Silent Screams: A Journey Through Horror's Golden Age

By WatchListHQSeptember 11, 2025
The 1920s was a pivotal time for the horror genre, with the advent of cinema allowing filmmakers to bring their darkest imaginations to life on the big screen. During this era, horror movies began to take shape as a distinct genre, laying the groundwork for the terrifying tales that would follow in the decades to come.

From the haunting shadows of German Expressionism to the eerie landscapes of Gothic romance, the horror films of the 1920s are a testament to the power of cinematic storytelling. With their blend of atmospheric tension, supernatural terror, and psychological complexity, these movies continue to captivate audiences with their timeless themes and haunting imagery.

The best horror films of the 1920s are not just relics of a bygone era, but rather a window into the fears and anxieties of the time. They reflect the societal concerns and psychological traumas of the post-World War I era, as well as the emerging anxieties of modernity. Whether it's the monstrous 'other' of Nosferatu, the grotesque deformity of The Phantom of the Opera, or the supernatural terrors of Häxan, these films offer a fascinating glimpse into the darker aspects of human nature.

In this curated selection of horror movies from the 1920s, we invite you to embark on a journey through the twisted landscapes of cinematic horror. From the Expressionist masterpieces of Germany to the Gothic romances of Hollywood, these films are a testament to the enduring power of horror to captivate, terrify, and haunt us. So, step into the shadows and experience the silent screams of horror's golden age.
The Fall of the House of Usher
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The Fall of the House of Usher

#1

A stranger called Allan goes to the House of Usher. He is the sole friend of Roderick Usher, who lives in the eerie house with his sick wife Madeleine. When she dies, Roderick does not accept her death, and in the dark night, Madeleine returns.

192863 min
Horror
7.0
133 votes
The Cat and the Canary
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The Cat and the Canary

#2

Rich old Cyrus West's relatives are waiting for him to die so they can inherit. But he stipulates that his will be read 20 years after his death. On the appointed day his expectant heirs arrive at his brooding mansion. The will is read and it turns out that Annabelle West, the only heir with his name left, inherits, if she is deemed sane. If she isn't, the money and some diamonds go to someone else, whose name is in a sealed envelope. Before he can reveal the identity of her successor to Annabel

192787 min
ComedyHorrorMystery
6.8
79 votes
The Unknown
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The Unknown

#3

On the lam, criminal Alonzo hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder – a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Alonzo keeps the arms he really has concealed to hide his identity. Meanwhile, ringmaster's daughter Nanon has a phobia of being touched by men, but is romantically pursued by not only Alonzo but the strongman Malabar. Alonzo's desperation to remain with Nanon will only end in tragedy.

192768 min
DramaRomanceHorror
7.5
199 votes
Faust
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Faust

#4

God and Satan war over earth; to settle things, they wager on the soul of Faust, a learned and prayerful alchemist.

1926116 min
FantasyDramaHorror
7.9
372 votes
A Page of Madness
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A Page of Madness

#5

A man takes a job at an asylum with hopes of freeing his imprisoned wife.

192671 min
HorrorDrama
7.4
155 votes
The Phantom of the Opera
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The Phantom of the Opera

#6

The deformed Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House causes murder and mayhem in an attempt to make the woman he loves a star.

1925107 min
HorrorMusic
7.1
367 votes
Waxworks
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Waxworks

#7

A poet is hired by the owner of a wax museum in a circus to write tales about Harun al Raschid, Ivan the Terrible and Jack the Ripper. While writing, the poet and the daughter of the owner, Eva, fantasize the fantastic stories and fall in love for each other.

192483 min
FantasyHorror
6.4
65 votes
The Hands of Orlac
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The Hands of Orlac

#8

A world-famous pianist loses both hands in an accident. When new hands are grafted on, he is horrified to learn they once belonged to a murderer.

192498 min
HorrorThrillerMystery
6.8
102 votes
Häxan
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Häxan

#9

Grave robbing, torture, possessed nuns, and a satanic Sabbath: Benjamin Christensen's legendary film uses a series of dramatic vignettes to explore the scientific hypothesis that the witches of the Middle Ages suffered the same hysteria as turn-of-the-century psychiatric patients. But the film itself is far from serious-- instead it's a witches' brew of the scary, gross, and darkly humorous.

1922105 min
DocumentaryHorrorHistory
7.6
400 votes
Nosferatu
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Nosferatu

#10

The mysterious Count Orlok summons Thomas Hutter to his remote Transylvanian castle in the mountains. The eerie Orlok seeks to buy a house near Hutter and his wife, Ellen. After Orlok reveals his vampire nature, Hutter struggles to escape the castle, knowing that Ellen is in grave danger. Meanwhile Orlok's servant, Knock, prepares for his master to arrive at his new home.

192295 min
HorrorFantasy
7.7
2297 votes
The Golem: How He Came Into the World
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The Golem: How He Came Into the World

#11

In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates the Golem - a giant creature made of clay. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution.

192076 min
FantasyHorror
7.0
222 votes
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

#12

A doctor's research into the roots of evil turns him into a hideous depraved fiend.

192079 min
HorrorScience FictionDrama
6.7
148 votes
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

#13

Francis, a young man, recalls in his memory the horrible experiences he and his fiancée Jane recently went through. Francis and his friend Alan visit The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, an exhibit where the mysterious doctor shows the somnambulist Cesare, and awakens him for some moments from his death-like sleep.

192077 min
DramaHorrorThriller
7.9
1675 votes

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