Horror Movies You Forgot Were Delightfully Romantic
Mike Sprague
|
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow and it is with this in mind we wanted to take some time out of the day to make sure you guys had your V-Day Horror Movies in check.
No, these are not movies set on or around Valentine’s Day. There are other lists for that. This is a list of the most romantic horror movies of all time. Or more specifically, horror movies you forgot were romantic.
This is a fairly quick list as I’m the type of dude that when I find even a single romantic line in a flick I’m quick to label the movie as “Romantic Horror” (example below), so bear with this condensed version.
All of that out of the way, here are the top films we think are the prime Valentine’s Day viewing in 2018.
Let’s get to it!
***
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Francis Ford Coppola)
“I have crossed oceans of time to find you.” Quite possibly the most romantic of all horror movies, director Francis Ford Coppola’s classic take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one for the ages – just like the original tale. Filled with lost love battling across endless ages of evil, will we ever see a better version of Stoker’s tale of terror and boundless love? I highly doubt it. But I’d love to see Universal and their Dark Universe try. No, seriously. Game on, Dark Universe. You’ve got some massive shoes to fill.
Spring (Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead)
Spring is a movie you may not have seen. As loved as the film by Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson (Resolution, The Endless) has become since it hit the scene back in 2014 (with even writer-director Guillermo Del Toro sharing the love on Twitter), there are still quite a few peeps that don’t think the film is for them. And fair enough. If you don’t dig a little Before Sunrise and/or Before Sunset mixed in with your Lovecraftian horror, then steer clear. For everyone else who don’t mind some tears with their beers, enjoy.
A Horrible Way to Die (Adam Wingard)
Just like the above-mentioned Spring, this entry is a film that seems to have snuck under many a radar. Directed by the now (semi) legendary Adam Wingard of The Guest, You’re Next, and the upcoming Godzilla vs Kong fame, A Horrible Way to Die has the most romantic message I’ve quite possibly seen in any horror movie. Ever. My goodness. I’m getting all worked up as we speak.
I’ll give you a topic: Why the hell is this movie called A Horrible Way to Die? Discuss amongst yourselves. Then make sure to watch Adam Wingard’s A Horrible Way to Die ASAP.
Near Dark (Kathryn Bigelow)
Ah, the sweet melancholy of young (vampire) love. Nothing in the realms of horror and romance seems to go together like vampires and love stories and director Kathryn Bigelow’s neo-western Near Dark is a shining (not f*cking sparkling) example. Caleb and Mae’s love outshines all the horrors, and Bill Paxton in his prime, that the rest of the movie puts out there to be known not as a bloody vampire shoot ’em up but, rather, a tale of love across the barren wastelands of Texas. Bless you, Near Dark.
The Fly (David Cronenberg)
While this list isn’t in any particular order, if it was, David Cronenberg’s remake of The Fly would be “number 1.” The movie is about as sad and romantic as it gets. And I’m just talking about the gut-wrenching romance between Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. That alone would have earned the film “Most Romantic Horror Movie Ever” but throw in Stathis Borans (John Getz) storming the castle to defeat the monster in the face of pure horrible death and disfigurement to save the woman who rejected him and Cronenberg’s The Fly is a tearjerker of the highest degree. Watch it with a loved one.
Cloverfield (Matt Reeves)
While J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeve’s 2008 found footage monster movie Cloverfield might not jump to the forefront of anyone’s brains as a romantic flick, it needs to as the movie is basically wall-to-wall the tale of love that will stop at nothing. Not only does the film end with (SPOILERS) our two lost-lovebirds holding each other at the end of all things (relatively) but the entire film up to that point is our hero fighting to make sure – above all odds – that his best friend gets out of New York alive. That’s some super-sweet shite right there.
The Shape of Water (Guillermo del Toro)
A new classic for sure and the top film most couples will probably be watching this Valentine’s Day, for good reason. Writer-director Guillermo Del Toro’s adult fairytale The Shape of Water made me want to burst out crying more than a few times (I’m sensitive, forgive me). The film sports the amazingly heartbreaking performance of Richard Jenkins to complement the tale of true love between Sally Hawkins and Doug Jones’ Creature from the Black Lagoon and Del Toro’s The Shape of Water is a romantic horror film that will be Valentine’s Day viewing for the rest of time.
Honorable Mention: Jennifer’s Body (Karyn Kusama)
Remeber what I said at the beginning of this article about how one line can make a film romantic in my eyes. Case in point with screenwriter Diablo Cody’s “Hell is a teenage girl” demon flick Jennifer’s Body. Want to try and guess the one line? Go ahead. I’ll wait.
Figured it out yet? Cool. Then let me go over it myself.
In the film, Jennifer (Megan Fox) attacks her BFF’s boyfriend, Chip (Johnny Simmons). She sucks most of the blood out of his body and is in the process of finishing the job when Amanda Seyfried’s character Needy bursts in. After Needy and Chip deal death and judgment to Jennifer’s body, Chip turns to her and says: “I think I died before you got here. But I came back when I heard your voice.”
Aw, god. Aw, god. I need a moment. That is too much. I’m not gonna lie, that made me tear up. True story. Aw, god.
***
And those are the top films we find to be the most romantic horror movies and prime Valentine’s Day viewing for your 2018 season.
Agree or disagree? Either way, let us know in the comments below or on social media!
Categorized:Editorials News
