The ABCs of Death and 3 Other Best Horror Anthologies for a Creepy Night
Alfred Hitchcock classics and a unique show format from 26 directors.
These projects tell several separate horror stories at once – in different styles, filmed by different directors, and featuring numerous creepy monsters at once. If you want to get away from the classic TV format, then horror anthologies are just what you need.
1. Trick 'r Treat, 2007
Michael Dougherty's directorial debut was perhaps the most popular themed anthology of the 2000s. One of the main reasons for the success of Trick 'r Treat was that Dougherty added the easily recognizable and charming mascot Sam, who became the link between all the stories.
But there are many merits here beyond the main demon. First, the style is well maintained, combining dark humor and suspense. Second, the plots play gracefully not only with urban legends, but also with well-known fairy tales, and the non-linear chronology adds variety.
2. Alfred Hitchcock Presents, 1955-1962
Alfred Hitchcock is arguably the godfather of modern horror, not only for Psycho, but also for his venerable television series, which is almost a living encyclopedia of social anxieties.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is a collection of gripping, terrifying stories. The anthology avoids vampires, ghosts and monsters, but tells about modern fears and phobias.
3. The ABCs of Death, 2012
26 directors chose one type of death for each letter of the alphabet and tried to capture it artistically within the allotted time frame of a few minutes.
The ABCs of Death illustrated both the main problems and the main advantages of the anthology format. On the one hand, not all of the included material turned out to be good.
On the other hand, it is quite possible to find real gems here. A bloody meat grinder coexists with metaphorical sketches, and absurd Japanese fantasies are suddenly followed by a hard sci-fi action story.
4. Masters of Horror, 2005-2007
What happens when horror directors make an entire series of films in an anthology? Masters of Horror is an example of a large-scale creative collaboration in which Stuart Gordon, Tobe Hooper, John Carpenter and Dario Argento mix a cocktail based on the rules of slasher and supernatural horror films of the 70s and 80s.
Here, the poetics of Howard P. Lovecraft are interpreted in their own way, creatures from Indian mythology appear, and the streets are overflowing with serial killers – two seasons of the show were enough to immerse the viewer in the darkness of the nightmares of proven masters.