Given the legal quagmire that is media downloads on the internet, there is a treasure trove of available media that you can find online. For example, there are so many films that can watch by just downloading it off the internet.
Before you call the MPAA and cry ‘pirate!’ you should know that there are many films that are already part of the public domain. This means that you can download it without fear of reprisals from legal authorities. With Halloween coming in just a few weeks, it is a great time to look for great horror movies that are in the public domain. Most of these movies are now classics and it’s a great way of not just scaring yourself but putting some culture in you.
1. Phantom of The Opera
This movie was released in 1925 and was directed by Rupert Julian. We all know what the story is all about. But it is rare to see one of the earliest interpretations of the classic Phantom story. The jerky black and white film makes the story even creepier.
2. Dementia 13
Francis Ford Coppolla may forever be known as the director of The Godfather movies but the man is a very talented director who has made other quality films like the Gene Hackman starrer The Conversation. One of his earliest directing efforts is Dementia 13. It’s a creepy movie about a family’s deep secret and a must-watch for people who want to see a young Coppolla’s already developing directorial talent.
3. Nosferatu
One of the grand daddies of the vampire film genre and probably the most influential. F Murnau’s Nosferatu has left an indelible image on our collective subconscious as far as vampires go. Murnau’s Nosferatu reminds us that vampires are malevolent creatures of the night and not teenage heartthrobs who glitter in the daylight.
4. M
Fritz Lang is already included in the pantheon of cinema’s greats because of his science fiction masterpiece Metropolis. But he is also equally adept in doing horror – well, his unique brand of horror, a story about a child murderer. The subject was quite controversial for its time but the film’s beauty as a work of art is timeless.
5. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Filmed in 1919, this is the oldest movie on this list. It is also arguably the best horror movie in this list. Director Robert Wiene successfully told the story of a traveling magician and his companion. The latter half of the film features revelations that serves as the main reason why it is considered one of the greatest movies ever made.