The 1970s were a historic time forhorrormovies. Some of thebest and most iconic horror filmsof all time were released during this decade, including haunting favorites likeHalloween,The Wicker Man, andThe Exorcist. Many of these delightfully scary films even went on to launch massive franchises, guiding the future of the genre for many years to come. From fearsome creatures to deranged killers, the ’70s had something to offer for all types of horror lovers.
Of course, not every film from that era could be as well-known asJawsorThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Plenty of incrediblehorror movies from the ’70s have been largely forgotten, not because of their quality, but merely because they ended up being overshadowed by the more iconic films of the decade. Although they may not be the most recognizable ones, thesehorror movies from the 1970s offer lots of gore, creative stories, and plenty of heart-pounding scares to satisfy any fan of the genre.
Directed By Alfred Sole
Alice, Sweet Alice
Alice, Sweet Alice is a 1976 thriller that unfolds the story of a 12-year-old girl named Alice, who becomes the center of suspicion following the brutal murder of her younger sister Karen. Set in an eerie small-town atmosphere, the film delves into themes of family dynamics and psychological tension.
Originally titledCommunion, the 1976 film,Alice, Sweet Alice, combines elements of psychological terror and slasher movies to create a thrilling horror extravaganza. Directed by Alfred Sole, the chilling events of this film play out in Paterson, New Jersey in the year 1961. When nine-year-old Karen is brutally killed during her First Communion, all eyes turn to her twelve-year-old sister, Alice. When more people begin turning up dead, the community must begin to wonder what this child could truly be capable of.
Made on a budget of only $350,000,Alice, Sweet Aliceproves that movies don’t need outlandish creatures and overwhelming special effects to be absolutely terrifying. The film employs an unnerving style similar to that ofPsycho, as well as the other Alfred Hitchcock movies that inspired it. With a cast including Linda Miller, Mildred Clinton, and Brooke Shields (in her film debut),Alice, Sweet Alicepromises to horrify its viewers with its disturbing perspective on the true evil that lurks within certain people.
Directed By Michael Winner
The Sentinel
The Sentinel, released in 1977, follows fashion model Alison Parker as she moves into a Brooklyn Heights apartment filled with eccentric tenants. Confronted by unsettling events, Parker seeks to unveil the ominous secret behind her new residence’s troubling inhabitants.
What would you do if you discovered that the building you just moved into was actually the gateway to Hell? This chilling question lies at the center ofThe Sentinel, an unsettling 1977 horror film directed by Michael Winner. Cristina Raines stars as Alison Parker, a woman who persistently struggles with trauma from her childhood, only to have her existence become far more complex than she ever imagined when she makes some shocking discoveries about her new apartment.
While the story and effects are certainly very captivating, what really helpsThe Sentinelshine are the performances. Raines shines as Alison, managing to convey a dazzling array of emotions within the film’s relatively brief runtime. Many prominent stars also appear in the film in supporting roles, making the film thoroughly enjoyable for all types of cinema lovers. Christopher Walken, Jeff Goldblum, and Beverly D’Angelo are among the major stars who had early-career appearances in this spooky film.
Directed By John Hough
The Legend Of Hell House
The Legend of Hell House follows a group of researchers, including a physicist and two mediums, as they investigate the notoriously haunted Belasco House. Directed by John Hough and based on Richard Matheson’s novel, the film immerses viewers in an atmospheric and eerie exploration of paranormal phenomena and the psychological toll it takes on the investigators.
For decades, the idea of the haunted house has been a staple of the horror genre. A classic example of a movie making the most out of this trope isThe Legend of Hell House. Released in 1973, this eerie film follows a group of investigators who agree to stay in the former home of a mad murderer in an attempt to get to the bottom of the strange events that have unfolded on the grounds. Before long, it becomes all too clear that something supernatural is at play and that not everyone will make it out of the house alive.
The Legend of Hell Houseis directed by John Hough, whose knack for suspense is certainly put to good use throughout the film. Pamela Franklin and Roddy McDowall are among the stars, although the film actually features a rather small cast. This works in the movie’s favor, though, as it allows the audience to feel a stronger connection to each character, making their peril all the more frightening.The Legend of Hell Housemay be one of many haunted house stories, but it is far from a forgettable one.
Directed By George A. Romero
Martin
Martin is a 1976 horror film directed by George A. Romero. It follows a young man, who believes he is a vampire, as he struggles with his blood-craving urges while living with his elderly cousin in a small Pennsylvania town. The film examines themes of identity and isolation.
George A. Romero may have made a name for himself with hisNight of the Living Dead Movies, but they are definitely not the filmmaker’s only exploration of the horror genre. In 1977, Romero switched his focus from zombies to vampires with his twisted film,Martin.Martinstars John Amplas as the titular character, a young man who lives his life under the rigid belief that he is, in reality, a bloodsucking vampire. This strange belief guides Martin to perform horrifying, gruesome acts, which he views as an essential function of who he is.
Martinstands out from other horror movies of the ’70s thanks to its profoundly unique premise. Romero’s fascinating direction and writing will not only scare its viewers, but will make them think deeply about what they have just seen. With an ending that remains shocking no matter how many times it is seen,Martinis a refreshingly unique vampire movie that will leave audiences with several chilling questions about what it means to be a monster.
Directed By John Hancock
Let’s Scare Jessica to Death
Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, directed by John D. Hancock, follows Jessica, recently discharged from a mental institution, as she settles into a country house with her husband and friend. Her fragile state is further shaken by the presence of a mysterious girl and the ominous forces that begin to unfold around her.
Horror movies often thrive on making their viewers feel the same sense of fear being experienced by the characters. John Hancock’s 1971 horror feature, however, forces viewers to sympathize with a different unsettling feeling: uncertainty.Let’s Scare Jessica to Deathoffers an eerie portrait of a psychologically unstable woman who begins believing that she is being tormented by something supernatural and very dangerous. When more and more strange circumstances begin to arise, it becomes increasingly difficult for Jessica to discern what is real.
Let’s Scare Jessica to Deathtriumphs in its ability to effectively confuse its audience whenever it wants to. When watching a horror movie, a sense of certainty can be a great comfort to viewers, even in particularly frightening circumstances.Let’s Scare Jessica to Deatheliminates that certainty, making viewers unsure of who they can trust, and what is actually real. This constant ambiguity makes the film a haunting story that is bound to stick in viewers' minds long after the credits stop rolling.
Directed By Roy Ward Baker
The Vault of Horror
The Vault of Horror is a 1973 British horror anthology film and a sequel to Tales from the Crypt. It features five strangers trapped in a basement vault who reveal their recurring nightmares, which involve themes of vampires, dismemberment, eastern mysticism, insurance scams, and deadly artistry.
Horror fans may be familiar withTales from the Crypt, but not nearly as many know about its 1973 follow-up feature,The Vault of Horror. Like its predecessor,The Vault of Horroris an anthology film, offering five self-contained horror stories, each one presenting its own horrifying message. Because of how it is structured, viewers do not need to have seenTales from the Cryptin order to thoroughly enjoy all the frightening scenarios the film presents. Each story is framed as the personal nightmare of one of five men trapped in a mysterious underground lair.
10 Best Vampire Movies From The 1970s
The vampire movies that proliferated in the ‘70s weren’t your run-of-the-mill graveyard spookfests. The medieval monster got noticeably…freakier.
The Vault of Horroris perfect for fans of short-form horror stories, similar to those presented inThe Twilight Zone. Although the different segments cover a wide range of topics (everything from vampires to magical paintings), each one is as horrifying as the next. The film’s unusual structure guarantees that there will be something perfect for all types of horror lovers, regardless of which subset of the genre is their personal favorite.
Directed By Colin Eggleston
Long Weekend
Long Weekend is an Australian psychological thriller released in 1979. It follows a suburban couple who venture to a remote beach for a camping trip, only to encounter increasingly hostile natural elements. The film explores themes of environmental tension and human disconnection from nature.
Revenge stories are certainly not too uncommon when it comes to the horror genre. Numerous films depict people (or supernatural figures) going to extreme, deadly lengths to ensure that justice is served. However, Colin Eggleston’s 1978 feature,Long Weekend, put a clever spin on this idea. In a surprising twist, the entity seeking revenge in this unsettling film is nature itself. When a bitter couple relentlessly abuses the environment around them while on a camping retreat, nature has no choice but to rise up and exact its own bloody revenge.
Long Weekendmay have been filmed and set in Australia, but its message applies to the entire world; don’t mess with nature, unless you want nature to mess with you. The film offers a brutal depiction of the violent consequences of abusing the environment, one that emphasizes the true power of the natural world.Long Weekendis unique in the way it actually sides with the supposed “antagonist,” with the main human characters each doing very little to gain any real sympathy from the audience, making the film’s brutal second half all the more satisfying.
Directed By Bob Clark
Black Christmas
Black Christmas is a 1974 horror movie from A Christmas Story director Bob Clark. The Canadian slasher centers on sorority girls who are stalked and killed by a crazed killer during the holiday season. Throughout the film, the teenagers get strange and threatening calls from the killer known as Billy. Black Christmas recieved mixed reviews upon release but has since become a cult classic.
In recent years, many filmmakers have capitalized on the unnerving juxtaposition of setting a horror movie during Christmastime. The 1974 Canadian slasher movie,Black Christmas, however, explored the idea before it became popularized. This gory holiday film follows the deadly events that unfold within a sorority house where the girls are celebrating Christmas. Things take a deadly turn for the sorority when they start receiving suspicious phone calls, and the residents begin winding up dead. Little do they know that the killer has been inside all along, leading toBlack Christmas' perfect ending.
Though it is about as far from being a “lighthearted Christmas movie” as possible,Black Christmasoffers a consistently exciting experience, one that is perfect for horror lovers to enjoy when the holiday season rolls around. Where the film thrives the most is in its use of suspense. By immediately being shown that the killer is inside the house, the audience knows right away that this Christmas party is not going to have a happy ending. It is only a matter of time before the festive celebration turns deadly.
Directed By Freddie Francis
The Creeping Flesh
The Creeping Flesh follows a scientist who theorizes that evil is a bloodborne disease and experiments with a mysterious skeleton to protect his daughter. He hopes to prevent the insanity that afflicted his wife from affecting her, but his efforts lead to unforeseen consequences.
Set in the midst of the Victorian Era,The Creeping Fleshis an inventive horror film about a back-from-the-dead evil. Released in 1973, this British horror film features a scientist recounting his discovery of a mysterious ancient skeleton. This proved to be no simple paleontological discovery, though, as the skeleton would grow flesh and resume its evil ways when exposed to water. A series of misguided experiments and a poorly timed rainstorm quickly turnThe Creeping Fleshinto a horror story for the ages.
10 Best 1970s Horror Movies
Many key horror movie tropes were established in the 1970s, thanks to classic genre films like Black Christmas, The Exorcist, Alien, and Jaws.
Thanks to its fascinating premise and a compelling performance by Christopher Lee,The Creeping Fleshis a captivating showcase of what ’70s horror was all about. The film takes an interestingly scientific approach to the evil at its center, remaining determined to offer concrete explanations of the supernatural forces it presents, instead of merely relying on the audience to blindly accept them. Of course, this approach only makes the reanimated creature all the more terrifying when it achieves its potential.
Tourist Trap
Part of what made the ’70s such an exciting era for horror were the delightfully twisted premises of some of its movies. David Schmoeller’s 1979 feature,Tourist Trap, perfectly encapsulates the outlandish nature of the horrific ideas being turned into films during this decade. This spooky slasher film follows a group of young adults who find themselves trapped in a dangerous setting when their car breaks down on a secluded road. Matters get even more complicated when the group is tormented by a group of mannequins and other objects being controlled by a killer with psychokinetic abilities.
Tourist Trapis a deeply unique horror film, but it still manages to include practically every iconic element of the genre: a deranged killer, a group of frightened victims, a creepy setting, and more.The film takes all of these beloved elements and infuses them with its own terrifying twist, creating an experience that is horrifying from beginning to end.Tourist Trapmay not be the most well-known horror film of the ’70s, but it is one that is quite difficult to forget.
