4 Shots From Horror History: The 1890s

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

This October, I’m going to be doing something a little bit different with my contribution to 4 Shots From 4 Films. I’m going to be taking a little chronological tour of the history of horror cinema, moving from decade to decade.

Today, we start with the 1890s and the birth of horror cinema.

4 Shots From 4 Horror Films

The Execution of Mary Stuart (1895, dir by Alfred Clark)

The House of the Devil (1896, dir by Georges Méliès)

The Haunted Castle (1897, dir by George Albert Smith)

The X-Rays (1897, dir by George Albert Smith)

Horror Scenes That I Love: Georges Méliès’s The Haunted Castle

Posted on October 1, 2017 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Technically, today’s scene that I love isn’t so much a scene as it’s an entire movie!

Below, you’ll find The Haunted Castle, a 3-minute silent from the great French director, Georges Méliès. This film was made in 1896 and is considered, along with The Execution of Mary Stuart, to be one of the very first horror films!

Needless to say, The Haunted Castle is going to look primitive to modern eyes but so what? There’s a lot of charm to be found in these three minutes. Imagine seeing this in 1896, at a time before everyone was knowledgeable (and a bit cynical) about special effects and film trickery.

After you watch this piece of film history, please be sure to watch Martin Scorsese’s Hugo. Just be prepared to cry.

Enjoy!

4 Shots From Horror History: The Execution of Mary Stuart, The House of the Devil, The Haunted Castle, The X-Rays

Posted on October 1, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, we start with the 1890s and the birth of horror cinema.

4 Shots From 4 Films

The Execution of Mary Stuart (1895, dir by Alfred Clark)

The House of the Devil (1896, dir by Georges Méliès)

The Haunted Castle (1897, dir by George Albert Smith)

The X-Rays (1897, dir by George Albert Smith)

A Horror Blast From The Past: The Haunted Castle (dir by George Melies)

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Oh my God, y’all — are you ready to see the very first horror movie ever made!?

Okay, so I guess I should be honest and admit that this is more of a comedy than a horror film. But it was reportedly the first film ever made to contain horror elements. (In this case, the film takes place in a haunted castle and features ghosts.) The Haunted Castle is only 3 minutes long and it’s definitely a bit primitive but that’s understandable when you consider that The Haunted Castle was made in 1896!

The Haunted Castle was a French film and it was directed by George Melies. Yes, the same George Melies who was played by Ben Kingsley in Hugo.

Watch it below!