About One Hour Horror Movies
Horror, perhaps more than any other type of story, is crafted by true fans of the genre. Horror lovers enjoy the terror, the gore, and the suspense so much that sometimes they don’t even need to make full length features. There are plenty of films that are one hour long or less that were created for the sole purpose of other horror fans getting their fix in.
1. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
The Germans are well known for making bizarre expressionist films, and The Cabinet the Doctor Caligari is definitely one of the most well-known. The story follows a murderous hypnotist and uses a very dark style that makes it a pioneer in horror cinema. It might be considered outdated by today’s standards, but it was groundbreaking at the time and is oddly prescient in its symbolism in the run-up to World War II.
2. Blood: The Last Vampire (2000)
Anime is certainly known for taking horror to an extreme, and Blood: The Last Vampire is a great piece of animation and storytelling. It is primarily about a young girl who is apparently the last vampire, however she hunts other creatures that might threaten humanity. The animation does a fabulous job blending 3D and 2D styles to create a truly unique look that anime fans would appreciate
3. Ju-on: Black/White Ghost
Horror fans are well aware that Ju-on is the Japanese original of the Grudge films Hollywood remade. These are actually two separate films that focus on two different families in The Grudge universe, rather than the primary family of ghosts that the main installments typically feature. They were released as parts of the 10th anniversary of the franchise and are just as scary as the original.
4. The Golem (1915)
There’s something about the ambition of early horror films that should be applauded. The Golem was a German film that adapted a creature from Jewish folklore as a monster for the screen. However, even back then filmmakers new horror’s potential for nuance characters. The Golem follows traditional tragic monsters like Frankenstein into being a film that was ahead of its time.
5. The Amusement Park (2022)
The Amusement Park is a bizarre film created by zombie master George A. Romero. He was hired by an organization to create an educational film about elder abuse. The result is a very twisted tale about a man being taken advantage of in an amusement park. The film was actually considered lost for decades until it was recently rediscovered and released through streaming.
RELATED: Romero’s The Amusement Park is a Gift to Fans and Film Buffs Everywhere
6. Van Helsing: The London Assignment (2004)
Animated films are truly a great way to expand upon existing franchises. What’s even cooler is when they fill in gaps that the main story may have missed. The Hugh Jackman Van Helsing movie starts off with him battling Mr. Hyde in Paris. How and why Van Helsing got there is explained in this very satisfying prequel.
7. Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury (2004)
It’s kind of bizarre how they took the Vin Diesel character in Pitch Black and decided to develop an entire franchise based around him. This includes two live action films, a video game, and, of course, an animated film as well. Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury seeks to connect the events of Pitch Black with Chronicles of Riddick. It’s not groundbreaking, but fans of the character would find something to enjoy.
8. Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
Maya Deren was considered a titan of the avant-garde genre. Meshes of the Afternoon is more considered an experimental short rather than a horror movie, but because it’s so strange and bizarre, it has many elements that are utilized in today’s world of horror. It’s completely nonsensical and has zero storyline, but film buffs that appreciate the evolution of the medium would be wise to give it a watch.
9. Necrophobia (1995)
Necrophobia is a bizarre Dutch film that was released in 1995. The story follows a depressed widow who begins lifting his spirits once he starts dating a beautiful woman. Unfortunately, the story takes a strange turn when he learns a secret that connects his new girlfriend with his dead wife. It’s definitely a film that puts more care into the technical aspect of its filmmaking rather than any big budget monsters or jump scares.
10. The Mummy’s Hand (1940)
Universal Studios had quite a successful run of monster movies which included Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Invisible Man. The Mummy is included in that list, but his sequels tended to be on the shorter side. While not as well made as its fellow sequels, The Mummy’s Hand still has enough ancient Egyptian horror for fans of the original to enjoy.
Have you seen any of these One Hour Horror Films?
Which films on here have you seen? Did you love or hate any of these one hour horror films?
Let us know on social media.
