From Unsung Horrors Has Risen from the Grave, published 2024

When RKO hired Val Lewton to run its horror unit in 1942, its executives had fairly simple expectations: His films had to be cheap (no more than $150,000), short (just over an hour), and based on pre-approved titles like The Cat People and I Walked with a Zombie. As long as he stayed within those parameters – and made a profit, of course – the cultured, perfectionist producer could do pretty much as he wished.

The suits had no idea what they were in for. Lewton was a true auteur, and he hired directors who would fulfill his vision. He drew on art, literature, and folklore to offer audiences much more than cheap scares. He could handle that part, too, but it was never the point. His work was more in line with the film noir and social dramas of the era, with their challenging themes and dark aesthetics.