The 10 Darkest Fantasy Movies of All Time, Ranked

Works of darkness fantasy that come to be considered horror films are a vital part of the genre. These films are not only emotional and exciting to watch, but they also touch on taboo subjects and deal with the most complex and dark aspects of the human experience. Filmmakers must deal with the grotesque and violent much as the happy, magical parts of fantasy do. Using the genre solely as a means of escapism is a failure, as fantasy and other works of speculative fiction have the opportunity to address some of the biggest problems facing society.

Many of the genre’s darkest films are the best R-rated fantasy films, but there are also many stories that incorporate serious, intense subject matter into narratives aimed at all audiences. It’s a misconception that younger viewers can’t handle dark fantasy or can’t understand the more difficult subjects that appear on screen. Of course, not all of these works are appropriate for all age groups, but Films can be a safe and effective way to explore difficult feelings of sadness and fear. This is why these films are considered classics and have maintained acclaimed legacies.

10

The Dark Crystal (1982)

Directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz

The beautifully realized visuals of The Dark Crystal transport the viewer to a magical and seemingly idyllic world. However, The Henson Company’s seminal fantasy work hinges on a tragic story of genocide and devastation of an entire race of creatures on the world of Thra. The protagonist, Jen, believes she is the last of her kind after the Geflings were hunted to near extinction thanks to a prophecy that predicted a Gefling would put an end to the tyrannical Skeksis’ reign of terror.

Although Jen meets other Gefling, they are still ruthlessly hunted and fall into dangerous situations in their attempts to stop the Skeksis from gaining power for good. The Dark Crystal may be brought to life using puppets and beautiful landscape backdrops, but that doesn’t make the film more family-friendly. Torture, experimentation and many deaths are part of the core of the The Dark Crystalthe story, but It is this intensity that makes the film stand out among other works of the time.

9

Solomon Kane (2009)

Directed by MJ Bassett

A desperate and harrowing story of violence and redemption, Solomon Kane is a fantasy film that would have been more successful ten years later. Set in the darkest, darkest parts of the early 17th century, Solomon Kane is not afraid to make its central characters suffer and deal with their worst decisions. Overarching themes of Puritan repression and punishment impress Solomon Kane​​​​​​, as demons, witches and other forces of the devil are constantly chasing Kane and torturing him.

James Purefoy leads the cast as the titular character and it effectively communicates the pain and shame that fuels Kane as he changes his ways and tries to save his soul. However, it is Kane’s history of cruelty that gives him the skills to face someone even more cruel than himself. Although it received mixed reviews Solomon Kane is interesting to revisit today, as Kane is a prototypical on-screen antihero. However, audiences can’t help but root for him, especially as more of his painful past is revealed.

8

The Lighthouse (2019)

Directed by Robert Eggers

The Lighthouse is far from the first or only dark film from director Robert Eggers, who rose to prominence thanks to projects like The Witch. Both The Witch and The Lighthouse set against the backdrop of New England in the 1600s and 1800s, and Eggers explores how isolation can lead to hallucinations and violence. However, the line between fantasy and reality is blurred in The Lighthousesince the two protagonists only have each other and the elements to anchor them in the real world.

Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe lead the cast and deliver remarkable performances that attract and terrify the audience in equal measure. However, the look and feel of The Lighthouse is so important to its mysterious atmosphere like the work of the actors, allowing each piece The Lighthouse work in harmony to obtain disruptive results. highly anticipated from Eggers Nosferatus The remake’s release will likely continue the director’s trend of exploring humanity’s hidden desires and repressed angst.

7

Constantine (2005)

Directed by Francis Lawrence

Despite lukewarm critical reception, Constantine has become a cult classic for fans of dark religious fantasy and Keanu Reeves’ iconic performance in the lead role. The film is inspired by the comic book series Infernal Blazerfollowing Reeves’ John Constantine, who uses his gift, which allows him to witness the work of angels and demons. In the film, he helps save people’s souls and exorcise demons, even though he has been condemned to hell and is dying.

Self-harm and suicide play an important role in the plot of Constantinemaking some of the more disturbing and intense moments difficult to deal with. The fate of the world and beloved characters hangs in the balance the entire time Constantinewhich does not portray angels and demons as one-dimensionally good or evil. All over Constantine​​​​​​, the threat of hell and eternal damnation is very real and it is felt by both the audience and the characters.

6

The Crow (1994)

Directed by Alex Proyas

Unlike the poorly received recent reboot, the original 1994 The crow maintained its popularity and reputation over time, cementing it as a dark fantasy classic. Following the afterlife of Eric Draven as he is resurrected a year after he and his fiancée were brutally murdered, The crow is a violent story of revenge and sacrifice. With a dark atmosphere that matches the devastatingly sad plot, there is little hope for happiness at the end of The crowjust some semblance of peace for Eric.

Real-life tragedy accompanied the production of The crowas star Brandon Lee was fatally injured on set. Attending The crow today is a reminder of how much talent and passion Lee possessed, and his performance is a big part of why this iteration of The crow it will always be the definitive version. Although it would be easy to attribute the effectiveness of the The crow to external circumstances, it is also the story of comic book author James O’Barr, who made The crow so lasting.

5

Crimson Peak (2015)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Gothic romance films are some of the most fun and exciting additions to the genre, and there is no doubt that the director of Crimson PeakGuillermo del Toro, is one of the masters. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain, Crimson Peak is an underrated addition to del Toro’s filmography. Making reference to many classic works of cinema and literature, such as Jane Eyre, Rebeccaand the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Crimson Peak It’s not the most terrifying horror fantasy, but it has enough scares to keep audiences on their toes.

Both a ghost story and a tale of doomed love, Crimson Peak It has all of del Toro’s signature stylistic flair. This allows Crimson Peak feel otherworldly and even strange at times, without ever losing its emotional core or alienating the audience from the story. Crimson Peak is not afraid to address taboo subjects such as incest and matricide, creating horrific and shocking scenes. However, Crimson Peak is anchored by the performance of Wasikowska, who is the audience surrogate inside the fantastically horrifying world.

4

Suspiria (1977)

Directed by Dario Argento

One of the most influential works of horror fantasy of the 20th century, the original from 1977 Suspiria made advances in the use of color and set design to create atmospheric tension. Suspiria sees the protagonist, Suzy (Jessica Harper), join an elite ballet school that turns out to be a front for a violent group of witches who attack its students. As Suzy’s friends begin to disappear, she in turn becomes a victim of violence and persecution from the clan, leading her to investigate the themes of occultism and witchcraft that make her Suspiria so convincing.

Without fear of portraying a lot of violence and using the shock factor whenever possible, Suspiria it doesn’t rely on these grotesque moments to create tension. Suzy’s infiltration of the school and her increasingly strange experiences work together to create the propulsive rhythm of Suspiria. Although Luca Guadagnino directed the 2018 remake, the original film remains the definitive version and is unrivaled in terms of legacy when it comes to dark fantasy. The meaningful sets and practical effects are doubly engaging these days, as many contemporary projects opt for CGI.

3

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Although slightly disjointed and polarizing, Francis Ford Coppola’s interpretation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a memorable addition to the iconic vampire’s lore and adaptations. Gary Oldman plays the titular Count, with Winona Ryder joining him as Mina and Elisabeta, Dracula’s lost love, for whom he spends centuries mourning. While not all of the film’s performances were praised, Oldman and Ryder were highlighted for their chemistry and commitment to their doomed romance.

Some of the best parts of Bram Stoker’s Dracula it’s the sets, costumes, and color palette that simultaneously root the film in the long-forgotten world of Dracula’s past and the stark present of late 19th-century England. Sexual repression and shame play an important role in the film as Vampire narratives have always grappled with hidden desires and acted on the deepest, darkest impulses. However, it is not the bloodthirsty violence that makes the film tragic, but the fact that Dracula and Elisabeta have been abandoned by their god for so long.

2

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Pan’s Labyrinth It is widely considered del Toro’s masterpiece and one of the greatest fantasy films of the 21st century. Often described as an adult fairy tale and compared to Alice in Wonderland, Pan’s Labyrinth it certainly has roots in these traditional narratives. However, it is even more explicit in its discussions of real-world injustice, given the backdrop of Francoist Spain. Following the story of young Ofelia, played by Ivana Baquero, she escapes her horrible circumstances and violent world through the missions that a magical faun proposes to her.

Although Ofelia’s tasks are no less disturbing and dangerous than the dangers she faces every day, they hold the promise of the potential for life as a princess in a distant land. In one of the best fantasy film performances of all time, Sergi López terrifies audiences of all ages as Captain Vidal, the evil, fascist stepfather who is even more horrible than the monster, the Pale Man. Both Ofelia’s search and Vidal’s anger are part of the weak point of the beautiful and magical veneer of Pan’s Labyrinth.

1

The Holy Mountain (1973)

Directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky

Surreal, captivating and grotesque, the book by Alejandro Jodorowsky The Holy Mountain follows the spiritual journey of a thief and the archetypal leaders and groups he encounters. Addressing themes of Christianity, astrology and different folk tales and mythologies, The Holy Mountain is interested in faith as a comprehensive concept and is not limited to one interpretation of god or divinity. Like many of Jodorowsky’s other works, The Holy Mountain it is also deeply in conversation with cinema as an art form.

Jodorowsky plays a leading role in the film, which was typical of the director at the time. Before The Holy MountainJodorowsky released his fantastic western, El Topothat, as The Holy Mountainbecame considered a cult classic and a seminal work by fantasy and surrealism. The lessons and trials the characters encounter while climbing the titular mountain are all referential to the counterculture and existentialism of the early 1970s. The film is well ahead of its time in the stylization of the story.