TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

Halloween brings the annual flood of terrifying movies ; in this blog, we want to highlight some great horror movies, new and old. TheArchive offers some uniquely disturbing selections, including what was once considered among the scariest films of its time. Whether you’re watching the classics or discovering new nightmare fuel in modern releases, there’s no better time to immerse yourself in the thrills and chills of horror than on Halloween night.   Mark of the Devil Adrian Hoven and Michael Armstrong’s Mark of the Devil was famously dubbed “positively the most horrifying film ever made” upon its release, showcasing graphic intensity. Cool Ass Cinema calls it “one of the signature examples of 1970s exploitation at its most grueling.” Over 40 years later, Mark of the Devil still manages to leave modern viewers shifting uncomfortably in their seats.  Count Christian von Meruh ( Udo Kier ) is a witch hunter apprentice to Lord Cumberland. He believes strongly in his mentor a...

Copyright Warner Brothers/Courtesy Everett Collection Fall has officially begun, and October has started. This is the time of year when horror movie fans revisit familiar favorites and watch all the new horror films and series released during spooky season . Scaring each other through horrifying stories has been a part of human history since the beginning. Folklore in oral traditions and literature centered around the supernatural has been spread throughout every culture. It’s no wonder the first horror film was created as soon as cinema began .  In the mid-1890s, George Mellies created “ La Manoir du Diable. " The film is also known as “ The Haunted Castle” or “House of the Devil” in English. This film was created in 1896, and it’s a 3-minute silent film that features ghosts, the devil, and skeletons, among other creepy supernatural things. This film paved the way for other films created in the 1920s-30s that defined the horror genre. This golden era of horror introduced us to...

  Witches, those mysterious and magical figures, have intrigued our imagination for ages. From old stories of cackling hags to today's powerful enchantresses, they symbolize a world of secrets and spells. Throughout history, these enigmatic beings have been both feared and revered , serving as a source of inspiration for countless tales and legends. The enduring fascination with witches speaks to our enduring curiosity about the supernatural and the unexplained.  The fear of witches reached an all-time high in the U.S. when in 1692, fear and dogma ignited a frenzy of accusations, trials, and executions in a Massachusetts Bay Colony . Innocent women were accused of witchcraft, tried in makeshift courts, and faced the ultimate punishment for their suspicions, which was death. This is infamously known as the Salem Witch Trials .  With such a traumatic and conflictual history to draw from, Witches have found a natural home in the world of film for decades. Here at TheArchive...