As the twisted horror anthology V/H/S Viral heads to select theaters, it's a timely reminder that many horror-movie fans were introduced to the genre on videotape. Recently we covered five favorite recent horror anthologies, all released in the 21st century, so let's dig a little deeper to look at key anthology titles from the glory days of the videocassette era.
Creepshow (1982)
Paying tribute to horror comics that were popular in the 1950s, writer Stephen King and director George A. Romero cooked up five separate stories filled with macabre wit and a relish for gory effects. The sequel, Creepshow 2 (1987), doesn't quite match it, but it's worth checking out.
Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
The third and fourth episodes, directed by Joe Dante and George Miller, respectively, explore the outer limits of terror, remaking episodes of the influential TV show in new and more horrifying ways. The sense of dread is not achieved through explicit violence but, rather, imagination, as a little boy holds sway over his family due to the power he commands, and the sight of a monster at 20,000 feet makes a man question his sanity.
Cat's Eye (1985)
Stephen King again, this time exploring three tales of terror, tied together by a cat that really must have nine lives. With a great cast, including hard-core smoker James Woods and young Drew Barrymore, the stories leap and scratch at will under the jumpy direction of genre veteran Lewis Teague (Alligator, Cujo).
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)
Featuring one segment that was originally intended for Creepshow 2, this anthology flick takes inspiration from the TV series created by George A. Romero. It is, perhaps, a lesser film, yet it still offers scattered and satisfying delights.
Two Evil Eyes (1991)
An unusual two-part anthology based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe, directors George A. Romero and Dario Argento take advantage of the running time to develop their diabolical segments with greater depth. (Reportedly, the original plan was to have four episodes, but that didn't work out.)
If you're inclined to dig even deeper, we recommend two stylish British entries: Tales from the Crypt (1972) and its follow-up Tales That Witness Madness (1973), as well as The House That Dripped Blood (1971), scripted by Psycho author Robert Bloch. As temperatures drop, be sure to check out the spectacularly chilling Dead of Night (1945), which many consider the grandfather of all horror-anthology films.
