20 Dark Fantasy Films That are as Scary as They are Creative (2024)

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.

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.

20 'Gretel & Hansel' (2020)

Directed by Oz Perkins

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.

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 the '80s horror fantasy movies 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.

PG-13

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Release Date

January 30, 2020

Director

Oz Perkins

Cast

Sophia Lillis , Alice Krige , Jessica De Gouw , Charles Babalola , Samuel Leakey , Ian Kenny

Runtime

87

19 'Crimson Peak' (2015)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Few directors have mastered dark fantasy films quite like Guillermo del Toro, with the filmmaker’s underrated Crimson Peak an intriguing marriage of gothic romance and paranormal horror. It follows Edith (Mia Wasikowska), an aspiring author who ignores several warnings and marries Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) and takes residence in his dilapidated mansion alongside his peculiar sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain). When she begins experiencing ghostly visions, Edith must figure out the deadly secrets that plague the halls of the manor.

A typically imaginative and engrossing offering from del Toro, Crimson Peak maintains a rich sense of atmospheric dread that is complemented by sublime and eerie visuals and a haunting unraveling mystery. Arresting, intriguing, and often quite creepy, Crimson Peak is a modern gem of dark fantasy horror that admirers of the genre will enjoy.

Crimson Peak

R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Release Date

October 13, 2015

Director

Guillermo del Toro

Cast

Charlie Hunnam , Jessica Chastain , Tom Hiddleston , Mia Wasikowska , Doug Jones , Burn Gorman

Runtime

119 minutes

18 'Solomon Kane' (2009)

Directed by 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.

Watch on Roku

17 'Monster House' (2006)

Directed by Gil Kenan

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

PG

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Release Date

June 30, 2006

Director

Gil Kenan

Cast

Ryan Newman , Steve Buscemi , Mitchel Musso , Catherine O'Hara , Fred Willard , Sam Lerner

Runtime

96

16 'Mandy' (2018)

Directed by Panos Cosmatos

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

Not Rated

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Release Date

September 14, 2018

Director

Panos Cosmatos

Cast

Nicolas Cage , Andrea Riseborough , Linus Roache , Ned Dennehy , Olwen Fouéré , Richard Brake

Runtime

121 Minutes

15 'Return to Oz' (1985)

Directed by 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.

Watch on Disney+

14 'The Witches' (1990)

Directed by 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.

Rent on Amazon

13 'The Dark Crystal' (1982)

Directed by Jim Jenson and Frank Oz

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

PG

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

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

12 'Sleepy Hollow' (1999)

Directed by Tim Burton

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.

Sleepy Hollow

R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Release Date

November 19, 1999

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Johnny Depp , Christina Ricci , Miranda Richardson , Michael Gambon

Runtime

105 minutes

11 'Bram Stoker’s Dracula' (1992)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Overblown with its Gothic allure, yet utterly enchanting all the same, Francis Ford Coppola’s take on the classic horror novel is one of spellbinding grandiosity. Gary Oldman stars as Dracula, a lonely soul yearning for his lost love when he meets Mina (Winona Ryder) and believes her to be the reincarnation of his late bride. Bringing death and sickness to London with him as he pursues Mina, a legendary vampire hunter Dr. Abraham Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins) is summoned to investigate.

With its striking gothic visuals, immense story scope, and Coppola’s efforts to explore the characters in a slightly more refined light, Bram Stoker’s Dracula was a box office hit upon release and remains an enduring classic of 90s cinema. In the eyes of many, it is still the best adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel due to its ability to embrace the romantic and fantastical elements of the story as well as the central horror.

Bram Stoker's Dracula

R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Release Date

November 13, 1992

Director

Francis Ford Coppola

Cast

Gary Oldman , Winona Ryder , Anthony Hopkins , Keanu Reeves

Runtime

128

10 'Suspiria' (1977)

Directed by Dario Argento

Swerving more towards outright horror than dark fantasy, Suspiria is the defining highlight of Dario Argento’s filmography and the Giallo horror movies he made famous through the 1970s. It follows Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper), an American ballerina who travels to study at a prestigious academy in Germany. As she struggles to settle into her new environment, multiple people linked to the school are murdered in brutal fashion, leading Suzy to suspect a sinister supernatural presence.

Flaunting an exuberant flamboyance courtesy of Argento’s spectacular and surreal use of color, Suspiria is an astounding visual accomplishment that fuses horror and fantasy together in spellbinding fashion. Complemented by a stunning set design and a brilliantly eerie score, it is a masterpiece of atmosphere and style that enchants viewers, pulling them into its story of institutional abuse and paranormal terror.

Suspiria

R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Release Date

February 1, 1977

Director

Dario Argento

Cast

Jessica Harper , Stefania Casini , Flavio Bucci , Miguel Bosé , Barbara Magnolfi , Susanna Javicoli

Runtime

98

9 'The Secret of NIMH' (1982)

Directed by Don Bluth

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.

The Secret of NIMH

G

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Release Date

June 17, 1982

Director

Don Bluth

Cast

Derek Jacobi , Elizabeth Hartman , Arthur Malet , Dom DeLuise , Hermione Baddeley , Shannen Doherty

Runtime

82 minutes

8 'The Wolf House' (2018)

Directed by Cristóbal León and 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.

Watch on Hoopla

7 'Eraserhead' (1977)

Directed by David Lynch

A surrealist nightmare from the ever-mystifying and evocative David Lynch, Eraserhead is a visceral viewing experience that is not for the faint of heart. Henry Spencer (Jack Nance) is trying to get by in an industrial landscape when he learns that a girl he slept with is expecting a baby. He marries the mother and has her move in with him, but he is shocked when she gives birth to a lizard-like creature that wails ceaselessly.

Fusing together social commentary, body horror, dark fantasy, and an intrinsic thematic exploration of anxieties of fatherhood, Lynch's Eraserhead is as daring and provocative as it is creative. Utilizing an unnerving and creepy score to maximum effect, it subverts narrative conventions to be a hauntingly bleak dreamscape of parenthood in the mechanical modern world.

Eraserhead

Not Rated

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Release Date

February 3, 1978

Director

David Lynch

Cast

Jack Nance , Laurel Near , Charlotte Stewart , Allen Joseph

Runtime

89 minutes

6 'The Crow' (1994)

Directed by Alex Proyas

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

R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Release Date

May 11, 1994

Director

Alex Proyas

Cast

Brandon Lee , Rochelle Davis , Ernie Hudson , Michael Wincott , Ling Bai , Sofia Shinas

Runtime

102

5 'Let the Right One In' (2008)

Directed by Tomas Alfredson

Mixing gloomy vampire horror with an intelligent and even, at times, charming coming-of-age story, Let the Right One In is an enthralling genre-bending tale of young love and friendship. Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) is a 12-year-old boy who dreams of taking revenge on the kids who bully him. He finds friendship in Eli (Lina Leandersson), a new neighbor who he finds himself falling in love with. However, the girl harbors a dark secret tied to a recent killing spree in the area.

Coasting on the talents of the two sensational young actors, the Swedish horror film manages to be cold and bleak, highlighting social isolation and a lack of community values, but it also revels in the purity and innocence of the central friendship. As sweet as it is bloody and violent, Let the Right One In is both frightening and endearing as a highlight of modern vampire cinema and of dark fantasy romance.

Let the Right One In

R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Release Date

January 26, 2008

Director

Tomas Alfredson

Cast

Kåre Hedebrant , Lina Leandersson , Per Ragnar , Henrik Dahl , Karin Bergquist , Peter Carlberg

Runtime

114 minutes

4 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' (2022)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson

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

PG

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

Release Date

December 9, 2022

Director

Guillermo del Toro , Mark Gustafson

Cast

Ewan McGregor , David Bradley , Gregory Mann , Burn Gorman , Ron Perlman

Runtime

117 minutes

3 'Coraline' (2009)

Directed by Henry Selick

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

PG

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Release Date

February 6, 2009

Director

Henry Selick

Cast

Dakota Fanning , Teri Hatcher , Jennifer Saunders , Dawn French , Keith David , John Hodgman

Runtime

100 minutes

2 'Pan's Labyrinth' (2006)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

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

R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Release Date

August 25, 2006

Director

Guillermo del Toro

Cast

Ivana Baquero , Sergi López , Maribel Verdú , Doug Jones , Ariadna Gil , Álex Angulo

Runtime

112 minutes

1 'Spirited Away' (2001)

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

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 amusem*nt 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.

Watch on Max

NEXT: Movies That Perfectly Blend Fantasy With Science Fiction