Curtis Harrington
Film director · 4 films (1956–1971)
Curtis Harrington is a director whose work here spans The Wormwood Star (1956) to What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971), across horror and thriller. 2 of those films were photographed by Vilis Lapenieks. All 192 frames from 4 films are indexed here, searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, colour and mood.
Gene Curtis Harrington was an American film and television director whose work included experimental films, horror films, and episodic television. He is considered one of the forerunners of New Queer Cinema.
Born 17 September 1926 · Los Angeles, California · died 6 May 2007
Directing style
Harrington constructs a tense, interior-focused atmosphere by pairing a shallow depth of field with eye-level medium shots and closeups, isolating characters within nocturnal spaces illuminated primarily by practical light sources. His visual signature relies on a stark duality, shifting between high-contrast black-and-white photography and a color palette dominated by muted, earthy tones, deep blacks, and bruised, desaturated reds. This tight framing and low-key, localized lighting evoke a pervasive sense of loneliness and ominous mystery across his horror and thriller narratives.
Films directed by Curtis Harrington
About Curtis Harrington
When was Curtis Harrington born?
Curtis Harrington was born on 17 September 1926 in Los Angeles, California and died on 6 May 2007.
What films has Curtis Harrington directed?
FrameThrower holds stills from 4 of them: The Wormwood Star (1956), Night Tide (1961), Queen of Blood (1966) and What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971).
Search every frame of Curtis Harrington’s films
All 192 indexed frames from 4 films directed by Curtis Harrington — searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, mood or plain language.