Like any other genre, fantasy movies can include dark and intense themes that make the mystical elements of the story terrifying. Whether it's through a genuinely frightening villain or serious plot points that make the stakes all too real, these narratives intend to leave the audience thinking about what they've seen and how it relates to the real world. The use of metaphor and allusion to true events is what makes fantasy such a popular genre, especially darker works of fiction that push the viewer to interrogate complex conversations about human nature.
While many darker additions to the genre are the best R-rated fantasy movies, these films don't need to warrant an R-rating to have a frightening and serious tone. Explicit violence and gore contribute to the darkness of a project, but there are many other ways that implied action and terror can be just as effective. Darkness can also be defined by tough choices, feelings of isolation, and the first steps toward adulthood that everyone must take. These topics are frequently touched upon in more intense projects, with loss of innocence being a recurring theme.
10 Van Helsing (2004)
Directed by Stephen Sommers
Van Helsing is a 2004 action-adventure film directed by Stephen Sommers, starring Hugh Jackman as the titular character, a monster hunter tasked with defeating Dracula. Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, and Shuler Hensley co-star in this gothic horror-inspired tale that explores the battle between good and evil in Transylvania.
Director Stephen Sommers
Release Date May 3, 2004
Studio(s) Universal Pictures , The Sommers Company , Stillking Films
Writers Stephen Sommers
CastHugh Jackman , Kate Beckinsale , Richard Roxburgh , David Wenham , Shuler Hensley
Runtime 132 Minutes
Hugh Jackman might be best known for his role as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, but in 2004, he took on a much more supernatural part in Van Helsing. The movie pays homage to some of the best monster movies of all time, with the titular Van Helsing battling iconic creatures like Dracula, werewolves, and Frankenstein's monster. Jackman is joined by Kate Beckinsale, who plays Anna, a young woman who joins forces with Van Helsing to stop Dracula once and for all.
Despite being a box-office success,
Van Helsing
didn't hit home with critics because of its over-the-top and campy sensibilities.
Despite being a box-office success, Van Helsing didn't hit home with critics because of its over-the-top and campy sensibilities. However, these aspects are part of the reason that Van Helsing has become somewhat of a cult classic today and is remembered fondly by lovers of the monster movie genre. Additionally, there is an undercurrent of sadness and sacrifice throughout Van Helsing, as the monster hunter can't remember his past and seems doomed to lose everyone he grows to care about.
Title
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Van Helsing (2004)
24%
57%
9 Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Pan's Labyrinth follows Ofelia, a ten-year-old girl living in 1940s Spain who learns she is actually a long-lost fairy princess. With the help of a faun, she is set a series of tasks to complete in order to return to her true home in the fairy underworld. Ivana Baquero stars as Ofelia, with Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, and Doug Jones making up the rest of the main cast.
Director Guillermo del Toro
Release Date January 19, 2007
Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures
Writers Guillermo del Toro
Cast Sergi López , Doug Jones , Ivana Baquero , Ariadna Gil , Maribel Verdú
Runtime 118 minutes
Pan's Labyrinth might follow the story of a child, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), but the film doesn't hold back from putting her through terrible and dangerous ordeals. As mystically enchanting as it is forbidding, Pan's Labyrinth sees Ofelia torn between the real-life political upheaval around her and the world she escapes to with the help of the Faun. However, even Ofelia's fantasies are not safe, as she battles horrifying monsters like the iconic Pale Man and is pushed to grow up much faster than she should.
Sergi López's turn as Captain Vidal is one of the best fantasy movie performances of all time, as the audience can feel the cruelty and thirst for power that motivates the character through the screen. While the Captain gets what he deserves in the end, this moment of retribution doesn't change that Pan's Labyrinth leaves off on a bittersweet and uncertain note. Whether or not Ofelia has reunited with her family in the Underworld or if it was all a dream is left open to the audience's interpretation.
Title
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
95%
91%
8 The Dark Crystal (1982)
Directed by Jim Henson & Frank Oz
Directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, and featuring Henson's signature use of puppetry and animatronics, The Dark Crystal tells the story of two Gelflings, a fictional race of elf-like fantasy creatures, who must embark on a quest to restore balance to their world through the mending of an all-powerful crystal, broken and corrupted by a malevolent race known as the Skeksis. Stephen Garlick and Lisa Maxwell voice the protagonists, Jen and Kira.
Release Date December 17, 1982
Runtime 93minutes
The Dark Crystal was a turning point for Jim Henson and The Henson Company, as most audiences associated the production company with lighter works like The Muppet Show and found the sadness and gravity of the story unexpected. However, this is what makes The Dark Crystal so enduring, as the epic tale feels just as important and immediate today as it did when the film first premiered. Even as the gorgeous visuals of The Draw Crystal draw you in, the story challenges the viewer emotionally.
The Dark Crystal
concludes that there is an equal propensity for good and evil inside everyone and that both sides must be joined together to make something whole.
The conceit of The Dark Crystal revolves around the extermination of the Geflings and the inhumane rule of the Skeksis, who perform horrible experiments. However, The Dark Crystal concludes that there is an equal propensity for good and evil inside everyone and that both sides must be joined together to make something whole. The story's ability to hold and communicate so many complex and heady themes speaks to the quality of The Dark Crystal and the need for innovative but serious projects like it.
Title
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Dark Crystal (1982)
78%
81%
7 Coraline (2009)
Directed by Henry Selick
Based on Neil Gaiman's novella, Coraline follows Coraline Jones, a lonely young girl who, after moving to a new house with her inattentive parents, discovers a portal to another, more sinister alternate reality behind one of the house's many doors. Written and directed by Henry Selick, the film uses stop-motion animation and stars Dakota Fanning as Coraline.
Director Henry Selick
Release Date February 5, 2009
Studio(s) Focus Features
Runtime 100 minutes
One of the best stop-motion animated films of all time, Coraline expands upon the already gothic source material of the original book and creates a well-developed dark fantasy world. Like most stop-motion movies, Coraline uses color and visual atmosphere brilliantly, subverting expectations with the difference between the Other World and the real world. Even though it's colorful and inviting, the Other World is actually a source of nightmares. The Other Mother is shockingly horrible and unsettling for a children's villain.
Outside the horror elements, Coraline is dark in a deeper sense, as Coraline seeks to escape her reality because she feels ignored and misunderstood by her surroundings. Her journey to accepting her circumstances and appreciating what she has while desperately wishing for an escape from her reality is a complex subject but relates to all audiences, children and adults alike. It's impossible to forget the terrors of Coraline, even after Coraline defeats the monsters.
Title
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Coraline (2009)
91%
74%
6 Legend (1985)
Directed by Ridley Scott
In a fantastical realm, Jack must save Princess Lili from the clutches of the sinister Lord of Darkness, who plans to bring eternal night by killing the last unicorns. Teaming up with a group of mystical companions, Jack ventures through dark forests and treacherous terrains to stop Darkness and ensure the survival of their magical world.
Release Date April 18, 1986
Studio(s) Universal Pictures , Embassy International Pictures N.V. , Legend Production Company
Writers William Hjortsberg
CastTom Cruise , Mia Sara , Tim Curry , David Bennent , Alice Playten , Billy Barty , Cork Hubbert
Runtime 94 Minutes
There's a clear line between good and evil in Legend, the underrated 1980s fantasy movie that features a performance from a young Tom Cruise. However, the real star of the film is Tim Curry as Darkness, the villain who has no motivations other than to bring evil and destruction to every corner of the world. Curry could have easily played this part with a tongue-in-cheek tone, but instead, the actor makes the character as horrible as his character design implies.
The makeup and sets in
Legend
are some of the best parts of the movie, which is to be expected with Ridley Scott directing.
The makeup and sets in Legend are some of the best parts of the movie, which is to be expected with Ridley Scott directing. While Legend doesn't feature one of Cruise's movie villain roles, it's still interesting to see him take on a character so different from the action hero that audiences know him as. With high stakes and tension throughout the plot, there's plenty of terror to be found in Legend, especially when Darkness captures Lili (Mia Sara) and asks her to marry him.
Title
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Legend (1985)
41%
73%
5 Excalibur (1981)
Directed by John Boorman
Excalibur is a 1981 film directed by John Boorman, which retells the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Starring Nigel Terry as Arthur and Nicol Williamson as Merlin, the movie covers the mystical origins of Excalibur, Arthur's rise to power, and the eventual betrayal by his closest allies. The film is notable for its striking visuals and adherence to the traditional Arthurian mythology.
Director John Boorman
Release Date April 10, 1981
Studio(s) Orion Pictures , Cinema 84 , Warner Bros. Pictures
Writers John Boorman , Rospo Pallenberg
Cast Nigel Terry , Helen Mirren , Nicholas Clay , Cherie Lunghi , Paul Geoffrey
Runtime 141 Minutes
There have been many adaptations of the legends of King Arthur, and while the 1981 Excalibur isn't the definitive version, it ranks high on the list. This is because Excalibur isn't afraid to lean into the more nuanced and adult themes featured in the stories about Camelot and how Arthur's story is one of tragedy. Nigel Terry does a good job communicating this sadness and sense of duty in his performance as Arthur, but Helen Mirren gives a tour-de-force performance as Morgana.
Morgana is an interesting figure in Arthurian legend, as much of her anger and motivation for becoming a villain stems from the violence and trauma brought upon her and her mother. This makes her at once sympathetic and repulsive to the audience, creating a multifaceted reaction and interpretation. The fantasy aspects and stunning visuals of Excalibur all serve to forward the deeper plots of the role of kings and destiny within the genre.
Title
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Excalibur (1981)
72%
80%
4 The Black Cauldron (1985)
Directed by Ted Berman & Richard Rich
The Black Cauldron is an animated fantasy film from Walt Disney Studios, directed by Ted Berman and Richard Rich. Released in 1985, it follows the young hero Taran and his quest to prevent the evil Horned King from obtaining a powerful magical relic known as the Black Cauldron. Featuring the voices of Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, and John Hurt, the film combines elements of adventure, mystery, and dark fantasy.
Director Ted Berman , Richard Rich
Release Date July 24, 1985
Writers Lloyd Alexander , David Jonas , Vance Gerry , Ted Berman , Richard Rich , Al Wilson
Cast Grant Bardsley , Susan Sheridan , Freddie Jones , Nigel Hawthorne , Arthur Malet , John Byner
Runtime 80 Minutes
The Black Cauldron is one of the most infamous Disney flops of all time, but that makes revisiting it today all the more interesting. Unfortunately, the production was plagued with problems and budget cuts, as the studio was going through a transitional phase and was struggling to make it out of an animation slump. While The Black Cauldron didn't help this, it has been cemented as a uniquely strange and dark addition to the Disney canon.
The 1980s was an exciting and innovative time for animation, and many movies increased the complexity & nuance of their central villains.
Based on The Chronicles of Prydain book series by Lloyd Alexander, The Black Cauldron attempted to tackle the significant source material full of treacherous villains and monsters. Though the Horned King doesn't have much to do in the story, he and his lair are gorgeously designed and evoke a sense of terror and atmospheric tension. Many of the most unsettling scenes were reportedly cut from the film before its release, but there's still an underlying feeling of dread and depth in every scene of The Black Cauldron (via Collider).
Title
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Black Cauldron (1985)
54%
48%
3 The Witches (1990)
Directed by Nicolas Roeg
The Witches (1990)
Director Nicolas Roeg
Release Date December 7, 1990
Cast Anjelica Huston , Jasen Fisher
Anjelica Huston is unforgettably grotesque in the 1990 adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Witches as the Grand High Witch. The Witches is a classic example of an older children's film that's been recently evaluated as almost shockingly dark, but that doesn't make the story any less compelling. While The Witches might give younger audiences nightmares, it's a well-crafted fantasy horror story with a strong central message and coming-of-age themes. However, the original story had a darker ending than the happily-ever-after the 1990 movie features.
The evil nature of the witches and their hatred of children plays into every young person's worst nightmare, which is part of why it's so arresting to watch today. It's always interesting to see film villains that have truly no good inside them or nuanced motivation. Huston's Grand High Witch is uncompromisingly evil, and the narrative leans into this characterization, making the protagonists of the tale all the more brave and heroic.
Title
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Witches (1990)
94%
70%
2 Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Bram Stoker's Dracula, set in 19th century England, follows Count Dracula as he journeys to London. There, he encounters Mina Harker, who bears a striking resemblance to his long-lost love.
Release Date November 13, 1992
Writers Bram Stoker , James V. Hart
CastGary Oldman , Winona Ryder , Anthony Hopkins , Keanu Reeves , Sadie Frost , Cary Elwes , Richard E. Grant , Billy Campbell , Tom Waits , Monica Bellucci , Florina Kendrick , Michaela Bercu , Jay Robinson , I.M. Hobson , Laurie Franks , Maud Winchester , Octavian Cadia , Robert Getz , Dagmar Stansova , Eniko Öss , Nancy Linehan Charles , Tatiana von Furstenberg , Jules Sylvester , Hubert Wells , Daniel Newman , Honey Lauren , Judi Diamond
Runtime 127 Minutes
Francis Ford Coppola's star-studded adaptation of the classic story of Dracula is an amazing horror fantasy for the ages. With Gary Oldman as Dracula and additional performances from Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves, Bram Stoker's Dracula leans into the underlying themes in the work. The stylistic choices in the film provide an immersive experience for the viewer and expand upon the conflicting elements of desire and repression that were so prevalent in the literature of the era.
By the end of the story, the audience finds themselves identifying with the horrible villain and feeling compassion for him.
Despite the monsters being the heart of the narrative, Dracula is a human story about loss and abandonment. The characters are only able to defeat evil and achieve peace when they accept themselves and their passions. Considered one of the best vampire movies of all time, Bram Stoker's Dracula brought new life to the well-known story and was praised for its ability to make the project feel fresh and new after so many iterations. By the end of the story, the audience finds themselves identifying with the horrible villain and feeling compassion for him.
As long as there have been scary stories, there have been tales about vampires, and the best TV shows about the mystical creatures are iconic.
1 Spirited Away (2001)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Spirited Away, a masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki, is an animated fantasy film that follows the enchanting journey of a young girl named Chihiro. Trapped in a mystical world after her parents are transformed into pigs, Chihiro must navigate a realm filled with spirits and peculiar creatures to save her family.
Considered one of Hayao Miyazaki's and Studio Ghibli's best films, Spirited Away is a masterpiece of fantasy and coming-of-age narratives, perfectly blending the wonder and terror of growing up. The protagonist, Chihiro, might be transported to a beautiful and magical world, but it's full of terrors and challenges, and the inciting incident of the story sees her parents transformed into pigs in front of her. It's a traumatic start for a dark and complex tale.
However, without these elements, Spirited Away wouldn't be half as good, as the film understands that the most transformative experiences can be scary. Chihiro reminds the audience of the first moments of independence and being on their own, which is scary even in the real world. Though she goes through a lot, Chihiro comes out the other side of the story stronger for it and has learned about the world and herself in the process.
Image by Ana Nieves
English (US) ·