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Hollywood’s golden age of innovative game-changers and revolutionary classics during the 1970s has become ever-present when talking about cinema. We honestly can’t discuss movies these days without mentioning many from this time. It was a creative era where blockbusters took shape, boundaries were pushed, new ideas formed, and genres were elevated to the next level. And of course, the genre that benefited the most was horror, with every year stacked up with one compelling classic after another.
No decade showed the true potential of horror quite as noticeably as the 1970s. Indeed, each year truly changed the face of it, and there’s no denying how impressive this time was. But over the years, one in particular has stood out to define horror this decade, and that’s 1973. What might seem like just another year was actually one of the most game-changing. 1973 was the year of compelling terror and bold storytelling, with some classics released that are still profound today. Honestly, there’s no better year to demonstrate how the ’70s were important to horror than this one, and the following ten movies prove it.
8
‘The Vault of Horror’ (1973)
Anthology horror has always been a favorite amongst fans since the early days of the genre. What better way to enjoy a horror story than a film featuring several short ones, and there’s always something unique and enjoyable when watching them. 1973 saw the release of a British anthology horror film called The Vault of Horror. Based on the EC Comics series Tales From the Crypt and SuspenStories, it’s a wonderfully creepy collection of tales that centers around five London men as they mysteriously become trapped in a vault and pass the time by recounting their strange and terrifying nightmares.
This film has a simple but effective premise, and it’s a huge blast to watch as the five uniquely different and chilling stories unfold. The five shorts — “Midnight Mess,” “The Neat Job,” “This Trick’ll Kill You,” “Bargain in Death,” and “Drawn and Quartered” — range from chilling and memorable to downright horrifying and brutal. They are all bizarrely terrifying with distinct charm and can scare the pants off any viewer in their own special way. While admittedly, The Vault of Horror isn’t brought up as much when it comes to memorable anthology horror films, it’s a delightful horror gem that deserves more attention, and it certainly was one of the most unique horror pictures to come out this year.
7
‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’ (1973)
An American-made-for-television picture, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is a cult classic supernatural horror mystery thriller that aired on the ABC network. Adding a fresh and unusual twist to the haunted house formula, it’s quite an original and eerie tale that follows a young couple as they inherit an old Victorian mansion. But strange things begin to plague the wife after she unlocks a terrible secret in the fireplace. Soon, she battles for life against three mischievous little gremlins who intend to turn her into one of them.
Now, admittedly, it’s an absurd premise with a touch of dramatic over-acting and dated special effects. But looking past its obvious shortcomings, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is truly a fun, at times creepy, and enjoyable little TV horror flick that honestly gets more delightful with every rewatch. It was well-received and watched upon release and has since retained a significant cult following, even a surprisingly solid, underrated theatrical feature remake in 2011, written by Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro.
6
‘Theatre of Blood’ (1973)
One of the most genuinely exciting and unique cult horror classics of this year was the British horror comedy Theatre of Blood. Directed by Douglas Hickox, this wacky, gory thrill ride is an absolute bast of horror entertainment, featuring the chameleonic talent of the late great Vincent Price, who absolutely steals the show in a lead performance, opposite other big names like Dame Diana Rigg and Jack Hawkins. It sees Price as a scorned theater actor who sets out to murder the critics and all those who ruined his life in a similar fashion to those from Shakespearean plays.
Theatre of Blood has a lot going for it, from the wonderfully comedic and dark tone to the enjoyable performances. It’s just so wild and unique, with so much grotesque and bizarre imagery that it’s truly hard to forget. Vincent Price absolutely sells this story with his charm and versatile acting when playing several different parts. Delightfully unhinged, Theater of Blood is a blast that truly any fan of ’70s horror should give it a try, as it certainly won’t disappoint.
5
‘The Legend of Hell House’ (1973)
1973 was a year of bold and incredibly remarkable terror, and The Legend of Hell House is perhaps a prime example. Directed by John Hough, this criminally underrated haunted house horror mystery is quite a suspenseful and thrilling tale that’ll keep viewers hooked until the very end. Starring an impressive cast, including Pamela Franklin and Roddy McDowall, it follows a group of paranormal researchers as they spend the week investigating the home of a deceased murderer, only to counter a sinister presence and a terrible secret lurking in the house.
It’s quite a compelling classic with a sharply written story, memorable performances, and an eerie, wonderful setting. The Legend of Hell House takes you on a mysterious and dangerous journey, following the characters as they make shocking revelations about what happened in the house. It’s a tense, tight, and nail-biting story that honestly gets better with age.
4
‘The Crazies’ (1973)
The late great George A. Romero is one of the most legendary horror filmmakers, taking his hand in creating some of the genre’s ultimate classics from the 1960s to the late 2000s. While he’s best remembered for creating the modern zombie subgenre, he’s told other tales that became undeniable horror royalty. Take, for instance, his 1973 cult classic The Crazies, a nail-biting and intense disaster horror thriller. It’s about a small Pennsylvania town thrown into chaos after a government-made bioweapon is accidentally released into the water supply, turning locals into deranged killers.
Though not as well known as other Romero hits like Night of the Living Dead and Creepshow, The Crazies is a well-executed and compelling film that’s incredibly bleak and stress-inducing. It perfectly captures the raw mayhem that comes with a pandemic and the chaotic government response it could create. The terror builds and builds as the situation becomes more drastic, leading to an inevitable and tragic end that is so eerie enough that it’ll stick with the viewers long after the end credits.
3
‘Don’t Look Now’ (1973)
When it comes to Nicholas Roeg‘s Don’t Look Now, it’s quite often considered one of the greatest psychological horror classics of the 1970s. Starring the late Donald Sutherland and Academy Award winner Julie Christie, it follows the two as a grieving couple, still mourning the tragic drowning of their daughter, as they struggle to move on while staying in Venice, Italy. But things take a strange, supernatural turn when they encounter a pair of sisters, claiming they’re receiving psychic warnings from the couple’s deceased daughter.
This tense and disturbing slow burner is legendary today thanks to its excellent suspense and mind-boggling and dramatic story. The tension just builds up enormously, leading to one of the most disturbing finales in horror history. The film also changed the way horror delivered its stories, focusing more on atmosphere and psychological dread to tell a story that, today, would be considered elevated horror. There’s just so much about this story that’ll keep you coming back for more and reliving its intense mystery.
2
‘The Wicker Man’ (1973)
Continuing with another excellent slow burner, Robin Hardy‘s The Wicker Man is an ultimate folk horror classic that knows how to get under the audience’s skin. It’s a perfect example of using slow-building tension to create unbelievable terror. It follows the story of a Puritan Scottish constable as he’s sent to investigate a child’s disappearance in an isolated island community, only to realize the island is home to a sacrificial pagan cult.
The Wicker Man is unforgettable, genius, and incredibly chilling. From the excellent performances from the talented cast to the striking visuals and powerful direction, it’s an absolute masterpiece that instantly keeps you drawn in. It has arguably one of the most shocking climaxes in horror, and its overall popularity has made it truly one of the best horror films of its year and decade.
1
‘The Exorcist’ (1973)
Truly, horror in 1973 was game-changing thanks to the highly acclaimed success of the late William Friedkin‘s supernatural masterpiece, The Exorcist. Featuring nonstop terror, iconic performances, and memorably frightening imagery, this epic thrill ride tells the legendary story of two Catholic priests as they are sent to help a mother who has a struggling young daughter that she claims is slowly and violently being taken over by a demon.
This masterfully told, incredibly intense, and undeniably terrifying classic is truly deserving of its title as one of the scariest horror films ever made. It was groundbreaking and scary from start to finish, revolutionizing the genre and becoming a cultural phenomenon that scarred an entire generation. As a result, it was the highest-grossing horror film of 1973 and the highest up to that point for the horror genre until Steven Spielberg‘s Jaws two years later. Overall, The Exorcist greatly proves how 1973 was a great and significant year for horror.
