1. The Mummy (1932)
Who are we kidding? The original Boris Karloff film still remains the best of the lot. It’s also the most different. Those new to this dread-filled, deliberately masterpiece are likely to come away from its disappointed if they are expecting 70 minutes of Karloff shambling around in bandages. Instead, this classic offers up a dark, supernatural romance between an aged lovesick man and his young would-be lover who is torn between a forgotten past and an uncertain future. It’s beautiful both in its visuals and its themes, but a slow-paced chiller that often grows on viewers over time, as opposed to impressing immediately.
