David J. Skal

Personal Info

Known For

Directing

Known Credits

0.1933

Gender

Male

Birthday

21-Jun-1952

Age

(74 years old)

Place of Birth

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Also Known As
  • NO INFO PROVIDED

David J. Skal

Biography

David John Skal was an American cultural historian, critic, writer, and on-camera commentator known for his research and analysis of horror films and horror literature.


Credits

All Over All Over (1976) Character: Reporter
As a famous man lies dying, his family—including both his wife and his mistress—gathers inside, while members of the media converge outside for news of his death in this filmed-for-television staging of Edward Albee's play.
Hitchcocked! Hitchcocked! (2006) Character: Self
A tribute to the work of Alfred Hitchcock, featuring contemporary filmmakers, writers, performers, and cultural critics.
Now You See Him: 'The Invisible Man' Revealed! Now You See Him: 'The Invisible Man' Revealed! (2000) Character: Self
A documentary from Universal about the movie "The Invisible Man" (1933) directed by James Whale.
Vampires: Thirst for the Truth Vampires: Thirst for the Truth (1996) Character: Self
A documentary that explores man's enduring fascination with the vampire legend by examining historical accounts, literary works, and as they are portrayed in film and television.
Night Terrors: The Origins of Wes Craven's Nightmares Night Terrors: The Origins of Wes Craven's Nightmares (2006) Character: Self
A look at the importance of dreams in relation to Wes Craven's successful A Nightmare on Elm Street horror franchise.
The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie (2012) Character: Self
This documentary short explores the origins of the monster movie and how Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" (1963) fits in the genre.
Mysteries Mean Dark Corners Mysteries Mean Dark Corners (2024) Character: Self
Video essay about the 1927 film 'The Cat and the Canary'.
Boris Karloff:  The Rest of the Story Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story (2022) Character: Self - Interviewee
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story takes a deeper look at the life and career of Boris Karloff, from 1931 to 1969, exploring films such as The Ghoul, The Walking Dead (1936), Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936), the Mr Wong series, The Climax (1944), Lured (1947), The Strange Door (1951), Grip of the Strangler and Corridors of Blood(1958), The Comedy of Terrors (1963), The Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968), the Mexican quartet, some of his major TV appearances (The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., Wild Wild West, I-Spy) as well as taking a deep look at his often ignored Broadway career in the 1940s and 50's. There is also much time devoted to Karloff's more personal side and his relationship with his daughter, Sara.
Ed Gein: The Ghoul of Plainfield Ed Gein: The Ghoul of Plainfield (2004) Character: Self
Examination of real life inspiration behind Psycho and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre who is the serial killer Ed Gein.
Tod Browning's 'Freaks': The Sideshow Cinema Tod Browning's 'Freaks': The Sideshow Cinema (2004) Character: Self
Documentary recounting the making of Tod Browning's Freaks. Featuring interviews with experts and actual sideshow performers, this film gives a fascinating insight into the cast members, production and public reaction to this controversial classic.
The Real Vampire Files The Real Vampire Files (2010) Character: Self
From myths to monsters to Twilight. Where did 'Vampire' come from? Where is it today? And where is it going next?
The Road to 'Dracula' The Road to 'Dracula' (1999) Character: Self
A documentary from Universal about the movie "Dracula" (1931) starring Bela Lugosi.
Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures (2004) Character: Self
Elvira hosts this humorous look at movie monsters and facts about the real animals on which they're based. Included: clips from films; and interviews with scientists and various showbiz types, including directors John Carpenter and John Landis, and actors Jeff Goldblum and Roy Scheider.
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster (2021) Character: Self
Beginning just before his debut as Frankenstein’s creation, this documentary compellingly explores the life and legacy of a cinema legend, presenting a perceptive history of the genre he personified. Karloff's films were long derided as hokum and attacked by censors, but his phenomenal popularity and pervasive influence endures, inspiring some of our greatest actors and directors into the 21st Century – among them Guillermo Del Toro, Ron Perlman, Roger Corman, and John Landis, all of whom and many more contribute their personal insights and anecdotes.
Vampira: The Movie Vampira: The Movie (2006) Character: Himself
The story of Maila "Vampira" Nurmi, living on the very edge of show business, and her rise to celluloid cultdom 50 years later. Her big break came in 1954 when she played the "glamour ghoul" Vampira, emerging from the mist to greet viewers of obscure horror movies on the new medium— television. Her newfound fame led to friendships with Marlon Brando, James Dean, and Anthony Perkins. But Vampira's show was abruptly cancelled. Nurmi appeared as Vampira again in the 1959 low-budget horror / sci-fi film, Plan 9 from Outer Space, directed by Edward D. Wood Jr. and often dubbed "the worst film of all time." But you can't keep a good vampire down, and Nurmi's character rose from the dead again in 1993's Ed Wood, directed by Tim Burton.
Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters! Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters! (2000) Character: Host
A documentary from Universal about the movie Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein.
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster (2002) Character: Host - Self
The history of Frankenstein's journey from novel to stage to screen to icon.
The Perfect Scary Movie The Perfect Scary Movie (2005) Character: Self
A documentary looking at the various conventions and scare techniques of the horror genre.
Back to the Black Lagoon: A Creature Chronicle Back to the Black Lagoon: A Creature Chronicle (2000) Character: Self / Host
Documentary about the making of and legacy of The Creature from the Black Lagoon included in The Legacy Collection box set.



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