The Gorgon (1964)

This is a monster flick wrapped up in a murder mystery. After the death of a woman and her artist-boyfriend is ruled a murder-suicide, his father believes the truth is being suppressed and works to clear his son’s name. Their village has experienced seven mysterious murders in the last five years and someone, or something, is responsible. I truly dig the special effects the Gorgon brings to the film: the lovely undulating snakes in her hair, the creepy makeup, her gorgeously lit green dress, and of course the hardening of her victims as they turn to stone. There’s a bit of borrowing from other monster flicks to create the mythology of the modern Gorgon, but it’s extra satisfying that she’s a woman grappling with the changes in Edwardian society.