Some say this is the first horror movie ever made. You can find this rare gem on Youtube [Le Manoir du Diable], The House of the Devil. With the help of a magic cauldron, Mephistopheles conjures up a variety of supernatural characters.
Storyline
A bat flies into an ancient castle and transforms itself into Mephistopheles himself. In short, the film focuses on producing a cauldron, mephistopheles conjures up a young girl and various supernatural creatures, one of which brandishes a crucifix in an effort to force the devil-vampire to vanish.
Our Thoughts on Le Manoir du Diable (1896)
Capturing the transformation in the gothic feel in three minutes and to do that in 1896 is truly amazing.
I saw this for the first time recently. If this film is not the first horror film at least it is the first vampire film, it includes the first transformation, that of a human turning into a bat. A skeleton turning into a bat and then into a demon.
The plot is about a demon who disguised as a bat enters a castle and turns into a demon. After some mumbo jumbo a woman appears from the pot. Later kingsmen enter and they are harassed by the demon’s assistant…. This film was supposed to be a fantasy amusement but the gothic feel and the transformation is truly that of a horror film.
6 out of 10 Stars
Trivia
Film historians argue that this is the first film depiction of a vampire. While director and actor credited his character as Mephistopheles, a legendary demon, many horror elements associated with vampires exist in the film and are exhibited by the character. These include the transformation from bat to human form, conjuring a harem of demonic brides, apparent mesmeric control, and the ability to conjure humans and creatures to serve him. Many of vampire stereotypes featured here remained tropes in early films about vampires.
Many film historians credit this short film with being the very first horror picture.
The film was presumed lost until 1988, when a copy was found in the New Zealand Film Archive.
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So what do you think? How many of these Dracula movies have you seen? Do you have any others to add to the list? Let us know in the comments section and please consider joining our Facebook page, Scary Movies at the Fort. Each October we host the 31 Nights of Horror. Check us out.
Also, be sure to check out our Complete List of Frankenstien, Wolfman, and The Mummy, and Universal Monster Movies.
