From the swords and sorcery boom of the 1980s, to the sweeping epics of the 21st century that thrived off the back of Peter Jackson’s beloved The Lord of the Rings trilogy, fantasy cinema has been explored from a wide variety of angles over the decades. While the genre has long been associated with a sense of whimsical wonder and triumphant adventure, many fantasy films aim to examine the darker sides of humanity through their imaginative worlds.
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Whether they be nostalgic and nightmarish gems from decades ago or modern cult classics that have plunged the genre to its darkest depths, these flicks have excelled at exploring the unthinkable horror that can only be presented in fantasy stories. As such, they are glistening examples of the seamless blend that can exist between horror, adventure, fantasy, and even action, forging uniquely exciting experiences that immerse viewers into foreign worlds.
15 ‘Gretel & Hansel’ (2020)
Director: Oz Perkins
Image via United Artists Releasing
When their mother is driven mad by an unknown evil, siblings Hansel (Samuel Leakey) and Gretel (Sophia Lillis) flee their home, eventually discovering a house in the woods inhabited by the elderly Holda (Alice Krige). While she appears warm and hospitable at first, it isn’t long before the children begin to suspect that she has more sinister intentions in mind.
Gretel & Hansel is an imperfect yet underrated genre exercise that was released in the unfortunate dumping ground of January 2020, a shame considering it stands a cut above most throwaway films of that year. It’s an eerie and genuinely unsettling interpretation of the Grimm fairy tale, with shades of Giallo and ’80s horror fantasy in every frame. The PG-13-rated film escapes the feeling of being a watered-down R-rated affair, instead thriving as an edgier children’s movie that flaunts an old-fashioned and nostalgic quality that works in its favor.
14 ‘Solomon Kane’ (2009)
Director: M. J. Bassett
A brilliant option for fans of fantasy horror movies who were left disappointed with the underwhelming spectacle of 2004’s Van Helsing, Solomon Kane is an underrated genre gem that squeezes every ounce of potential from its modest budget. Set in early 17th century England, it follows sword-for-hire Solomon Kane (James Purefoy) who has sworn off violence after an encounter with a demon grants him a new perspective on life. However, when evil looms on the horizon, he is left with no choice but to take up arms and fight for the fate of the world.
Sprawling in its scope, yet maintaining an eerie and unsettling tone, Solomon Kane is a cult hit that offers twisted fantasy allure, horror intrigue, and even plenty of action thrills. Admittedly, its narrative has a tendency to rely on formula, but it is executed well to deliver an exciting viewing experience with a gritty, heroic outing from Purefoy.
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13 ‘Monster House’ (2006)
Director: Gil Kenan
Image via Columbia Pictures
A brilliant marriage of family animation and classical Halloween horror, Monster House excelled as a thrilling and fun adventure that had an ability to entertain children and adults alike. It follows three youths who learn that a house in their neighborhood is haunted and try to warn everybody, though no adults believe them. With Halloween fast approaching, and the house sure to attack the many trick-or-treaters the holiday brings, the kids set out to destroy the house themselves.
It is fondly remembered for its remarkable animation, which was an achievement for its time, and successfully brings a wondrous life and vibrancy to its spookier and more surreal aspects. A smart and snappy haunted house horror, Monster House is a perfect choice for horror fans with young families who want to get their kids involved in the fun, or even just scary movie lovers who have an appreciation for animated cinema.
Monster House
Release Date June 30, 2006
Director Gil Kenan
Runtime 96
12 ‘Mandy’ (2018)
Director: Panos Cosmatos
Image via RJLE Films
A psychedelic deep dive into a world of depravity and death, Mandy became an instant cult classic upon release in 2018, and its legacy has only grown in the years since. Set in the Pacific Northwest in 1983, it focuses on a couple who enjoy quiet lives of solitude. However, that all changes when Mandy Bloom (Andrew Riseborough) is abducted by a horrific cult leader, something that sets Red Miller (Nicolas Cage) on a blood-soaked quest for revenge.
A spellbinding spectacle of excess and abundance, Mandy wields the sheer impact of over-the-top violence, and Cage’s utterly enthralling lead performance, as its strongest assets. Becoming more surreal as it goes on, Mandy only grows greater the more it commits to being a fierce and forceful blending of visceral horror, graphic action violence, and drug-infused dark fantasy, before careening to its jaw-dropping ending.
Mandy
Release Date September 13, 2018
Director Panos Cosmatos
Runtime 121
11 ‘Return to Oz’ (1985)
Director: Walter Murch
After being sent to a mental hospital for claiming to have visited another realm, young Dorothy Gale (Fairuza Balk) attempts to escape amid a violent storm and, to her surprise, awakens in the fantastical world of Oz. However, it is not the wonderful land she once knew, as she discovers Oz has been overrun by a vain witch and an evil king. Trying to reunite with old friends, and creating some new ones along the way, Dorothy sets out to restore the Oz she remembers.
This bizarre, belated and unofficial sequel to 1939’s The Wizard of Oz is more faithful to the work of L. Frank Baum than the beloved classic, especially in its darker atmosphere and more adult themes. From masked madmen with wheels for appendages to a witch with a collection of interchangeable heads, Return to Oz is filled with disturbing and horrific choices that make for a one-of-a-kind curiosity of fantasy filmmaking.
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10 ‘The Witches’ (1990)
Director: Nicolas Roeg
A glorious last gasp of the 1980s stream of nightmare-fueling children’s movies, The Witches is an enduring masterpiece of gross-out kids comedy, with its offbeat, fantasy basis coming from the famous Roald Dahl book of the same name. It follows a young boy staying with his grandmother in an English hotel who accidentally discovers a secret coven of witches who harbor plans of turning all the world’s children into mice.
Utilizing exceptional practical effects and conjuring up some genuinely unnerving sequences, The Witches has become famous for its innate ability to provide eerie thrills while still functioning as an accessible and fun-loving children’s fantasy. Angelica Houston’s iconic High Witch makes for a terrifying antagonist whose presence permeates throughout the film, particularly after the famous scene in which she peels off her face to reveal her true appearance.
The Witches
Release Date February 16, 1990
Director Nicolas Roeg
Cast Angelica Huston
Runtime 91
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9 ‘The Dark Crystal’ (1982)
Directors: Jim Jenson & Frank Oz
Image via Universal Pictures
Set on the fictional planet of Thra, Jen (Jim Henson), one of the last of the Gelfling race, sets out on a journey to find a shard of the sacred dark crystal, said to provide balance to the universe once. Unfortunately, the rest of the crystal is possessed by the evil Skeksis, a vulture-like race intent on using the crystal’s power to gain total control of the universe in The Dark Crystal.
Anyone raised in the 80s or early 90s is likely to have been cursed with nightmares from this wildly imaginative cult classic. Among the best dark fantasy movies of the 80s, puppet master Henson put his penchant for world-building outside the more light-hearted The Muppets on display, imbuing every dark corner of Thra with equal parts danger and wonder.
The Dark Crystal
Release Date December 17, 1982
Director Jim Henson , Frank Oz , Gary Kurtz Cast Jim Henson , Kathryn Mullen , Frank Oz , Dave Goelz , Steve Whitmire , Louise Gold
Runtime 93 minutes
8 ‘Sleepy Hollow’ (1999)
Director: Tim Burton
Image via Paramount Pictures
Few directors have exhibited such mastery over dark fantasy as Tim Burton, whose trademark meshing of horror ideas and fantasy narrative has seldom been more balanced and apparent than it was in 1999’s Sleepy Hollow. Based on the classic short story by Washington Irving, it follows police constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) as he is dispatched to the hamlet of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of beheadings, with the culprit believed to be the Headless Horseman.
With Burton’s eerie cinematic style perfectly complementing the Gothic mystery and supernatural angst, Sleepy Hollow excels as a creepy and richly atmospheric adaptation that marks one of the director’s few R-rated offerings. Additionally, it also makes for a thoroughly enjoyable scary movie that flaunts an arresting visual style and hints at the gleefully horrific possibilities that have been too rarely exhibited in Burton’s career thus far.
7 ‘The Secret of NIMH’ (1982)
Director: Don Bluth
Image via MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
Widowed mother-mouse Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman) takes her children from their home when the threat of a farmer’s plow looms on the horizon. Unfortunately, one of her sons is ill, and she must remain near their home to protect him. She eventually accepts help from lab rats with enhanced intelligence from experiments, only to find herself involved in a power struggle among them.
On paper, The Secret of NIMH is an offbeat project for a family film, yet strangely works better in execution than it has any right to. The animation is stunning and specific, and the predators that Mrs. Brisby encounters on her journey are brilliantly designed, moving with a feral intensity. This underrated classic holds up as one of the most ambitious and well-realized animated works not released by Disney. It makes for an underrated yet essential fantasy adventure film.
6 ‘The Wolf House’ (2018)
Director: Cristóbal León & Joaquin Cociña
A terrifying experimental horror film, The Wolf House voyages to some bizarre places as it utilizes different forms of animation to present a visually stunning yet unnerving viewing experience. It centers on a woman who escapes a Germany colony in southern Chile and takes refuge in an abandoned house in the woods after being pursued by a wolf. While it appeals to her every desire, the house gradually becomes a nightmare for María (Amalia Kassai), and the girl finds herself reconsidering her stance on the colony.
With its surreal, borderline absurd narrative and its stop-motion animation, The Wolf House is unlike any other film in its genre. Its stylistic intensity and arresting story beats allow it to occupy a uniquely terrifying fairy tale tone. Audiences may want to brush up on a bit of history to fully appreciate its political commentary, which is inextricably linked with the real-life case of Colonia Dignidad.
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5 ‘The Crow’ (1994)
Director: Alex Proyas
Image via Miramax
Based on the comic book series of the same name, The Crow has become an iconic cult classic that blends horror, fantasy, and action in a harrowing manner that is not for the faint of heart. Directed by Alex Proyas, it centers on Eric Dravem (Brandon Lee), a musician who returns from the grave a year after he and his fiancé are brutally murdered to exact revenge on the gangsters responsible for the targeted attack.
A visual feast of dark fantasy and brooding retribution, The Crow is a modern gothic masterpiece that thrives off the back of Brandon Lee’s tremendous performance, which was tragically his last. Despite the morbid nature of Lee’s death on the set of the film, The Crow is widely celebrated as being a spellbinding and arresting romantic tragedy that excels as a rousing revenge flick that isn’t afraid to be overbearing with its style or its more confronting elements.
The Crow
Release Date May 11, 1994
Runtime 102
4 ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ (2022)
Directors: Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson
Image via Netflix
Guillermo del Toro gave fans his own twisted adaptation of the classic tale of Pinocchio, complete with visually stunning stop-motion animation and a peculiar yet powerful dynamic between the two central characters. Instead of the family-friendly Disney flick that most may remember, del Toro’s Pinocchio incorporates some scary elements, particularly with the creature design for the fairy godmother.
The dark characterization of the grief-stricken Geppetto is only outdone by the vibrant and ceaseless playfulness of the wooden boy, whose earnest sense of adventure makes the events of the film a gleeful journey of discovery and redemption. It’s an instant classic (in large part due to del Toro’s trademarks) that will certainly continue to be a standout in the ever-growing list of adaptations of the beloved story.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Release Date December 9, 2022
Runtime 117 minutes
3 ‘Coraline’ (2009)
Director: Henry Selick
Image via Focus Features.
Brought to life by LAIKA Studios’ stop-motion animation that imbues the story with an uncanny eeriness that has made it something of a cult horror classic, Coraline sees Henry Selick in fine form as a gothic children’s adventure fantasy with some truly terrifying imagery and ideas. It follows young Coraline (Dakota Fanning) who, while exploring her new house, discovers a secret gateway to a parallel universe. While the alternate reality is initially more appealing, it soon descends into a nightmare that Coraline must escape from.
Similar to Selick’s other noteworthy achievements in stop-motion animation, Coraline has a constant undercurrent of creeping darkness that bubbles just below the film’s kid-friendly surface. With touches like the black button eyes and grander depictions of horror such as the final form of Other Mother (Teri Hatcher), Coraline stands as an accomplished children’s horror movie as well as an exciting fantasy film.
Coraline
Release Date February 6, 2009
Director Henry Selick
Runtime 100 minutes
2 ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Image via New Line Cinema
Set in Francoist Spain in 1944, Pan’s Labyrinth follows 11-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) as she travels with her pregnant mother to be with her new stepfather, the ruthless military leader, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez). As the war between the military and the rebels rages on, Ofelia meets a mystical faun who tells her she is the long-lost princess of the Underworld and that she can return to her kingdom if she successfully completes three tasks.
It is viewed by many to be del Toro’s crowning achievement, with the director’s keen interest in both dark fantasy and horror beautifully displayed as a violent fairy tale that juggles fantasy intrigue with real-world stakes with incredible elegance. One scene, in particular, involving a grotesque child-eating monster known as the Pale Man, is considered by many to be the pinnacle of horror in modern fantasy storytelling and isn’t likely to be topped any time soon.
Pan’s Labyrinth
Release Date August 25, 2006
Runtime 112 minutes
1 ‘Spirited Away’ (2001)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Image via Toho
A defining master of animated cinema, Hayao Miyazaki has forged an immaculate partnership with the illustrious Studio Ghibli to present many of the greatest animated movies ever made. Possibly the best of them was Spirited Away, a dark fantasy that focuses on 10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) as she and her family come across a seemingly abandoned amusement park. As night descends, the park’s supernatural inhabitants are revealed, and Chihiro finds herself struggling to rescue her parents, who have been turned into pigs.
With its beautifully realized fantasy realm and its host of mesmerizing and creative characters, namely the ghostly and now iconic figure of No-Face, Spirited Away has become a universally admired film that has transcended the sometimes boxed-in medium of animated film. Wonderfully sweet and magically adventurous in some scenes, and strikingly horrifying in others, it is the quintessential dark fantasy, and quite possibly the best animated movie of all time.
Spirited Away
Release Date July 20, 2001
Cast Rumi Hîragi , Miyu Irino , Mari Natsuki , Takashi Naitô , Yasuko Sawaguchi , Tatsuya Gashûin
Runtime 125 minutes
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