Okay, before we get this list started, let me say a few things. First of all, there is NO ORDER to these films. Secondly, this is all in MY own opinion. You may disagree and that is why it is an opinion, but just remember that I am a science fiction fanatic like many of you will be so I am not speaking from only ever seeing a few films. Thirdly, there are a few guidelines I have created to qualify these films for the specific genre or sub-genre of 'Science Fiction Horror'. They are listed below:
1. There has to be some kind of horror aspect that will usually pit the main characters into a mode of survival. If the film is primarily just a monster movie with sci-fi aspects it does not qualify. If there is not terror in the film caused by an outer force, it does not qualify.
2. The films have to have gore or disturbing characteristics in order to truly qualify for the Horror part of the genre.
3. The films cannot rely heavily on technological advances or speculative ideas. It has to rely on the characters being in fear of their lives and in peril throughout the majority of the film.
4. It absolutely HAS to have science fiction characteristics AND horror characteristics combined together without reliance on each other.
5. I have tried to avoid classics as much as possible because in my own opinion, they were good then but we all know which are classics and it takes away from a lot of hidden gems. Most of the classics were good for their time but now are honestly not the best films.
Now that you have the guidelines, I hope you enjoy the list! Some parts are bound to be updated so watch for that. Also, I have tried my hardest to avoid any spoilers since this list is primarily a recommendation for new viewers who have not really delved into the genre. Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions! Enjoy!
Prometheus:
This is a film that many people have not liked and have
criticized almost universally. Written
by Damon Lindelof (LOST), you can only expect going in that it is not going to
be spoon-fed to you. Prometheus is the
kind of movie that you will have to dissect in order to truly understand its
depth. Every last detail and every last
event has the immediate meanings and then there are the unsaid, hidden
meanings. Every time I watch Prometheus,
I see something new. It was by far my
favorite film of 2012 and in my opinion is a wonderful science fiction horror
film. It fits all of the facets of sci-fi
horror and has a lot of great scenes in it that only the amazing Ridley Scott
could film with such intensity. The
greatest character in the film for me was David; the first synthetic. Michael Fassbender brought in a tour de force
performance and has so many quotable lines that I find myself saying them
subconsciously all the time. He was
snubbed by the Oscars but then again, who cares? We all know their motives. David is an enjoyable character and one that
will always be one of my favorites. All
of the cynicism from critics aside, Prometheus is a wonderful experience. My advice to you if you are seeing it for the
first time is: don’t expect ANYTHING! You
will be disappointed. Oh, and it is NOT
a prequel to ‘Alien’. It is a standalone
film. I highly recommend this film for
anyone who appreciates genuine science fiction.
Pitch Black:
Here is the film that turned Vin Diesel into a reputable
and great lead actor. Pitch Black
introduced one of the greatest science fiction antiheroes of all time:
Riddick. A man who can see in the dark
and is possibly the most dangerous mass murderer in the universe. From terrifying monster scenes to
unforgettable action and dialogue, Pitch Black will have you glued to your seat
until the end. The technology is great
and the world is even better. With a
sense of being stranded, the film opens up with a lot of desperation and right
when you think it couldn't get any worse, it gets a WHOLE lot worse. Riddick has some of the most quotable lines
ever and is such a lovable character.
From start to finish you find yourself rooting for this ruthless
killer. I find Pitch Black as a great
science fiction horror because of the concepts that are explored, most
specifically the natural fear of the dark.
Another reason is because of the originality in the concept of
Riddick. His eyes are too cool! We all know that we would seriously consider
getting that eye job done if it was possible.
The sequel was very lackluster compared to Pitch Black but in September
of 2013 we will see the film titled ‘Riddick’ hit the silver screen (see red band trailer at the bottom of this article). It looks more true to the original essence of Pitch Black and I am
very excited about it.
Event Horizon:
Want to know one of the coolest things about this
film? It inspired the hit video game series ‘Dead
Space’ (my all time favorite survival/shooter). Yes, that is correct. What’s better than a film about a spaceship
that brought back Hell with it upon its return from a wormhole? This film is truly a hidden gem. A lot of people don’t know about this movie
and I honestly believe it is because when it first came out, I think people
weren't ready for it. It is directed by
Paul W. S. Anderson (Resident Evil series), and came out almost 20 years
ago. There are scenes that caused many
people to even rush out of the theaters (including my own parents!). The film is a wonderful example of science
fiction horror and has inspired countless other films and games of the
genre. From start to finish, it is truly
disturbing and still to date, there has not been a film quite like it. It also has the most accurate rapid decompression
scene I have ever witnessed on film. 'Total Recall' was complete garbage when it came to the bad guy being shot
out into the vacuum. If you want to see
what would REALLY happen, watch Event Horizon.
It has a few stars you may recognize because they either previously had
huge films or went on to become major stars.
The films was a flop in a sense due to people not being ready for it but
has since developed a cult following and remains one of the foundations of the
science fiction horror genre. If you
watch this film, just make sure to bring a Bible and some holy water.
The Thing:
Was there even any doubt about this choice? The Thing, like Event Horizon and Prometheus,
was initially not liked by many people.
It too went on to achieve a cult status.
The Thing takes all of the characteristics of science fiction horror and
displays them in stark beauty. Perhaps
the most impressive thing about this film is that there was no CGI used
whatsoever! Every last creature and
effect was done by animatronic technology!
The feelings of distrust and skepticism run high with this film as an
entire Antarctic crew is infected by an alien that can make ‘perfect imitations’
of whatever it chooses. It has some of the
most disturbing sequences ever put on film and even today, over 30 years later,
it looks absolutely real! You will never
see a film quite like The Thing. I
believe that even 50 years from now it will still look as good as it did when
it first came out. From the haunting
score to the terrifying filming, The Thing will keep you biting your nails from
start to finish. It has some of the most
original-looking makeup and effects you will ever see. It is very unheard of to see a science fiction
horror film in a snowy, ice-covered place like Antarctica which makes the setting so interesting. The Thing will forever be enshrined as one of
the godfathers of science fiction horror and it honestly is a film you HAVE to
see before you die. Put it on your
bucket list now!
Aliens:
Okay, okay, yes we are going into classics with these
last two. But aren't you surprised I
didn't put the first Alien film on here?
Let’s go into the reasons why I made this selection. In my own honest opinion, Alien was great for
its time but compared to other films in the genre it is lackluster now. It is more of a monster movie anyways. Aliens is when the science fiction part came
in. If you look closely at James Cameron’s
masterpiece, you can see all of the inspiration that was put into the ‘HALO’
video game series. From the design of
the spacecraft to the marines, Aliens inspired ‘HALO’ in many apparent
ways. It is a staple of the genre and
fits all of the characteristics of science fiction horror. It has some of the most amazing sequences and
characters. None of us will ever forget
Bill Paxton’s Private Hudson. The first Alien
film was decent but the scale was tiny.
Much like the tagline for Aliens (This time it’s war), this film has a
huge scale and introduces a whole new spectrum of horror. One xenomorph can wipe out an entire ship,
imagine what hundreds can do! Cameron
used many techniques in this film that I find truly ingenious. Possibly the smartest is when they are using the
radar on the large rifles and the beeping gets ever more frequent as the
xenomorphs approach closer. This coupled
with the red lights (red being the color that ignites intensity in the human
mind), this scene is only as intense because of the small details Cameron put
in the background. This movie could
possibly be the ‘Queen’ of this genre.
Get it?
Awesome list!!
ReplyDeleteThanks bro! Glad you enjoyed it!
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