With a remake of the original Nosferatu coming soon from director Robert Eggers, the lasting influence of German horror cinema is plain to see. Some of the earliest horror masterpieces were German-language productions, without which we might not have the later American classics: Frankenstein, The Mummy, Dracula, The Invisible Man. These and other genre films owe much to the work of directors like F.W. Murnau and Robert Wiene (via The Twin Geeks). But German horror extends beyond the 1920s, and our list today will look at seven of the best examples to date. We’re including German-language Austrian productions, too, in order to provide a fuller range of movies. Let’s get started.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Faust (1926)
Ufa
In order to adapt the classic story of Faust, F.W. Murnau (director of Nosferatu) drew from the original Germanic legend as well as Goethe’s two-part play. Though you probably won’t find yourself particularly frightened by this silent classic, it is nevertheless an impressive early horror film, complete with demons, murders, and shadowy religious symbolism. The aesthetic appeal of Faust is undeniable, and its use of light and shadow remains impressive today.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
6 Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
20th Century Fox
Robert Eggers’s Nosferatu will not be the first remake of F.W. Murnau’s original. Another German director, Werner Herzog, put his own spin on the classic vampire story with Nosferatu the Vampyre in 1979. Featuring a legendary performance by Klaus Kinski and score by Popul Vuh, Herzog’s eccentric production is really in a class of its own. You won’t find another horror film like it, however wide a net you cast. Though an homage to Murnau’s version, it distinguishes itself with experimental cinematography and gorgeous color photography.
5 Funny Games (1997)
Concorde-Castle
Can a satire film still be scary? Michael Haneke’s Funny Games says yes, it very well could be. This twisted piece of psych-horror from 1997 is Haneke’s attempt at subverting the American slasher - think Halloween and Friday the 13th (more on this from Fangoria). But rather than tell a classic solitary killer story, Funny Games centers on a home invasion by two young sociopaths. They turn out to be a fair deal scarier than any slasher villain, thanks especially to the torturous games they make their victims play. You’ll be double-checking the locks on your doors for months after watching this one.
4 Angst (1983)
Les Films Jacques Leitienne
Somehow, Angst manages to be even more disturbing than Michael Haneke’s Funny Games. Maybe it’s the way it forces us to take the perspective of a serial killer. We never leave his side, not even for a moment, and by the end we feel as though we are somehow responsible for his actions. It’s a troubling film to sit through, but that just makes it all the more haunting. Angst is neither as graphic nor as jumpy as many other works of horror, but it tops them all in terms of shock value. You’ll want to look away, only the camera refuses to do so.
3 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
Decla-Film
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is the finest example of German Expressionist cinema, and one of the most legendary horror films ever made. It’s in a class of its own when it comes to set design and staging: everything is curved, angular, surreal. Rather than aim at realism, its director (Robert Wiene) and crew convey a strange fantastical vision. It is a work of visual art, first and foremost. But for viewers interested in narrative, there’s a wonderfully wicked story to this film, too. Have you ever thought about what might happen if a powerful hypnotist forced some poor suggestible soul to commit murders? No? Well, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari tells that tale - and what a tale it is.
2 M (1931)
Vereinigte Star-Film GmbH
M is the original modern serial killer story. A genre-defining piece of film art from Fritz Lang (director of Metropolis), it follows a German town’s efforts to catch a child-murderer. This murderer, played by Peter Lorre, is both the main character and villain of this story. With his bulging eyes and trademark whistle (to the tune of “In the Hall of the Mountain King”), he stands out as one of the most memorable killers in cinema history. Lorre’s performance - which becomes increasingly unhinged as the film progresses - is stellar, as is Lang’s innovative direction. M is the genesis of the serial killer slasher and a must-see for fans of the horror genre.
1 Nosferatu (1922)
Film Arts Guild
As important as the other films on this list are, F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu trumps them all. This iconic retelling of Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, is one of the most highly regarded pictures to come out of the silent era. It began the long-running cinematic obsession with vampires, and set the stage for the classic Universal monster movies of the 1930s. While it might not scare today’s audiences, its iconic vampire imagery remains truly haunting. Don’t believe us? Try watching this one in an abandoned house with all the lights off - you may find yourself flinching at shadows. For all the technological advancements of the last 100 years, few movies have managed to capture darkness as well as Nosferatu. It is, put simply, the best German horror film ever made.
