Spirits of the Dead
Histoires extraordinaires
Anthology film from three European directors based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe: a cruel countess haunted by a ghostly horse, a sadistic young man haunted by his double, and an alcoholic actor haunted by the Devil.
Why it matters
A stylish anthology that distills Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic dread through the distinct cinematic voices of three European auteurs, blending surreal horror with baroque atmosphere.
- Directed by Roger Vadim, Louis Malle, and Federico Fellini—each segment offers a unique, auteur-driven take on Poe’s themes of madness and spectral vengeance.
- A feast of moody, operatic visuals that capture late ‘60s European art-house horror’s flirtation with the macabre and the absurd.
- Practical effects and haunting imagery conjure ghosts and doubles with unsettling subtlety rather than cheap jump scares.
- Ideal for fans of gothic horror and Poe adaptations who appreciate a slow-burn, psychological approach over straightforward scares.
Directors
2 horror films in catalog
Cast
Brigitte Bardot Giuseppina (segment "William Wilson")
Alain Delon William Wilson and his double (segment "William Wilson")
Jane Fonda Contessa Frederique de Metzengerstein (segment "Metzengerstein")
Terence Stamp Toby Dammit (segment "Toby Dammit")
Peter Fonda Baron Wilhelm Berlifitzing (segment "Metzengerstein")
James Robertson Justice Countess' Advisor (segment "Metzengerstein")
Horror DNA
Gore
0
Slow Burn
50
Psychological
100
Supernatural
80
Creature
18
Disturbing
67
Fun Factor
0
Cerebral
99
Survival
17
Anthology
