Virtual Book Display: Fear & Horror

"In Search of History" journeys 2,000 years from ancient times to the present, taking a closer look at the events, places, and hidden mysteries that have puzzled and inspired historians and experts across the ages. Was Dr. Frankenstein born from novelist Mary Shelley's mind, or based in reality as some investigators argue? Did she hear of the 18th-century German doctor who experimented on dead as well as live bodies?

Considered by many to be the first great American horror film, John S. Robertson's Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde allowed stage legend John Barrymore to deliver his first virtuoso performance on film. Blending historic charm with grim naturalism, this version of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde is one of the more faithful of the many screen adaptations of Stevenson's story, recounting a visionary scientist's ill-fated attempts to unleash the human mysteries that dwell beneath the shell of the civilized self.

Fresh from the triumphant releases of Nosferatu and The Last Laugh, F. W. Murnau was given carte blanche to direct this epic fable of the supernatural. Freed from the burden of plausibility by the story's fantastic premise, Murnau summoned forth a tempest of cinematic brimstone so that every scene ripples with reckless ingenuity. Utilizing the full resources of the UFA Studios (including elaborate miniature models and experimental special effects), Faust captures the intensity of a medieval universe steeped in religious fanaticism and pagan alchemy. Black-hooded pallbearers lead a torchlit procession through a plague-stricken village literally cloaked by the wings of Satan. Crowded landscapes materialize and vanish in wisps of smoke, demonic creatures soar through the heavens and earthly beings are tormented by the vaporous spirits that permeate the dungeon-like homes and Caligari-esque rooftops of this shadow world.

Did you know a healthy dose of fear is actually good for you? Through a series of fun interactive games we’ll show you how fear can give you a feeling of heightened ability, why you get that tingling sensation down your spine and why you shouldn’t be afraid of being afraid. A National Geographic Production.
A National Geographic Production.

Until recently, the serious works of Russian avant-garde writer Daniil Kharms—his absurdist pieces, the ones laced with irony and steeped in trenchant wit—were known only to the Soviet Union’s literary underground. This production, reset in modern-day America, is the first film adaptation of Kharms’ novella The Old Woman, a dark comedy about a man trying to get rid of a dead body.

ABC's Nick Watt braved the ScareHouse, a Halloween attraction in Pittsburgh, for a series of stress tests. An ABC News Production.

Learn more about Spanish culture! Ever wondered what the most important Spanish holidays are, and how they are celebrated? Then this 25-lesson video series is for you!

Relive Orson Welles' infamous radio dramatization 75 years after the mass hysteria event it spawned. The film examines the elements that made America ripe for the hoax: America's longtime fascination with life on Mars; the emergence of radio as a powerful new medium; the shocking Hindenburg explosion of 1937; and Welles himself, the 23-year-old wunderkind director of the drama and mischief-maker supreme. Distributed by PBS Distribution.

Using rare footage and interviews with leading historians, this program offers a revealing look at the ways different societies around the world and throughout history have dealt with death. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes) Distributed by A&E Television Networks.

With the arrival of the conquistadors, many ancient Mesoamerican rituals were absorbed into Christian holidays. This program examines a collection of sacred, social, and artistic traditions that survived European assimilation and now compose one of Mexico’s most important annual festivals. The film follows the travels and experiences of a young Purépecha artisan, her grandmother, and their family during the weeks leading up to the Days of the Dead. As these struggling craftspeople market their wares, study new techniques, and prepare for their deceased patriarch’s spiritual return, viewers will see a wide variety of folk art practices—from pottery painting to flower decoration to papier-mâché skeleton sculpture—coalesce into a momentous cultural event.