mental split between his own personality and that of his deranged mother. The film culminates in a shocking and violent climax as Marion’s sister and private detective attempt to uncover the truth. Psycho is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films of all time.

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

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a 1962 psychological horror film directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The story follows two aging sisters, Baby Jane Hudson (Davis) and Blanche Hudson (Crawford), who live together in a decaying Hollywood mansion. Jane, the former child star, resents Blanche for her successful career as a Hollywood actress. When Blanche is confined to a wheelchair after a mysterious accident, Jane begins to terrorize her with psychological and physical abuse. As her behavior becomes increasingly erratic, it's revealed that Jane has been harboring a dark and deadly secret from her past. The film is a powerful exploration of the bond between sisters and the lengths one will go to protect the one they love.

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

The Innocents is a psychological horror film based on the Henry James novella, The Turn of the Screw. Directed by Jack Clayton, the film follows the Governess, played by Deborah Kerr, who arrives at the estate of her new employer, and is tasked with caring for two young children, Miles and Flora. However, she soon begins to experience strange and supernatural occurrences, believing the property to be haunted by two ghosts, Miss Jessel and Peter Quint, who had a dubious relationship while they were alive. As the Governess attempts to protect the children from the ghosts, she finds herself enmeshed in a situation where reality, imagination and fear become difficult to distinguish.

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

Cape Fear is a classic suspense thriller directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, and Polly Bergen. It tells the story of Max Cady, a former criminal recently released from prison, who seeks revenge on a lawyer, Sam Bowden, who had testified against him many years earlier. Cady begins to stalk Bowden and his family in order to exact his revenge. With Bowden unable to use the law to stop Cady, he is forced to take matters into his own hands to protect his family. The film culminates in a dramatic showdown between Bowden and Cady on a remote beach.

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

Eyes Without a Face is a French horror-drama film released in 1960 and directed by Georges Franju. The film follows a brilliant Parisian doctor who is desperately searching for a way to restore the beauty of his daughter's face, disfigured in a terrible automobile accident. In order to do this, the doctor kidnaps young women and removes their faces in order to graft them onto his daughter's. As the police close in on the doctor and his daughter, a tragic fate awaits them both. The film is a masterful blend of horror, drama, and suspense that has been praised for its intelligent and thoughtful approach to its subject matter.

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

The Birds is a 1963 American horror-thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It tells the story of a series of sudden and unexplained bird attacks on the people of Bodega Bay, California over the course of a few days. The film stars Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren and Jessica Tandy. The film follows Melanie Daniels, a young socialite who travels to Bodega Bay to meet Mitch Brenner, a lawyer whom she has recently met. After they spend a day together, strange and hostile birds start attacking the townspeople, their homes and businesses. As the situation worsens, the townspeople must find a way to survive the relentless bird attacks and prevent them from spreading further.

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

The Time Machine is a 1960 science fiction film directed by George Pal and based on the 1895 novel of the same name by H.G. Wells. The film follows a scientist and inventor named George (played by Rod Taylor) who builds a time machine and takes a journey 800,000 years into the future. Once there, he discovers a strange new world where two races of people have evolved: the Eloi, a peaceful group of people who live in the upper level of a two-tiered world, and the Morlocks, a subterranean race of mole-like creatures who hunt the Eloi for food. George must find a way to send the Eloi to safety and return to his own time before the Morlocks can stop him. Through a series of thrilling adventures, George ultimately succeeds in his mission and returns to his own time.

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