[NB: All of the following movies are public domain movies – available online and free to watch.]
Nosferatu (1922)
Nosferatu, a silent masterpiece, is considered as one of the greatest horror movies ever made. The eerie silence and grand symphonic music lend the film a Gothic atmosphere. Its appearance, style and direction combined together makes it a must see movie for all horror fans.
A lawyer, Thomas Hutter, is sent to Transylvania to visit a new client named Count Orlok. Thomas's fiancée is Ellen. He entrusts his friends Harding, and Harding's sister Annie to look after Ellen during his absence. On his way to Count's castle, Thomas is warned by villagers not to go there at night.
Count Orlok (Max Schreck) is a thin old man, almost horrifying to look at. While continuing his assignment, Hutter begins to encounter strange things. Orlok agrees to buy the house. However, by this time, Hutter begins to suspect that Orlok may be Nosferatu, "The Bird of Death". Hutter eventually manages to escape. Nosferatu follows him. He reaches Hutter's town, as the young man must hurry to save his fiancée Ellen from the evil clutches of Nosferatu.
If you are a film buff and enjoy a good thrill, you should definitely give this horror classic a shot.
Main casts are Alexander Granach, Gustav von Wangenheim, John Gottowt, Max Nemetz and Max Schreck.
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Director: FW Murnau
Country: Germany
The Golem (1921)
In 16th-century Prague, Jewish Rabbi Loew makes a giant creature from clay, namely the Golem. When the Holy Roman Emperor starts to persecute the Jews, the Rabbi brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague. Afterwards, the rabbi's assistant, Famulus takes control of the golem and uses it t accomplish his evil designs, which include abducting the beautiful Miriam, Loew's beloved daughter. Thus the creature stands against its creator and begins to create havoc in the area. The main concept of the film is borrowed from the 1915 novel "The Golem" by Gustav Meyrink.
The filming locations include Berliner Union-Film, Tempelhof, Berlin, Germany. The original title of the film is "Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam." The Golem is undoubtedly a great Gothic classic which is very entertaining as a story and as a masterpiece of dramatic film making.
Main casts of the film – Albert Steinrück, Ernst Deutsch, Hans Stürm, Lyda Salmonova and Paul Wegener.
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Director: Carl Boese, Paul Wegener
Country: Germany
Total Runtime: 1 hr 31 min