Science fiction is a genre full of horror films, although some of these space gems have managed to fly under the radar. Films like those that can be found on Foreigner Franchises have dominated the genre for decades, and because of this, many sci-fi horror films haven’t received the same level of attention. Despite this lack of attention, many of these science fiction films have achieved a certain cult status, gaining a rabid collection of fans despite bombing at the box office or lacking the right marketing strategies.
When it comes to science fiction, horror can take many different paths, as science fiction is a very broad term. There’s something uniquely terrifying about horror set in outer space, placing both the film’s characters and the viewer in a strange environment where humanity should never be. Due to the special challenges that come with these types of horror films, they are often the scariest and most tense.
10
Apollo 18 (2011)
Apollo 18 takes place in an alternate version of the past, where the Apollo 18 mission was actually launched, but none of the crew returned alive. The film is supposedly found footage of this event, recovered after the fact. It is discovered that the Apollo 18 crew did not die because of the normal dangers of space exploration, such as a lack of oxygen or the vacuum of space, but rather from a group of hostile alien monsters living in the moon’s rocks.
Although the film has its own problems with the depictions of its monsters and how scary they arethe personal feeling that the found footage film evokes makes it deeply frightening. Apollo 18 It really gives the feeling that the viewer is watching something left behind by astronauts, and if we suspend their disbelief enough, the feeling that it could be real adds to the horror. Due to the found footage boom that occurred during its release in the 2010s, it is generally forgotten as this was the era of Paranormal Activity.
9
Saturn 3 (1980)
Robots bring horror to science fiction
Having been released in 1980, Saturn 3 is a great early example of a sci-fi horror movie about robots. When a robot, the first of its kind, is prepared to begin working with the Saturn 3 crew through a complicated neural link, the robot accidentally receives the bloodthirsty nature of one of the crew. The crew manages to dismantle the robot, but it manages to not only put itself back together, but also take full control of the ship.
However, despite being ridiculous at times, the film addresses the evils that human beings commit every day, reflected and worsened by the creation of humanity itself.
When Saturn 3 Initially released, it was a box office bomb. The film’s critical reception was generally poor, citing the sloppy production and uninspired script as the film’s problems. However, despite being ridiculous at times, the film addresses the evils that human beings commit every day, reflected and worsened by the creation of humanity itself.
8
Lunar Trap (1989)
Beloved actor Bruce Campbell stars in another horror gem
Starring horror regular Bruce Campbell, Lunar Trap is an experimental and often bloody science fiction film about a fictional NASA mission to the moon. Colonel Jason Grant and Ray Tanner, both astronauts, discover cybernetic life on the Moon and bring it back to Earth, but when it is discovered to be hostile, the two go on a mission back to the Moon to destroy what’s left. the moon. It is there that the two discover the ruins of an ancient human civilization and are quickly captured.
Despite being a genuinely exciting film from beginning to end with moments of great suspense, Lunar Trap initially received negative reviews. Even with the negative reviews, the crazy plot is still loved by fans. There were even plans for a film sequel set on Mars instead of the Moon, but the film was eventually scrapped.
7
Life (2017)
Life flew under the radar, even with an all-star cast
Detailing the International Space Station crew’s experience after finding life on Mars, Life is a film that evolves as quickly as its alien threat. After the astronauts shock the little life form in an attempt to wake it up, it not only tries to escape but also begins attacking the crew. What follows is a bloody hunt to stop the new discovery as it evolves and begins to kill the crew members.
With a cast that includes stars like Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson and Jake Gyllenhaal, it’s hard to believe that Life It already flew under the radar in the first place. It’s also innovative, taking the genre it was made for and creating something that feels fresh and new. Life turns several sci-fi tropes on their heads, making this suspenseful watch as unpredictable as it is satisfying.
6
Sunshine (2007)
The film is inspired by Alien and Solaris
Set decades in the future, a group of astronauts undertake a harrowing mission to save the sun when it begins to die. Things quickly begin to go wrong when crew members become lost in the depths of space, dying on their way to save the sun by detonating a star bomb inside it. This quickly begins to take its toll on the crew, slowly causing their condition to deteriorate further.
Sunshine it often feels claustrophobic, with spectacular sci-fi scenes that, although originally criticized for being inaccurate, can sometimes be quite entertaining.
Inspirations from beloved films such as Alien, Solaris, and the classic 2001: A Space Odyssey are clear to see in this film. Sunshine it often feels claustrophobic, with spectacular sci-fi scenes that, although originally criticized for being inaccurate, can sometimes be quite entertaining. It even won an award for its technical achievement, showing the hard work that went into creating this film’s anxiety-inducing feel.
5
Pandorum (2009)
This horror film brings paranoia to science fiction
Immersed in paranoia, Pandorum is a film about the last surviving humans and their mission to find a new home. However, the mission to this new planet, Tanis, is expected to take more than 100 years. After spending so long in hibernation, the crew must contend with a space-related illness called Pandorum, which causes psychosis, much like the members of humanity who have lost themselves to insanity in the intervening years.
Another unfavorable failure at the box office, Pandorum received criticism for its bloated plot. However, it was also described as the “best interstellar horror in years” by SFX, recognized for its incredible way of building tension as well as its surprising ending. It’s a great horror film, perfect for any science fiction fan.
4
Dead Space (1991)
This horror movie came before the Dead Space game series
Before the popular video game series became synonymous with the name Dead Space, the 1991 film Dead Space is a remake of the 1982 science fiction horror film Forbidden World. In an attempt to cure a dangerous disease, scientists on the planet Phablos accidentally create an even more deadly virus. This virus turns the people it infects into monsters, who then begin attacking other scientists.
Dead Space it had incredible technical effects for the time, making its monsters look as real as possible. Although not on the same level as films like The thing, the film still manages to make viewers question themselves. It also featured the participation of actor Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad fame in one of his first film rolesmaking the film even more worth watching.
3
Pitch Dark (2000)
Vin Diesel added experience to this sci-fi horror film
Starting in the middle of space on a ship full of people transporting a criminal to a maximum security prison, Dark as pitch tells the story of Richard B. Riddick, a career criminal with surgically modified eyes. When the ship encounters unexpected debris from a comet, it is forced to crash-land on what initially appears to be an empty, deserted planet. However, as the sun sets, the group is attacked by hungry and bloodthirsty alien creatures.
Although the film itself initially received middling reviews, Vin Diesel’s performance was almost universally praised. The slow build-up to night is expertly crafted, and the monsters look menacing while also looking like realistic extraterrestrial animals. The film laid the groundwork for the franchise that would follow, with Riddick: Furya scheduled to be released sometime in the future.
2
High Life (2018)
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High life takes place on an expedition towards a dangerous black hole, detailing the lives of criminals who use this mission to serve their sentence. While on board, the criminals are forced to participate in scientific experiments. Many of these experiments have to do with human fertility, as scientist Dibs is obsessed with creating a child for herself.
As a film, High life is an expertly crafted non-linear narrative, unnerving in the way it approaches science fiction and black holes with relentless precision. Compared to many other sci-fi horror films, it has received incredibly favorable reviews, although it is typically overlooked due to it being an independent film. Despite that, the film evokes other science fiction classics, such as Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, deeply human in the best and worst ways.
1
Event Horizon (1997)
This hellish sci-fi horror film is one of the best forgotten
After a crew of astronauts went in search of the missing spacecraft, the Event Horizon, they discover that it has suddenly reappeared around the planet Neptune. However, once they enter the ship to investigate, they realize that the ship’s entire crew has been massacred by a mysterious force. The rescue team is then subjected to bloody hallucinations, slowly turning on each other as they try to figure out what is going on. Event horizon brought back with him.
Although the film was a box office failure Event horizon it has since cemented its legacy in the pop culture zeitgeist through its fanatical cult following. Since then, the film has been heavily referenced in other media, with Interstellar even recreating a short scene where a pen is used to explain the science behind wormholes. Although it began to gain recognition over the years, Event horizon is certainly a sci-fi horror that deserves more recognition from the general public.