10 Films That Prove Horror Is One Of The Most Versatile Genres

24 - CORRECT SIZE - Rosemary's Baby Horror is a genre that many people love but many more people love to hate. While it is all too clear that modern horror films are below the standards of classics like The Exorcist and Psycho there is still hope for the genre since we have brilliant directors out there like Guillermo Del Toro and David Fincher working today. It is easy to dismiss horror films as derivative and unimaginative but if you look just under the surface you'll find the exact opposite to be true. Horror movies can be seen as reflections of society as a whole, meditations on humanity's deepest fears and great cautionary tales. Filmmakers can tell any story they want with horror and it is easily adapted to suit many other genres as well. It is incredibly versatile and shouldn't be written off by audiences the way it has been recently and I'm here to prove that horror has much more to offer than people give it credit for. I present to you, kind reader, 10 films that prove horror is one of the most versatile genres in film.

10. Pan's Labyrinth

Guillermo Del Toro is one of the greatest modern directors and Pan's Labyrinth is his masterpiece. The way he blends the innocence of youth with the very real terrors of fascism and war is both beautiful and horrific. Del Toro has already made a film that deals with creepy subject matter through a child's eyes with The Devil's Backbone but he is able to bring his vision to life in a more fully realized way in Pan's Labyrinth. The movie is told like a fairy tale but not in the modern sense with a light story and happy ending. The film's narrative relies more on the older traditions of fairy tales and mixes that with a major influence coming from the artwork of Francisco Goya. Pan's Labyrinth has some parts that are just as frightening as any horror film I have ever seen but Del Toro blends these elements in a way that really furthers the story.
 
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Contributor
Contributor

My favorite movies are Before Sunrise, Pulp Fiction, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien and Her so don't be surprised to see those pop up in my writing from time to time. I'm currently in school for Journalism/English and I have an obsession with all things cinematic on the side.