The Shining, playing Sunday on IFCOctober is horror month, at least in the United States, so I was expecting an uptick in horror films on TV this month, and I’m not disappointed. TCM kicks things off Monday night with some classic 1920s and 1930s horror, most of them must-sees. Newer horror isn’t totally out, either, as IFC plays Kubrick’s The Shining on Sunday (along with a couple of other Kubrick films on Wednesday). Outside of horror, TCM celebrates Nicholas Ray’s birthday with two of his earlier classics on Tuesday night, and continues their month-long tribute to Buster Keaton on Sunday night with some of his best-loved shorts and features.
Monday, October 3
9:00pm – TCM – Frankenstein
The most recognizable image of Frankenstein’s monster comes from this film, rather a departure from Mary Shelley’s novel, but nonetheless iconic as a film. More a tragedy than a horror film, almost, with Dr. Frankenstein’s god-like experiments yielding a monster whose very simplicity becomes his downfall, and self-righteous townspeople who become monsters themselves. Lots more subtlety and tenderness than you’d expect.
1931 USA. Director: James Whale. Starring: Colin Clive, Boris Karloff, Mae Clarke.
Must See
9:00pm – IFC – The Descent
There aren’t too many people better at straight-up genre fare with flair than Neil Marshall, and this spelunking adventure gone wrong is a prime example – claustrophobia mounts as our characters are trapped in a cave, but that’s not all they have to deal with down there.
2005 UK. Director: Neil Marshall. Starring: Shauna macdonald, Natalie Jackson Mendoza, Alex Reid.
(repeats at 2:00am on the 4th)
10:15pm – TCM – Freaks
Or, Tod Browing’s circsploitation film, featuring many actual sideshow performers, which has been banned here and there, on and off, since its initial release in 1932. I actually haven’t seen it myself, though it’s been on my list for some time.
1932 USA. Director: Tod Browning. Starring: Olga Baclanova, Harry Earles, Wallace Ford, Leila Hyams.
12:30am (4th) – TCM – Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Fredric March won his first Oscar for his role as the meek doctor and his violent alter ego, but honestly, the make-up department deserves most of those accolades. Well-done, posh version of the story.
1931 USA. Director: Rouben Mamoulian. Starring: Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins.
3:30am (4th) – TCM – The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
One of the most notable examples of German Expressionism, its also a highly watchable film about a strange series of murders that may be tied back to a somnambulist controlled by the somewhat sinister Dr. Caligari. The heightened emotions and strikingly off-kilter set designs and high contrast lighting would all be greatly influential on film noir a few decades later.
1919 Germany. Director: Robert Weine. Starring: Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt, Friedrich Feher.
Must See
4:45am (4th) – TCM – Nosferatu
Made in 1922, this is still one of the greatest vampire movies ever made, and possibly the best version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (names are changed due to rights issues, but it’s Dracula at the core). F.W. Murnau epitomizes German Expressionism here with his use of moody light and shadow, while Max Schreck is the embodiment of the horror of Dracula, back before vampires got all sexy and stuff.
1922 Germany. Director: F.W. Murnau. Starring: Max Schreck, Gustav von Wangenheim, Greta Schroeder.
Must See
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