Dark fantasy is a subgenre that leans just slightly more into the realm of horror. Rather than outright scaring the audience, a dark fantasy might include aspects that unnerve or gross out the audience, or may contain elements that are cynical, pessimistic, or downright bleak. Still, it has no real age range, as many dark fantasy projects have been targeted towards children without straying into anything too suggestive or mature.
Dark fantasy is a very popular genre of film, with examples of the genre even present as far back as the silent era. Thus, these movies have been around for over a century, during which they’ve had time to evolve and grow, bringing new stories to the silver screens and experimenting with the very bounds of human fear. These are the best dark fantasy movies of the last century, ranked based on their actual quality, legacy, and impact on fantasy at large.
10
‘The Green Knight’ (2021)
The Green Knight stars Dev Patel as Sir Gawain, a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend. Coming across a mythical Green Knight (Ralph Ineson), Gawain challenges him, with the outcome being death if he loses. To his shock and surprise, Gawain does lose the challenge and must submit to the Green Knight within one year for his execution. Thus, he embarks on a journey to meet his fate — all while trying to escape it.
The movie is a fantastical retelling of a classic myth, but it bears a lot of valuable life lessons. Namely, it’s a cautionary tale about honour, upholding your end of a bargain no matter what, and the futility of running from one’s problems. But this version is a much more mature and gritty take on the classic, involving graphic violence and disturbing imagery, yet still being applicable for the adults watching it. One of the finest efforts in dark fantasy in recent years, The Green Knight is a modern masterpiece destined to become a classic.
9
‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990)
Edward Scissorhands stars Johnny Depp as the titular character, an artificial human that was only partially completed before his creator died, leaving him completely alone in a gloomy mansion overlooking a picturesque suburb. Edward, as his name suggests, has scissors for hands, complicating his everyday life and worsening his social seclusion. One fateful day, though, he is approached by a door-to-door saleswoman, who offers to take him in.
Inspired by numerous Gothic horror stories, Edward Scissorhands is an exercise in compassion for the socially isolated and learning to see past superficial differences. The movie did receive an Oscar nomination, but unfortunately lost to another film that year. That said, Edward Scissorhands is a pretty twisted yet very inventive movie that inspired many and still stands as a remarkable example of the dark fantasy genre.
8
‘The Northman’ (2022)
The Northman is a movie set during the Viking Age, based on the very same Old Norse myth that inspired William Shakespeare‘s tragedy Hamlet. The broad strokes of the story are much the same as the Shakespearean tragedy: a murderous uncle usurps the throne from its rightful heir, causing the prince to embark on a quest for revenge. In this movie, though, aspects of Old Norse mythology are thrown in, involving deities and creatures from Viking folklore.
The movie actually has an Old Norse version, allowing audiences to experience it in a dead language, which is pretty sweet. On top of that, it’s filled with gruesome violence, familial turmoil, and some really gloomy visuals that help it nestle comfortably into the dark fantasy genre. One of the greatest historical fantasy films in recent years, The Northman received critical acclaim and won numerous awards, and it deserved every single one of them.
7
‘The Dark Crystal’ (1982)
The Dark Crystal is a passion project from Jim Henson himself, expertly aided by puppeteer Frank Oz. Set on the distant planet of Thra, the film tells the story of the fabled Dark Crystal, a magical gemstone which cracked, spawning two new species: the Mystics, and the villainous Skeksis. Using the power of the Crystal, the Skeksis waged a war on the native life of Thra, gaining the power of immortality and ruling over the whole of the planet with an iron fist.
With intricate sets, gorgeous puppetry, and some of the most unique visuals ever committed to film, nothing has captured the same sense of depth and wonder as The Dark Crystal. With comedy, wonder, magic, and a super-creative universe, to boot, The Dark Crystal is a movie that families have been enjoying for decades. It is often cited as one of the hallmark dark fantasy films for its signature flair, and is still regarded as a nostalgic classic well into the 21st century.
6
‘Beetlejuice’ (1988)
Beetlejuice is Tim Burton‘s classic comedy/fantasy/horror film that surely needs no introduction. This 1988 film is about ghosts and the realm of the dead, opening up on a married couple who perish in a tragic car accident. Emerging into the afterlife as ghosts, they find that a new family is moving into their home, which they don’t take too kindly to. In an effort to scare the people away, they consider enlisting the help of Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), a hedonistic and manipulative ghost whose job is to frighten away the living.
Known for its gallows humour, state-of-the-art special effects (or, at least for the time), ’80s nostalgia, and even the odd spontaneous musical number, Beetlejuice is a movie that defined an entire generation and stands strong as a Halloween classic, all while jumpstarting Burton’s career. The movie went on to spawn a sequel, an animated series, and even a Broadway musical, and has inspired a legacy that persists even to this day.
5
‘Coraline’ (2009)
Coraline is a stop-motion animated film based on a children’s book of the same name. The star of the show is, of course, a young girl named Coraline, voiced by Dakota Fanning. Upon moving to a new home, Coraline discovers a mysterious crawlspace with a portal to a creepy parallel dimension where her family and friends are perfectly reflected, albeit with some really freaky button eyes.
Coraline‘s established success has led it to be a classic “horror movie for kids” that is commonly watched around Halloween. Many find the film unnerving even well into their adulthood, which has only helped its reputation as a nostalgia piece. It hasn’t only amassed a cult following, but it has also received critical acclaim and even an Oscar nomination. Coraline is an imaginative story and a shining example of the dark fantasy genre that will surely go down in history.
4
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas is at the heart of a popular internet debate, with netizens frequently arguing about when the best time to watch the movie is. The premise of the film is that the holidays of the year are represented by their own inhabited dimensions, with a skeleton from the Halloween realm mistakenly entering the Christmas realm and bringing Christmas back to his home. This unique narrative sparks the debate, as many are unsure whether it is best to watch this film during Halloween or Christmas.
Wherever you stand on the issue, there is no denying that The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of Tim Burton’s finest and most famous producing efforts. The stop-motion animated film is kid-friendly and whimsical, but not without its fair share of darkness. Featuring ghosts, demons, and Christmas elves all in one package, it’s a movie that isn’t ashamed to do what it wants and tell a unique story that no other piece of media would. To this day, it is a holiday classic, whichever holiday suits your fancy.
3
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
Guillermo del Toro‘s Pan’s Labyrinth holds the record for garnering the longest standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, with audiences standing and clapping for a whopping 22 minutes straight. Set at the end of the Spanish Civil War, the story tells of a mythical princess who left the Underworld, making herself mortal and becoming lost to the ages. Yet, it is fabled that she will one day return in a new vessel, but must first pass through a series of trials.
This movie is home to some truly disturbing visuals, which is why it ended up with an R-rating. Pan’s Labyrinth is home to some really interesting and creepy creatures, with the most recognizable being the Pale Man (Doug Jones), a lurching, fleshy beast with eyeballs in its palms. This one is another film that people immediately think of when they hear the term “dark fantasy,” and it’s one of the films that helped establish del Toro as one of the finest auteurs in the genre.
2
‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957)
The Seventh Seal is a Swedish dark fantasy film from Ingmar Bergman, which is commonly referred to as one of the greatest movies of all time. Set during the Crusades, the story follows a knight returning home from his time in the Levant only to find a country ravaged by plague and civil unrest. As if this weren’t bad enough, he finds himself confronted by Death himself (Bengt Ekerot), who informs the knight that it is time to go. In a desperate plea to save his life, the knight challenges Death to a game of chess, hoping to extend his life for as long as the game continues.
The Seventh Seal has inspired numerous other films and TV shows, with the depiction of Death being parodied in various other works. Despite how visually unique it is and how many excellent reviews the movie got, it never made it to the Oscars, which is a real shame because it’s totally deserving of one, if not multiple. It is one of those movies that any self-professed cinephile needs to see, as many of the world’s most renowned movie critics have it pretty high on their lists of recommended films.
1
‘Faust’ (1926)
Faust is a 1926 silent film which comes as a part of the German expressionist movement. The story is based on a German legend of the same name, centering on themes of angels and demons. The villain at the movie’s heart is the demon Mephisto (Emil Jannings), who makes a wager with God Himself that he can corrupt the heart of a human and turn an innocent person against the divine. Much of the film focuses on Mephisto executing his plan to do just that.
Obviously, this isn’t going to be a film for everyone, since it’s incredibly outdated — heck, there’s not even any spoken dialogue in it. That said, it’s still regarded as one of the finest movies ever made, though it was not always so. In fact, it was initially a commercial flop, only earning its success in the years after its release to international audiences. In the years since, Faust has been called one of the most visually stunning films of the silent era, and likely stands as the greatest dark fantasy film ever made.
Faust
- Release Date
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December 5, 1926
