10 Hammer Horror Movies You NEED To See

If you've made it this far, you're either a true believer or a recent convert, either way, here it is - the greatest film of the most prolific horror studio ever. All the Hammer tropes are here; Christopher Lee, occult plots, Satan worshippers, ropey special effects, a home counties setting and not a wiff of irony.

Nicholas, the Duc De Richleau (Lee) and his companion Rex Van Ryn (Leon Greene) suspect that their friend, Simon (Patrick Mower) has fallen in with the wrong crowd. As they burst in on a social gathering, it becomes all too apparent that this is no meeting of astrologists, they are in fact... Devil worshippers! Nicholas and Rex manage to rescue Simon and his friend Tanith, unaware that the leader of the group, Mocata (Charles Gray on fiendishly good form) has a psychic link to them and will stop at nothing to retrieve his servants and conjure Lucifer in the flesh...

Dripping with atmosphere, The Devil Rides Out was a huge success for Hammer, receiving considerable critical praise upon release. This was due in part to the talents behind the camera; director and Hammer stalwart Terence Fisher and sci-fi/horror legend Richard Matheson (who was brought in especially to write the script), produced their finest work here.

Best bit? The midnight orgy in the forest where "The Goat Of Mendes - the Devil himself!" is summoned. Hammer may not have always succeeded, but no studio will ever come close to the horror legacy left not only in the UK, but the world.