10 Best REVERSE Horror Movies

In 1933, the demand for exotic, adventurous movies set in the far-flung corners of the world had never been greater. There was also a demand to see primates on film, as most zoos at that time had virtually none in captivity. Combine that with the immense popularity of books like Tarzan Of The Apes and HG Wells' The Lost World, and hey presto, King Kong was greenlit.

The tales from the production are both fascinating and numerous, but we are here to answer the question of what makes this a reverse horror, which it most certainly is.

There is a tragedy to King Kong, almost universally recognised, that's hardly a surprising reaction for modern audiences. In 1933 though, wildlife conservation was largely unheard of and big game hunting was an accepted sport of the wealthy. Kong, at that time, was to be a brute, a monster captured for commercial gains.

Yet soon after release and since, moviegoers began to feel an affinity for Kong that was not in the script. Jackson's remake was a fine film but he went to so much effort to tell us to pity the ape that it felt contrived. In 1933, however, it was a sympathetic and natural reaction.

Children wept and hearts were melted, inspiring the film Mighty Joe Young and two big budget remakes, with Kong now as a protagonist. Could this be the ultimate reverse horror? Enjoy spotting your own reversed movies, there'll always be plenty more on the way, guaranteed.