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Horror Movies Based on Fairytales Isn’t a New Thing: Here Are 7 From the Past

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Thanks to director Rhys Frake and Disney’s classic fairytale characters falling into the public domain, movies based on cute and cuddly beloved creatures are becoming malevolent and vicious. We saw Winne the Pooh: Blood and Honey become a viral curiosity, and a sequel is already on the way. We have also got a horror adaptation of Bambi, Peter Pan, and Cinderella in the works.

But this trend isn’t entirely new, there have been plenty of titles that borrow from classic children’s tales dating back to the ’80s. For this list, we tried to include movies where the source material’s narrative isn’t particularly nasty. So the omission of Hansel & Gretel is warranted because that is already a story based in horror.

The Company of Wolves (1984)

When this movie first came out people thought it was strange to do a horror movie based on Little Red Riding Hood. Maybe the same way we think today about Winnie the Pooh. But with all due respect to Rhys Frake (Blood and Honey), this one went beyond the low-hanging fruit of a slasher and was an artistic masterpiece. Just look who directed it: Neil Jordan!

Yes the man who went on to make The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire, and Greta, started out making a fairytale horror movie which is a must-see for fans of the genre.

Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996)

Low-budget horror films led to small lines around the theater from the mid to late 80s and into the early 90s. When I first saw Ghoulies (1985) the auditorium was packed and everyone had a great time. Then Trimark Pictures (an off-shoot of Vidmark) sort of changed the game, producing “higher quality” horror movies with elevated screenplays and special effects. Trimark eventually merged with Lionsgate in 2000.

But Vidmark did produce some memorable titles including 1996 Pinocchio’s Revenge, a straight-to-video attempt to cash in on Don Mancini’s Child’s Play. This twist on the classic fairytale admittedly isn’t that great, but it’s a nice reminder of when low-budget films used practical effects to tell stories and had to be innovative enough for them to look as good as they could on screen.

Pinocchio’s Revenge

Rumpelstiltskin (1996)

Republic Pictures found their fairytale villain, Rumpelstiltskin, in this 1996 box office flop, but it sort of works as a horror movie. The team behind it, Mark Jones and Michael Prescott, had just achieved cult success with Leprechaun and were ready to jump on board its sequel, but the opportunity to direct this film opened up and they took it.

Rumpelstiltskin

Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)

This one might be cheating a little since it was released on Showtime and not in theaters. But the sheer star power of the production and how it drastically changes the Disney version’s relatively tame narrative into a truly horrific one should be noted. Directed by Michael Cohen (not to be confused with Q’s Larry Cohen), it stars Sigourney Weaver and Sam Neill.

Snow White: A Tale of Terror

Darkness Falls (2003)

People laughed at the concept of this movie when it was first announced. A killer tooth fairy? How laughable. But even though it’s not the best, it still packs a punch and since its release has gained a bit of a millennial cult following.

The Gingerbread Man (2005)

Of all the people who have produced and directed modern low-budget horror movies, Charles Band might be next only to legendary celluloid mastermind William Castle. Band is well known for his ’80s production house Empire Pictures which eventually folded. But the prolific director countered that by starting Full Moon Features which continues to release movies even today.

One could surmise that the idea behind this picture spawned from the popularity of Shrek (2001) which also featured an Anthropomorphic cookie that was tortured for information (not my gum drop buttons) by the prince. But that might just be a coincidence. In this film, eccentric actor and personality Gary Busey takes on the titular role which adds to the uniqueness of this Band favorite.

The Lure (2016)

The Little Mermaid has fangs. Yes, believe it or not, this 2016 film is based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale made famous by a red-haired Disney princess. However, this mermaid tale doesn’t end very well. Two sirens emerge from the sea in the ’80s and start performing at a nightclub as backup singers to a rock band. Complications ensue when one of the sirens named Silver falls for the lead singer.

It’s an interesting spin on the classic fairytale and it’s been pretty well received since its release.

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Unbelievably Cool ‘Scream’ Trailer But Re-Imagined As A 50s Horror Flick

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Ever wonder what your favorite horror movies would look like if they had been made in the 50s? Thanks to We Hate Popcorn But Eat It Anyway and their use of modern technology now you can!

The YouTube channel reimagines modern movie trailers as mid-century pulp flicks using AI software.

What is really neat about these bite-sized offerings is that some of them, mostly the slashers go against what cinemas had to offer over 70 years ago. Horror movies back then involved atomic monsters, scary aliens, or some sort of physical science gone awry. This was the era of the B-movie where actresses would put their hands against their faces and let out over-dramatic screams reacting to their monstrous pursuer.

With the advent of new color systems such as DeLuxe and Technicolor, movies were vibrant and saturated in the 50s enhancing primary colors that electrified the action happening on screen, bringing a whole new dimension to films using a process called Panavision.

“Scream” reimagined as a 50s horror movie.

Arguably, Alfred Hitchcock upended the creature feature trope by making his monster a human in Psycho (1960). He used black and white film to create shadows and contrast which added suspense and drama to every setting. The final reveal in the basement would probably not have been if he had used color.

Jump to the 80s and beyond, actresses were less histrionic, and the only emphasized primary color was blood red.

What is also unique about these trailers is the narration. The We Hate Popcorn But Eat It Anyway team has captured the monotone narration of 50s movie trailer voiceovers; those over-dramatic faux news anchor cadences that emphasized buzz words with a sense of urgency.

That mechanic died out long ago, but luckily, you can see what some of your favorite modern horror movies would look like when Eisenhower was in office, developing suburbs were replacing farmland and cars were made with steel and glass.

Here are some other noteworthy trailers brought to you by We Hate Popcorn But Eat It Anyway:

“Hellraiser” reimagined as a 50s horror movie.

“It” reimagined as a 50s horror movie.
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The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

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The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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New to Netflix (U.S.) This Month [May 2024]

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atlas movie Netflix starring Jennifer Lopez

Another month means fresh additions to Netflix. Although there aren’t many new horror titles this month, there are still some notable movies well worth your time. For instance, you can watch Karen Black try to land a 747 jet in Airport 1979, or Casper Van Dien kill giant insects in Paul Verhoeven’s bloody sci-fi opus Starship Troopers.

We are looking forward to the Jennifer Lopez sci-fi action movie Atlas. But let us know what you are going to watch. And if we have missed something, put it in the comments.

May 1:

Airport

A blizzard, a bomb, and a stowaway help create the perfect storm for the manager of a Midwestern airport and a pilot with a messy personal life.

Airport ’75

Airport ’75

When a Boeing 747 loses its pilots in a midair collision, a member of the cabin crew must take control with radio help from a flight instructor.

Airport ’77

A luxury 747 packed with VIPs and priceless art goes down in the Bermuda Triangle after being hijacked by thieves — and time for a rescue is running out.

Jumanji

Two siblings discover an enchanted board game that opens a door to a magical world — and unwittingly release a man who’s been trapped inside for years.

Hellboy

Hellboy

A half-demon paranormal investigator questions his defense of humans when a dismembered sorceress rejoins the living to wreak brutal vengeance.

Starship Troopers

When fire-spitting, brain-sucking bugs attack Earth and obliterate Buenos Aires, an infantry unit heads to the aliens’ planet for a showdown.

May 9

Bodkin

Bodkin

A ragtag crew of podcasters sets out to investigate mysterious disappearances from decades earlier in a charming Irish town with dark, dreadful secrets.

May 15

The Clovehitch Killer

The Clovehitch Killer

A teenager’s picture-perfect family is torn apart when he uncovers unnerving evidence of a serial killer close to home.

May 16

Upgrade

After a violent mugging leaves him paralyzed, a man receives a computer chip implant that allows him to control his body — and get his revenge.

Monster

Monster

After being abducted and taken to a desolate house, a girl sets out to rescue her friend and escape from their malicious kidnapper.

May 24

Atlas

Atlas

A brilliant counterterrorism analyst with a deep distrust of AI discovers it might be her only hope when a mission to capture a renegade robot goes awry.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory

The Camp Cretaceous gang come together to unravel a mystery when they discover a global conspiracy that brings danger to dinosaurs — and to themselves.

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