1) Nosferatu, A Symphony of Terror (1922)

This was one of the scariest early films and an unauthorized film adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, thus why he was named Nosferatu instead of Dracula. Max Schreck was marvelous in the title role of the big screen's first vampire. Nosferatu was a mysterious aristocrat called Count Graf Orlok, and his strange behavior soon became the terror of Bremen. Directed by F.W. Murnau.

2) Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)

Lon Chaney gave a masterful performance as the hunchbacked Quasimodo, a tortured bellringer in a cathedral church. The film was adapted from Victor Hugo's novel and directed by Wallace Worsley. Charles Laughton took the role in the 1939 version that was nominated for an Oscar for Best Music and Best Sound, and Anthony Quinn starred in the 1957 version, which is available on DVD. More than a terror film, the movie was instrumental in the realization that monsters can be human, too.

3) THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925)

This film tagged itself as the greatest horror film of modern cinema. Based on Gaston Leroux's novel, a disfigured phantom terrorizes a Paris Opera house in order to get his beloved singer Christine, and soon becomes a vicious killer. This silent screen version did not have the wonderful addition of the beautiful musical score that following years produced but is a treasure in the way Lon Chaney portrays the Phantom.

4) DRACULA (1931)

Dracula could never have been a success if not for the legendary Bela Lugosi portraying the vampire. The story only changed somewhat from the 1922 version but Lugosi has an attitude, a look and believably about him that could bring chills to your spine. He is responsible for making this film one of the most haunting and memorable of all time.

5) FRANKENSTEIN (1931)

Directed by James Whale, Frankenstein is a film that launched an entire era of films around the monster created by Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) in his lab. Frankenstein is not as frightening as he is enthralling, certainly propelled by the masterful performance by Boris Karloff of The Monster. Viewers quickly learned The Monster was not near as much an evil man as the ones who tried to kill him because he was different.

6) DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1932)

Adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson's story about a doctor/scientist whose evil side was brought out by a magic formula, John Barrymore starred in the 1920 silent film version. But the 1931 version was more intense with the addition of sound and won Fredric March the Oscar for the lead role. Spencer Tracy took on the part in Victor Fleming's 1941 version, which won the Academy Award for black and white cinematography. More recently (1995) Julia Roberts starred as the "wicked" prostitute in yet another remake.

7) KING KONG (1933)

More of a thriller than a horror film, King Kong must still be included in this list of best classic horror/scary films. The story about an expedition team that captures a gigantic ape on a remote Island and returns to New York with him, is less than interesting. That the gorilla falls for a beautiful actress (Fay Wray) and produces horrible circumstances, is intriguing. The early special effects in this film are a sight to behold.

8) THE WOLF MAN (1941)

The idea of a man turning into a werewolf was scary but the plight of Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.) facing such a drastic ordeal had viewers totally empathizing with him. The all-star cast of Bela Lugosi and Claude Rains (John Talbot) beefed up the believability of a mortal man that thirsts for human flesh during the full moon. Although unaccredited in the film, Maria Ouspenskaya as the Gypsy woman was always my favorite character in overcoming evil.

9) THE THING (1951)

A scientist at an Arctic research station discovers a spacecraft buried in the ice and takes the frozen pilot back to the station where he thaws out and begins a blood-thirsty search. This was one of those films that made you very scarred if you were a small child. I had nightmares about The Thing for years but got a good laugh when I watched the video again only a few years back. Smoke and mirrors can do amazing things to the mind.

10) THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954)

About a prehistoric creature captured by scientists during an expedition along the Black Lagoon in the Amazon River, this one made you laugh due to the silly plot. The creature/Gill-Man escapes but returns to take the scientist's female assistant (Julia Adams) with whom it has fallen in love. Still, it's a novel classic that shows the range of horror films in early Hollywood.