Horror fans are lucky enough to enjoy a genre that easily crosses over with other genres like sci-fi, fantasy, action, and even comedy. While some pairings seem at times forced, horror and science fiction go hand-in-hand as they quite often deal with similar themes.
Science fiction is our look at things we don’t understand, which inherently deals with the fear of invention or exploration of the unknown and the dangers that potentially exist. Today we are going to take a look at a few horror films that tap into our primal fear of the unknown through the science-fiction genre that you can add to your Halloween movie night.
Updated October 12, 2020 by Scoot Allan: As Halloween approaches yet again, horror movie fans are beginning their annual rewatch of favorite classics while exploring the newest entries from the last few years to celebrate the holiday season with the uniquely chilling subgenre.
The science-fiction horror genre continues to grow as new creators and talents add their unique spins on the horror films that continue to terrify viewers with aliens, technology, mad scientists, and other fears that are displayed in the following films that are sure to entertain science fiction and horror fans alike this Halloween.
The Invisible Man (2020)
Blumhouse reimagined the classic Universal horror with 2020’s The Invisible Man from director Leigh Whannell. The film followed Elizabeth Moss as she escaped from an abusive relationship only to find herself stalked by an unseen force.
The film’s reimagined villain received a high-tech upgrade, and Moss shined as she struggled to survive while getting those closest to her to believe her in a twist-filled si-fi horror mashup that fans won’t want to miss.
Life (2017)
2017’s Life brought humanity’s real-world exploration of Mars and desire to find evidence of extraterrestrial life to the big screen as a team of astronauts discover and begin experimenting on a single-cell organism found on the red planet.
They manage to bring the organism back to life and it begins to rapidly grow and adapt, though it soon becomes a threat to everyone aboard the space station as well as the rest of the planet below in this fast-paced sci-fi horror.
Underwater (2020)
Kirsten Stewart and Vincent Cassell lead an ensemble cast of undersea drillers stuck aboard a failing deep-sea mining station in 2020’s Underwater, as they found themselves attacked by mysterious creatures that force them to go even deeper underwater to survive.
The film plays on a number of fears that include enclosed spaces and the pressures of trying to operate underwater in a world clearly not designed for the survival of humankind. Underwater also shares a fantastic twist that will cater to monster movie lovers as the secret of the terrifying creatures is revealed.
Brightburn (2019)
The classic superhero mythology went to a dark place with 2019’s Brightburn from producer James Gunn, which flipped the iconic origins of Superman and followed an adopted alien boy whose powerful abilities were guided in a dark direction.
Brightburn is filled with great characters that truly struggle with the consequences of raising a troubled alien child while also delivering scares and gore that fans would love to see developed into a dark superhero franchise.
A Quiet Place (2018)
John Krasinksi starred in and directed 2018’s A Quiet Place, which followed a family struggling to survive in a dilapidated world that lives under the constant threat of dangerous alien monsters who invaded the planet years earlier.
The alien invaders’ unique sensitivity to sound makes them incredible hunters that can hone in on even the smallest of sounds, making A Quiet Place a taut and tense thriller that will keep fans on the edge of their seats with their hands over their mouths.
Pitch Black (2000)
While Vin Diesel had a few big roles in films like Saving Private Ryan and Iron Giant (yup, he voices the titular alien robot), it wasn’t until 2000’s Pitch Black that fans really started to notice the actor’s potential. Pitch Black would also mark the beginning of his first franchise, predating The Fast and the Furious by a year.
Pitch Black would introduce Diesel’s character of Riddick along with other survivors of a crashed transport ship on an unknown planet that is about to enter into a lasting darkness that will unleash vicious alien creatures. Riddick’s breakthrough debut can be followed with Chronicles of Riddick and Riddick, though Pitch Black is the best horror film of the three.
Cube (1997)
Vincenzo Natali’s name might seem familiar to horror fans, as he recently directed Netflix’s adaptation of Stephen King and Joe Hill’s In The Tall Grass. However, Natali might be more familiar to some older fans thanks to his first feature film, 1997’s Cube, which he also co-wrote with André Bijelic and Graeme Manson.
Cube could be seen as a precursor to the likes of Saw, as a group of survivors is forced to navigate their way through a series of booby-trapped rooms to hopefully find freedom. The film explores the murder-room scenario quite differently than conventional horrors and is well worth the watch this Halloween.
Pandorum (2009)
The title of the film refers to a form of space madness experienced by the last surviving humans who wait in suspended animation aboard a ship hoping to reach a new planet. When two crew members wake up for maintenance of the ship they discover they are in a desperate race for survival aboard a ship filled with cannibalistic humans.
Of course, the threat of Pandorum puts everything in question, and the film toes the line between action and horror successfully largely thanks to lead Ben Foster, who often works best in frenetic high-tension roles as seen in Pandorum.
Annihilation (2018)
There was some controversy when Alex Garland’s adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation was only released internationally on Netflix and denied the chance for a proper global opening. But despite its low box-office numbers, Annihilation still became an unnerving favorite among both horror and science-fiction fans.
While the film is only loosely based on the book of the same name, it features a few great performances as well as Garland’s unique vision of a world undergoing extreme and frequently terrifying transformations due to an extraterrestrial influence. Annihilation is a terrifying high-concept sci-fi that is not for everyone, but you just might like the unsettling fear of the film.
Under The Skin (2013)
Scarlett Johansson starred in Jonathan Glazer’s loose adaptation of Michael Faber’s Under the Skin, which explored a feminine yet inhuman predator on the streets of Glasgow who lured men to an otherworldly and frightening end.
The film is not conventionally scary but it’s still incredibly unsettling, visually stunning, and frequently ambiguous. However, like all good horror, Under the Skin uses its “monster” to hold up a mirror and examine society through the eyes of an outsider, making us question who the real monsters are.
Re-Animator (1985)
H.P. Lovecraft is often considered to be a Master of Horror and his unique brand of Lovecraftian monsters and cosmic horror has influenced horror across all mediums for years. Re-Animator is a 1985 adaptation of Lovecraft’s short story Herbert West-Reanimator that starred horror legends Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton.
West is a medical student who invents a reanimating agent that is able to bring back the dead, though as expected they turn into raving zombies. Re-Animator would launch a series of sequels and is only the first of many Lovecraft adaptations from director Stuart Gordon, some of which feature the same stars.
They Live (1988)
Admittedly, 1988’s They Live is more thriller than horror, but since it’s written and directed by Master of Horror John Carpenter, we’re okay with its inclusion. They Live stars “Rowdy” Roddy Piper as Nada, an average joe who discovers a pair of glasses that allows him to see the reality of an ongoing alien invasion and their manipulations using subliminal messages.
They Live is frightening not only due to the alien subversion but also the attention the film calls to societies need to consume, obey, and remain detached from the larger issues that allow such an invasion. The film is also memorable for what has to be cinema’s longest extended street fight between Piper and Keith David that is, quite frankly, hilarious and not to be missed.
The Thing (1982)
Speaking of John Carpenter, one of the best sci-fi horrors to watch this Halloween, or really any day of the year, is 1982’s The Thing. The film stars Kurt Russell as a helicopter pilot at an isolated Antarctic research station who begins to question his coworkers when an alien shape-shifting menace makes its presence known.
The Thing is a masterpiece of practical effects and blends gory moments of terrifying body horror with a constant state of unease, distrust, and fear that permeates the entire film and will leave viewers questioning things until well after the credits roll.
Event Horizon (1997)
Director Paul W. S. Anderson had a hand in the previously mentioned Pandorum as a producer, and the film’s do share similar themes. However, Event Horizon utilizes a fantastic cast that includes Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neill to explore the horror of what appears to be a lost and potentially haunted space ship.
Alien (1979)
Obviously, you should be watching Ridley Scott’s Alien if you’re really looking to tap into the sci-fi horror genre. The 1979 film introduced the alien xenomorph as it attacked the crew of the Nostromo spaceship, leading to an ongoing feud with star Sigourney Weaver as the film launched a franchise that would include sequels, spin-offs, and even crossovers.
Alien works so well not only because it features an incredibly scary monster that largely uses the Jaws approach of terror to build tension, but also because of the dark atmosphere of the Nostromo coupled with the terrifying isolation of space and desperation when things go wrong. “In space, no one can hear you scream.”
