11 Edgar Allen Poe Adaptations to Usher in Spooky Season
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When you're in the mood for something sinister and spooky, one of the tried and true masters of the genre is Edgar Allan Poe. The writer is best known for his gripping short stories combining mystery and terror for all who read his tales. And in the contemporary world, once you've read everything Poe has to offer, the fun doesn't have to stop. There's an incredible treasure trove of film and television adaptations of Poe's work.
Since filmmaking's infancy, directors have taken on the writer's work to varying degrees of success. Most recently, Mike Flanagan created Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher, a take on synthesizing many of Poe's short stories into one overarching epic horror story. But before his adaptation, there've also been notable directors and actors who have worked on Poe-inspired films, including Roger Corman–best known for his eight films based on Poe's stories–and Bela Lugosi, who most film fans may recognize as 1931's Count Dracula (and as a character from Tim Burton's Ed Wood).
So whether you're looking for a pre-Code Poe tale or a more modern take on the 19th century writer's works, we've got you covered. There's a wide range of releases, and even a notable The Simpsons episode you'll want to watch. And once you're done with this list of the best Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, you can check out The Fall of the House of Usher to get the newest version of a story done many, many times before.
The House of Usher (1960)
The first in director Roger Corman's eight acclaimed Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, House of Usher adapts Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher". The film follows a young man determined to marry his lover, despite her brother's warnings that their family is cursed.
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Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)
Starring the unforgettable Bela Lugosi (who played his iconic role of Count Dracula only a year before), Murders in the Rue Morgue centers on a diabolical doctor who kidnaps women to mix their blood with his gorilla.
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The Tell-Tale Heart (1941)
If you have 20 minutes and just want a dose of skillful filmmaking, check out The Tell-Tale Heart. The directorial debut of Jules Dassin, who later went on to make the Oscar-winning Never On Sunday, The Tell-Tale Heart follows the Poe story of the same name, about a man who commits murder but swears he can still hear his victim's heart beating after the act.
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The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
The second of Corman's adaptations, The Pit and the Pendulum follows a man desperate to find out what happened to his sister. At his brother-in-law's castle, he learns there's something sinister about his sibling's demise.
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The Masque of the Red Death (1964)
A noble determined to escape a plague gathers other wealthy aristocrats and hosts a masquerade ball in his abbey. But the party turns deadly when a figure dressed as a Red Plague victim wanders the rooms of the party.
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The Simpsons – "Treehouse of Horror" (1990)
The first of many spooky and hilarious non-canonical spoof episodes, The Simpsons' first "Treehouse of Horror" episode features guest star James Earl Jones and in one of its three segments, adapts Poe's "The Raven".
The Black Cat (1934)
Another Lugosi highlight, The Black Cat is a pre-Code film loosely based on Poe's story of the same name. When a mystery novelist and his wife meet a psychiatrist on their honeymoon, the group gets into a car accident and must take shelter in an architect's home. But as they explore the house and learn more about each other, chaos reigns.
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The Bloodhound (2020)
A recent adaptation of "The Fall of the House of Usher" you may have missed, The Bloodhound follows a young man invited to visit his wealthy friend and his sister at their home. At the remote location, strange things begin to occur.
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Extraordinary Tales (2015)
Narrated by Julian Sands, Guillermo Del Toro, Christopher Lee, and Bela Lugosi, Extraordinary Tales is an animated adaptation of various Edgar Allan Poe tales, including "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar", "The Pit and the Pendulum" and more.
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Tales of Terror (1962)
Another Corman entry is Tales of Terror. This anthology adapts Poe's tales "Morella", "The Black Cat", "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar" and "The Cask of Amontillado".
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Lunacy (2005)
Loosely based on two Edgar Allan Poe stories, this Czech film is strange and unsettling. Taking inspiration from "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether" and "The Premature Burial", Lunacy follows a man who is deeply disturbed after the death of his mother, and continues to be haunted by violent visions.
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