Horror 2026 Countdown: The Second Civil War (1997)

The Second Civil War (1997), dir. Joe Dante, Baltimore Pictures/HBO Pictures 

Boy, either this aged extremely well or not at all.

Horror 2026 Countdown: The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), dir. Roger Corman, the Filmgroup/Santa Clara Productions

Roger Corman had already earned a reputation for cranking films fast, but how fast could he go? After finishing a Bucket of Blood early, Corman and the crew shot another film with the same set in about forty-eight hours. 

Horror 2026 Countdown: The Spirit is Willing (1967)

The Spirit is Willing (1967), dir. William Castle, William Castle Productions 

William Castle's work as a director was always workmanlike but his attempts at comedy tended to be mixed at best. 

Horror 2026 Countdown: Rope (1948)

Rope (1948), dir. Alfred Hitchcock, Transatlantic Pictures 

The Leopold and Loeb case was one of the most shocking murder trials of the 1920s, so why shouldn't Hitchcock tackle it?

Horror 2026 Countdown: The Great Buddha Arrival (1934)

The Great Buddha Arrival (1934), dir. Yoshiro Edamasa, Giant Buddha Movie Factory

We end our lookback at giant monsters with what may very well be the first giant monster from Japan, or at least the earliest one on record.

Horror 2026 Countdown: The Lost World (1925)

The Lost World (1925), dir. Harry O. Hoyt, First National Pictures 

Geoges Melies may have set the standard for special effects, but Willis O'Brien raised the bar and here we see the results. 

Horror 2026 Countdown: Mighty Joe Young (1949)

Mighty Joe Young (1949), dirs. Merian C. Cooper/Ernest B. Schoedsack, RKO Radio Pictures 

The giant monster craze really hadn't kicked off proper yet, at least not in the United States. The old master, Willis O'Brien, was still going but there was a new kid on the stop motion block-Ray Harryhausen. This film would be the only where the two men ever worked together.