Stylised Madness and Monstrous Worlds

As we claw our way through the middle of the countdown, the films take on bolder styles and more abstract fears. Japanese erotica, Italian gialli, sci-fi nightmares, and gothic grandeur all make their presence known here, proving that the 1960s were just as experimental as they were eerie.

#40. Blind Beast (1969, dir. Yasuzo Masumura) ★★★½

A dark and disturbing study of obsession, art, and sensory overload. A blind sculptor kidnaps a model to create the ultimate work of tactile art in a room covered in human body parts. Erotic, surreal, and deeply unsettling—Masumura’s vision is uncompromising.

#39. Brides of Dracula (1960, dir. Terence Fisher) ★★★½

Despite the absence of Dracula himself, this Hammer gem remains a standout. Peter Cushing returns as Van Helsing, battling a suave, aristocratic vampire in a film loaded with atmosphere, stylised lighting, and gothic bravado. A masterclass in mood.

#38. The Curse of the Werewolf (1961, dir. Terence Fisher) ★★★½

Hammer’s only werewolf outing features a tragic Oliver Reed in a role bursting with animalistic energy. Beautiful production design and a uniquely Spanish setting give it flavour, even if the pacing isn’t as tight as Hammer’s best.

#37. Planet of the Vampires (1965, dir. Mario Bava) ★★★½

Sci-fi and horror converge in this visually stunning Italian thriller. Before Alien, Bava gave us cosmic terror, fog-drenched atmospheres, and mind-controlled astronauts. A template for space-bound horror, dripping in mood and style.

#36. The Flesh and the Fiends (1960, dir. John Gilling) ★★★½

Based on the real-life Burke and Hare murders, this British film stars Peter Cushing as Dr. Knox. With a gritty realism and moral ambiguity, it’s an early stab at true crime horror. More grounded than gory, but disturbing all the same.

#35. At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul (1963, dir. José Mojica Marins) ★★★½

The debut of Coffin Joe, Brazil’s top-hatted, nihilistic horror icon. A mix of pulp philosophy, sadism, and folk terror, it shocked audiences and forged a new path for South American horror. A gritty, nasty little slice of cult legend.

#34. Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965, dir. Freddie Francis) ★★★½

The granddaddy of British horror anthologies. Peter Cushing’s tarot reader dooms five strangers aboard a train in classic portmanteau fashion. It set the blueprint for Amicus’s horror output to come. Charming, spooky, and full of cobwebbed delights.

#33. Onibaba (1964, dir. Kaneto Shindō) ★★★½

A hypnotic mix of war, eroticism, and ghostly fear set in feudal Japan. Two women lure and kill soldiers in a ravaged swamp—until one dons a demon mask with tragic consequences. Stark, sensual, and utterly haunting.

#32. The Diabolical Dr. Z (1966, dir. Jess Franco) ★★★½

A strange, stylish revenge tale blending sci-fi, hypnosis, and pulp tropes. A female scientist uses a mind-controlled dancer to avenge her father’s death. With its cabaret horror tone, it’s one of Franco’s more coherent and visually rich outings.

#31. Black Sabbath (1963, dir. Mario Bava) ★★★½

Bava delivers three gothic tales of terror, with Boris Karloff hosting and starring. From cursed rings to vengeful spirits and vampiric folklore, this Italian anthology mixes moody lighting, eerie pacing, and operatic horror. Essential viewing.

Part 4: #30–21 – Madness, Demons, and Psychological Dread coming soon!