8 Chilling Old-Hollywood Movies You Need To See

Hollywood legend Bette Davis makes the first of two appearances on this list with this truly chilling tale of grief, madness and guilt.

Young Joey returns from a psychiatric clinic after the drowning death of his sister. However, his outlandish tales of his long-time Nanny trying to murder him persist.

Bette Davis' daughter B.D. Hyman later dismissed The Nanny as "horror schlock." However, her assessment is anything but true as the movie is a taught, chilling character study with so many layers and conflicting emotions.

Davis shines as a woman we at first resent, her large eyes glowing menacingly as she looms over the helpless Joey. However, some wonderful writing reveals her as an incredibly tragic character, driven to a psychotic break after accidentally killing one of the children in her care.

Davis has so much to work with here and it is an absolute treat to see her artfully work her way through the range of emotions the film offers. She is supported by strong turns from her cast mates, the child actors in particular standing out with a surprisingly deep understanding of the heavy material.

Low budget as it may be, The Nanny is far from schlock and should be sought out by devotees of dark, slow-burn suspense.