Seven Horror Films That Defy Their Genre
5. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
What makes it genre-defying:
Namely, most will argue that Pan’s Labyrinth isn’t a horror movie at all. IMDB lists it as a Drama/Fantasy/War movie, which is just IMDB-speak for “we have no idea what this movie is.” First of all, I feel there are many war films that are as horrific as any guy with an axe chopping-up teenagers. Few movies have scared me more than The Pianist, but horror as a label seems to be degrading, so no one would ever call it that. I think this is why Pan’s Labyrinth is deemed a fantasy film. Really? Look at the picture above this blurb and tell me that is anything but a straight-up monster. This film has many of the trademarks of the horror brand: a young child as its protagonist, horribly violent sequences and creatures from beyond our reality. To those that would argue that Pan’s Labyrinth isn’t scary, I say “exactly.” This movie is a horror movie that forgoes the scares to really explore the psyche of a child and her bonds with those around her. Plenty of horror movies that try to be scary aren’t in the slightest, so why not accept there’s one that values substance over popcorn spills?
Best scene:
When Ofelia eats food from the table of the guy shown above. He is…not happy about it.
6. Event Horizon (1997)
“Nothing to be concerned about here. Just a giant spinning spike orb that is putting me into a trance.”
What makes it genre-defying:
Things have since changed a bit, but in 1997, a horror film set in space meant a film about aliens. When I first watched Event Horizon, I expected the crew to die at the hands of creatures with venomous spit and spiked tails. Instead, I saw one of the most psychologically terrifying and visually disturbing films I have ever witnessed. You see, when the ship Event Horizon reappears after an unexplained seven year absence, the crew of the Lewis and Clark are entirely unaware of where the vessel has traveled to since it was last seen. The combination of the terrors associated with space (getting sucked out of a ship, having mechanics falter ala Apollo 13 etc.) and the mental anguish that precedes the physical torture of select crew members catapulted Event Horizon into the rarefied air of horror films that can genuinely scare you from multiple angles. It’s not whether the killer is really dead or not, it’s you better avoid this dude and get off this ship plus watch-out for the supernatural thing over there and by the way, those people you came on-board with? They may be not-so-great now. Good luck!
Best scene:
The final thirty minutes of this movie amount to one long incredible scene. You’ll just have to watch it.
7. Cabin in the Woods (2012)
What makes it genre-defying:
Trying to describe this movie without giving it away is next-to-impossible, but I’m going to try. If you’ve seen any trailers for Cabin in the Woods, you know something is afoul of the regular teen sex romp into the forest meets disgruntled person with sharp weapons plotline. By the opening scene, it is made clear that whatever happens in the cabin, the outcome is being watched. What the trailer won’t tell you is that this movie is legitimately funny. Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins are cast perfectly against the college fivesome assembled for a weekend on the lake. The entire scene involving the usage of speaker phone is freaking hilarious. However, Cabin in the Woods is not Scary Movie. There is intrigue, there are gruesome deaths, and yes, there is horror. I think in some way, the makers of this film realized that if you promise your audience something beyond the Camp Crystal Lake formula, they’re perfectly willing to go along with said Camp Crystal Lake formula for a while. Translated out of nerdspeak: if we know there’s more at stake than the lives of a couple of horny teenagers, we’re content to watch someone murder a couple of horny teenagers while the rest of the thing unfolds. Again, there’s simply no way to breakdown this film until you’ve enjoyed it, untainted. So get yourself to a theater before some idiot spoils the whole damn thing and then come back and read my pick for best scene below.
Best scene:
[MAJOR SPOILER ALERT]
When a task force is sent to hunt down Dana and Marty and they decide to push the “System Purge” button, releasing every nightmare conceivable into one small lobby. Pure genius.
Great article! I love when Unreality recommends horror films.
I would like to suggest the spanish horror film [rec] (and [rec]2) as a somewhat original take on the found footage film. Very spooky.
good article. I’m going to haveto watch New Nightmare and The Faculty. However, I do have to say I didn’t like Pan’s Labyrinth one bit. I understand that many people did, but it just didn’t work for me.
Excellent list. I haven’t seen The Faculty in years. I really need to watch that one again. Also, I’m really surprised that people don’t revere New Nightmare more. It’s literally the only Krueger flick aside from the original that has any designation whatsoever as a decent horror flick. Every other sequel was unwatchable except for Dream Warriors and that one was cheesy fun rather than scary.
Good grief. You’ve got to be kidding …
EVENT HORIZON?
Was that story filmed to serve as a natural sedative?
I’m gonna have to throw in Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.
It starts as a documentry, played compeltely straight, about the preperations that a slasher goes through before the rampage and progresses from there.
Very good choices.
Sadly, I’ve seen them all already, so I don’t get the fun of checking out films that flew under my radar, but you can’t win ’em all.
Nice to see Event Horizon getting the nod. That movie was great, I’m not sure what E. Lee Zimmerman is talking about.
I remember first going to see Event Horizon and thinking “Ooh look, sci-fi space movie with that lovable Sam Neill from Jurassic Park!”
Who woulda guessed that dear ol’ Dr. Grant could give you nightmares?!
Come on, Cabin in the Woods is a Joss Whedon flick. You had to go in knowing it was going to be awesome.
Event Horizon was a terrible movie. I did like that it was psychological horror and not like Pandorum, but at moments it just seemed too stupid and too silly to be taken seriously. There are much better psychological space horror movies out there (like Solaris and Solarum, or whatever that one with the psychologist was called)
But I agree with everything else on the list.
Dude I saw Cabin in the Woods on Saturday. Truly loved the Truth or Dare seen. Marty is so freakin’ awesome XD
Thanks for all the comments folks! I knew Event Horizon would divide people, but it’s like one of those staples of my childhood. Weird movies hold that place for all of us. For example, another in my arsenal is Jumanji , which I’m certainly not about to defend. Van Pelt!!
I loved Event Horizon. It creeped me the hell out, right up until the end when it got all Nine Inch Nails-y, but I still think it’s one of the better horror films that I’ve seen.
BEHIND THE MASK! That movie was the most genre defying movie since Scream. Why isn’t it on there?
While i dont exactly have fond memories of The faculity, Ill have to check it out again because its been a long time. But Im very surprised to see someone actually enjoyed the mess that was Red State. I was very excited to watch it and couldnt believe how bad it was at times. Yes, the preacher was great in his role and most of the early scenes in the church worked, but the rest of the movie was a joke (especially the 3rd act/ending). Everything else on the list was fun though. I especially enjoyed Event Horizon for a good scare. A few friends and I still try and trick people who havent scene it by describing it as a love story in space. Their afterwards reaction is always priceless.
I totally agree about Cabin in the Woods. Just saw it and my mind was blown! It’s nothing like I have seen before- totally original. That scene you described as the best scene was pure sensory overload and F’n AWESOME! My boyfriend and I were both going crazy during that scene. That horror flick has it all. Super gore and agreed, it is legitimately funny too!
Seen all but Red State. Don’t go pillaging just yet, but what about “House on Haunted Hill”? Although, it didn’t careen off of any genre cliffs, it did have some scenes where I would have issues walking through dark, cold, musty basement hallways. Some real terrifying scenes, for sure.
Event Horizon was such a fantastic film. Not that many people know about it, suprisingly. I was also surpised that RR did “The Faculty.” I didn’t know that. Welp, learn something new everyday.
This was painful to read. I like how Pan’s Labyrinth is about as close as you get to listing a non-US made horror film, probably because it was force fed to you via a wider distribution.
“Also, I’m really surprised that people don’t revere New Nightmare more. It’s literally the only Krueger flick aside from the original that has any designation whatsoever as a decent horror flick.”
Yeeeeah no. Boring the audience to death with cliched-to-death horror tropes from “The Omen” and “The Exorcist” only with all tension removed due to repetitiveness, horrific child acting and a lack of a proper plot structure does not make something a “decent horror flick”.
Three ridiculous elements of “New Nightmare”: A doctor whose diagnosis for the child is “schizophrenia brought on by underage viewing of horror movies and best treated with an oxygen tent” (seriously!). Secondly, the child deciding to climb a climbing frame (set to cheesy “ominous horror” music) in order to ask God to take him to heaven (eh???). Finally, perhaps the most stupid thing ever, the director deciding that the only way to convey the plot is to explain it straight on to the main character personally, making sure to include snark at the movie franchise’s fan base. (Making me wonder why, if the in-the-movie director can make anything happen that he wants, why does he decide to kill off Heather’s husband? After all, he wrote it, right? Also, if the real-life director hates the Nightmare On Elm Street franchise so much why is he making the worst sequel yet?)
P.S. Even Horizon is effing AWESOME!
Just watched Red State, wow that was chilling! Thanks for the recommendation!
How Jaws isn’t #1 on this list is beyond me. I don’t know many people who consider it a horror movie, but in all fairness it should be. Is there a single person out there that has seen Jaws that hasn’t thought about sharks when they’re at the beach?
Might not technically be all horror but:
Antichrist, starts out like a poetic melodrama on child loss and goes from there.
Funny Games, the original version. (the remote control and questions to the public aka everyone participating in the movie is f*cked)
The Kingdom (the one by Von Trier!) though it’s ‘technically’ a tv series. Works like a hospital soap opera with loads of comedy but integrates the scary stuff oh-so-well.
And ehm… C’est Arrivé Près de Chez Vous anyone? It’s not really horror or gore, but it’s probably one of the best movies you’ll see in your life (though not for the faint of heart)
Ofcourse there’s loads and loads more to be discovered..
I think what you listed is a good start, but I’m missing stuff that goes a bit ‘beyond’ typical Hollywood.
not even close. nightmare on el street, yes – but that’s the exeption
I’m on team ‘I’m glad you included Event Horizon”. I don’t know about Solaris – I liked it, but it’s pretty slow for the average viewer – both versions. If you’re gonna go that route, I’d recommend Sunshine or Moon. Both are odd stories, but they’re a little faster. There’s also an old movie, Jacob’s Ladder, that is disturbing as h**l.
Red State was a terrible movie. Kevin Smith is one of the biggest let down could have beens in the past twenty years. He had so much potential…..