VAL LEWTON was one of that fairly rare species, a truly creative producer. As such, he was able to achieve an outstanding reputation for the high quality, unusual, and interesting “B” pictures he produced at RKO Studios starting in the early 1940s. He brought something new to the so-called horror films. They were a rare breed—the “psychological” horror film where the tension and fear were generated not by monsters and special effects but by suggestion, the fear of the unknown. As such they are chilling and frightening films. — Robert Wise

Horror too often is played for revulsion. Val used to say that the audience is the most important actor in the theatre, if you give it a chance. Let the audience fill in the details, Val said. If you do everything for them, the power of suggestion doesn’t come into play…stimulate their imaginations… outline the details. — Boris Karloff