31 Days of Horror Clips, Day 2

I'd like to address a couple of minor issues before scaring the bejesus out of you with the clip below.

1. The order in which to present the 31 horror clips has been debated. Chronologically or random? It was a tough call--the former would provide an interesting history lesson tracing the horror film through the years, but the schizophrenic nature of the latter lends itself better to the season. Best to go with the flow. A random order requires less prep work, too, so there's your winner.

2. Some of the clips/descriptions in the days ahead may contain spoilers. I'll try to forewarn should they arise, as they do below.

Now...on to the show.



Mario Bava's 1963 horror anthology, Black Sabbath, is one of the Italian director's finest works, full of atmospheric spooks and chills delivered with a sly wink. However, it's the finale to the segment, "The Drop of Water," that truly gets under the skin. The story follows a nurse who steals a ring from the corpse of an elderly patient who died during a seance. As you shall see, this was not a good idea.

Yes, the dead woman looks ridiculously fake. However, it's this aspect that renders her truly frightening, much like creepy ventriloquist dummies or abandoned baby dolls found in dumps whose dead eyes are hauntingly alive.


- Phil Morehart