Documentary2010BBC Four

The Best Episodes of A History of Horror

Every episode of A History of Horror ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of A History of Horror!

Best episode
S1E1 Frankenstein Goes to Hollywood
8.1111 votes
Worst episode
S1E3 The American Scream
7.8103 votes
Top season
Season 1
8.0avg
Binge time
3h 0m
3 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons1

All1

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    A History of Horror Season 1 Episode 1 - Frankenstein Goes to Hollywood
    8.1/10(111 votes)

    S1:E1

    A lifelong fan of the genre, Mark begins by exploring the golden age of Hollywood horror. From the late 1920s until the 1940s, a succession of classic pictures and unforgettable actors defined the horror genre - including The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney, Dracula with Bela Lugosi, and Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff. Along the way, Mark steps into some of the great sets from these classic films, hears first-hand accounts from Hollywood horror veterans, discovers Lon Chaney's head in a box and finds out why Bela Lugosi met his match in Golders Green.

    Director:John Das
    Writer:Mark Gatiss

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  2. A History of Horror Season 1 Episode 2 - Home Counties Horror
    8.0/10(107 votes)

    S1:E2

    Mark uncovers stories behind the films of his favourite period - the 1950s and 60s - which fired his lifelong enthusiasm for horror. These mainly British pictures were dominated by the legendary Hammer Films, who rewrote the horror rulebook with a revolutionary infusion of sex and full-colour gore - all shot in the English Home Counties.

    Director:Rachel Jardine
    Writer:Mark Gatiss

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  3. A History of Horror Season 1 Episode 3 - The American Scream
    7.8/10(103 votes)

    S1:E3

    Mark explores the explosion of American films of the late 1960s and 70s which dragged horror kicking and screaming into the present day. With their contemporary settings and uncompromising content, films like Night of the Living Dead and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre remain controversial. But Mark argues that these films - often regarded as only being for hardcore fans with strong stomachs - have much to offer. Made by pioneering independent filmmakers, they reflected the social upheavals of American society and brought fresh energy and imagination to the genre. Mark gets the inside story from a roster of leading horror directors, including George A Romero, whose Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead turned zombies into A-list monsters; Tobe Hooper, director of the notorious Texas Chain Saw Massacre; and John Carpenter, whose smash hit Halloween triggered the slasher movie boom. Mark also celebrates the other great horror trend of the era - a string of satanically-themed Hollywood blockbusters, including Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist and The Omen. Along the way Mark visits the Bates Motel, gets mobbed by zombies and finds out what happened to Omen star David Warner's decapitated head.

    Director:John Das
    Writer:Mark Gatiss

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Best Episodes Summary

"Frankenstein Goes to Hollywood" is the best rated episode of A History of Horror. It scored 8.1/10 from 111 votes. Directed by John Das and written by Mark Gatiss, it aired on October 11, 2010. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Home Counties Horror".

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