One of the first horror movies is also graced with one of the genre's all-time best posters. Unlike Universal's somewhat clean and handsome Dracula, Nosferatu was a sharp-featured, nightmarish figure of the German expressionist movement.
The poster perfectly encapsulates what made this gaunt figure so terrifying, and with a jagged castle seen in the background beneath a dark moon, the artwork brings an aura of isolation that was very relevant to the nuanced characterisation of Nosferatu. This elevated him above generic horror bad guy, as does his expression, which has an almost animal caught in headlights anxiety about it.
Honourable Mentions: Der Golem, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari
