Buzz
While streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu offer a wide array of horror films, you don’t need a subscription to enjoy a terrifying movie night. Some of the greatest horror classics are available for free on YouTube. Check out these top public domain horror films this spooky season.
1. Nosferatu (1922)
Dracula wasn’t in the public domain in Germany when F. W. Murnau made Nosferatu, which led to legal issues with Bram Stoker’s estate. Today, both Dracula and this unauthorized silent film adaptation are freely accessible to the public.
2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(1923)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, featuring the iconic Lon Chaney, was the film that launched Universal’s monster era. The chilling makeup in this silent classic remains impressive to this day.
3. House on Haunted Hill (1959)
No great horror movie marathon is complete without a Vincent Price performance. This film, where a group of individuals are dared to spend the night in a haunted house for $10,000, checks that box.
4. The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
If you love the Howard Ashman musical, be sure to watch the cheesy B-movie that inspired it. The original Little Shop of Horrors is perhaps most famous for Jack Nicholson’s early role as a masochistic dental patient, but the entire film is a must-see for fans of sci-fi schlock.
5. Carnival of Souls (1962)
Made on a tight budget, this film about a woman tormented by spirits after a car accident is a must-watch for indie horror enthusiasts. It’s the only film directed by Herk Harvey—unless you count his eerie Halloween PSAs.
6. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Night of the Living Dead ignited a zombie media craze that has lasted for over 50 years. George A. Romero’s film may lack the special effects seen in some modern zombie movies, but it remains a defining classic of the genre.
7. Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972)
One of the more recent films on this list, Silent Night, Bloody Night is an early example of holiday-themed horror. If you enjoyed Black Christmas (1974), which was released just two years later, this one’s a must-see.
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