Elvira's Movie Macabre 1981
What is Elvira's Movie Macabre?
Elvira’s Movie Macabre is a television series that debuted in 1981 and continued through the mid‑1980s. The program is classified as Sci‑Fi & Fantasy and Comedy and carries a TV‑14 rating.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1981
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 140
- Runtime
- 120 minutes
- First aired
- Sep 26, 1981
- Last aired
- Nov 2, 1986
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- KHJ-TV
- Genres
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy
- Updated
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 140 episodes and an average 120-minute runtime.
Trailer
Overview
Elvira’s Movie Macabre is a television series that debuted in 1981 and continued through the mid‑1980s. The program is classified as Sci‑Fi & Fantasy and Comedy and carries a TV‑14 rating. Each episode features the host known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, who introduces a selection of low‑budget horror or “scary” movies. While the films play, Elvira delivers sarcastic, camp‑filled commentary, adding her trademark voluptuous charm and energetic presence to the viewing experience. The format follows an old‑fashioned horror‑movie marathon style, with the Mistress of the Dark both presenting and commentating on the titles. The series is noted for blending modestly produced genre pictures with Elvira’s tongue‑in‑cheek humor, creating a distinctive blend of horror and comedy that appealed to a teenage and adult audience during its run.
Should you watch it?
“Elvira hosts low-budget horror marathons with sarcastic, campy commentary and her signature charm.”
- Host’s witty, over‑the‑top commentary
- Showcases classic low-budget horror titles
- Elvira’s distinctive charisma
- Limited to older, low-budget films that may feel dated
Watch it if you enjoy tongue-in-cheek horror hosting and vintage scary movies.
The series features spooky content and sarcastic humor, suitable for teen and adult viewers (TV-14).
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 46 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Grave of the Vampire Sep 26, 1981
- E2 Silent Night, Bloody Night Oct 3, 1981
- E3 The House That Screamed Oct 10, 1981
- E4 The Fall of the House of Usher Oct 17, 1981
- E5 The Dunwich Horror Oct 25, 1981
- E6 Blacula Nov 1, 1981
- E7 The Comedy of Terrors Nov 7, 1981
- E8 The Thing With Two Heads Nov 15, 1981
- E9 The Werewolf of Washington Nov 21, 1981
- E10 Cry of the Banshee Nov 29, 1981
- E11 Count Yorga, Vampire Dec 5, 1981
- E12 Murders in the Rue Morgue Dec 12, 1981
- E13 Baron Blood Dec 27, 1981
- E14 Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde Jan 3, 1982
- E15 The Crimson Cult Jan 10, 1982
- E16 The Murder Clinic Jan 16, 1982
- E17 Horror Express Jan 23, 1982
- E18 The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant Jan 30, 1982
- E19 Horror Hospital Feb 6, 1982
- E20 Rattlers Feb 13, 1982
- E21 Disciple of Death Feb 20, 1982
- E22 Frankenstein Feb 28, 1982
- E23 The Devil's Rain Mar 6, 1982
- E24 Psychic Killer Mar 13, 1982
- E25 Necromancy Mar 20, 1982
- E26 The Spectre of Edgar Allen Poe Mar 27, 1982
- E27 Peeping Tom Apr 3, 1982
- E28 Legacy of Blood Apr 10, 1982
- E29 Deathdream Apr 18, 1982
- E30 The Deathmaster Apr 25, 1982
- E31 Beware! The Blob May 1, 1982
- E32 Good Against Evil May 8, 1982
- E33 The Brotherhood of Satan May 15, 1982
- E34 The Mad Magician May 22, 1982
- E35 The Turn of the Screw May 22, 1982
- E36 Count Dracula's Great Love May 29, 1982
- E37 Jennifer The Snake Goddess Jun 12, 1982
- E38 Masque of the Red Death Jun 19, 1982
- E39 The Tomb of Ligeia Jun 26, 1982
- E40 The Incredible Melting Man Jul 3, 1982
- E41 The Fearless Vampire Killers Jul 10, 1982
- E42 Terror House Jul 17, 1982
- E43 The Baby Jul 24, 1982
- E44 The House of Seven Corpses Jul 31, 1982
- E45 Psychomania Aug 7, 1982
- E46 Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? Aug 14, 1982
Season 2 · 32 episodes
- E1 War- Gods of the Deep Sep 4, 1982
- E2 The Oblong Box Sep 11, 1982
- E3 The Raven Sep 25, 1982
- E4 The Conqueror Worm Oct 2, 1982
- E5 And Now the Screaming Starts! Oct 9, 1982
- E6 Blood from the Mummy's Tomb Oct 16, 1982
- E7 Madhouse Oct 23, 1982
- E8 The House That Dripped Blood Oct 30, 1982
- E9 Tales of Terror Oct 30, 1982
- E10 The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Nov 7, 1982
- E11 The Day It Came to Earth Nov 13, 1982
- E12 Blood on Satan's Claw Nov 20, 1982
- E13 Crucible of Horror Nov 27, 1982
- E14 Dr Black, Mr Hyde Dec 4, 1982
- E15 The Devil Within Her Dec 12, 1982
- E16 The Bat People Dec 19, 1982
- E17 The Return of Count Yorga Jan 1, 1983
- E18 Inn of the Frightened People Jan 8, 1983
- E19 Craze Jan 29, 1983
- E20 The Monster Club Feb 6, 1983
- E21 The Creature's Revenge Feb 12, 1983
- E22 Beast of the Dead Feb 19, 1983
- E23 The Island of Living Horror Feb 27, 1983
- E24 The Devil's Wedding Night Mar 5, 1983
- E25 The Torture Chamber of Dr Sadism Mar 12, 1983
- E26 Curse of the Vampires Mar 20, 1983
- E27 The Vampire People Mar 26, 1983
- E28 Scream and Scream Again Apr 2, 1983
- E29 The Human Vapor Apr 9, 1983
- E30 Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural Apr 16, 1983
- E31 The Haunted Palace Jun 18, 1983
- E32 The Doomsday Machine Aug 27, 1983
Season 3 · 29 episodes
- E1 They Came From Beyond Space Sep 17, 1983
- E2 Blue Sunshine Oct 1, 1983
- E3 Screamers Oct 29, 1983
- E4 Willard Nov 5, 1983
- E5 The Time Travelers Nov 12, 1983
- E6 Maneater of Hydra Nov 20, 1983
- E7 They Came From Within Dec 11, 1983
- E8 Gamera Super Monster Dec 24, 1983
- E9 New Year's Evil Dec 31, 1983
- E10 Homebodies Jan 28, 1984
- E11 Dracula Feb 4, 1984
- E12 Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! Mar 3, 1984
- E13 Dr Heckyll and Mr Hype Mar 17, 1984
- E14 Alien Contamination Mar 24, 1984
- E15 Village of the Damned Apr 14, 1984
- E16 Monstroid May 12, 1984
- E17 The Beast in the Cellar May 19, 1984
- E18 House of the Dead May 26, 1984
- E19 Circus of Horrors Jun 10, 1984
- E20 Pigs Jun 17, 1984
- E21 Schizoid Jun 24, 1984
- E22 The Godsend Jun 30, 1984
- E23 Blood Bath Jul 8, 1984
- E24 Kiss Daddy Goodbye Jul 14, 1984
- E25 The Love War Jul 28, 1984
- E26 The Human Duplicators Aug 5, 1984
- E27 Mark of the Devil Aug 11, 1984
- E28 So Sad About Gloria Aug 19, 1984
- E29 Night of the Zombies Aug 26, 1984
Season 4 · 13 episodes
- E1 Inn of the Damned Sep 1, 1984
- E2 Tombs of the Blind Dead Sep 8, 1984
- E3 Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks Sep 15, 1984
- E4 The Capture of Bigfoot Sep 22, 1984
- E5 Village of the Giants Nov 3, 1984
- E6 The Legend of Hell House Nov 10, 1984
- E7 The Other Nov 25, 1984
- E8 The Navy vs the Night Monsters Dec 1, 1984
- E9 The Last Bride of Salem Jan 12, 1985
- E10 Yeti: The Giant of the 20th Century Feb 9, 1985
- E11 Revenge of Frankenstein Mar 10, 1985
- E12 Curse of Bigfoot Mar 24, 1985
- E13 The Great Alligator May 4, 1985
Season 5 · 20 episodes
- E1 House of Dark Shadows Jun 22, 1986
- E2 The Horror of Death Jun 29, 1986
- E3 Kill and Go Hide Jul 6, 1986
- E4 The Legend of Lizzie Borden Jul 13, 1986
- E5 The Mad Butcher Jul 20, 1986
- E6 The Meateater Jul 27, 1986
- E7 The Mighty Gorga Aug 3, 1986
- E8 Scream, Baby, Scream Aug 10, 1986
- E9 Strait-Jacket Aug 17, 1986
- E10 They Saved Hitler's Brain Aug 24, 1986
- E11 Tomb of the Living Dead Aug 31, 1986
- E12 The Two Faces of Dr Jekyll Sep 7, 1986
- E13 The Boy Who Cried Werewolf Sep 14, 1986
- E14 Let's Scare Jessica to Death Sep 21, 1986
- E15 Horror of the Zombies Sep 28, 1986
- E16 House of the Long Shadows Oct 5, 1986
- E17 Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things Oct 12, 1986
- E18 Empire of the Ants Oct 19, 1986
- E19 Nightwing Oct 26, 1986
- E20 Nightmare City Nov 2, 1986
Frequently asked questions
Who hosts Elvira’s Movie Macabre?
The show is hosted by Elvira, the Mistress of the Dark, portrayed by Cassandra Peterson.
What kind of movies are shown?
Each episode presents low-budget horror films.
When did the series originally air?
It premiered in 1981 and continued until 1986.
What is the show’s rating?
It carries a TV-14 rating.
What is the style of Elvira’s commentary?
Her commentary is sarcastic, campy, and delivered with her characteristic voluptuous charm.