10 Great Sci-Fi Horror Movies (No One Ever Talks About)
Vampire aliens! Cops hunting aliens! Aliens in high school! Some non-alien films!
Every sub genre has its unheralded, secret classics.
Some were well regarded upon their initial release, only to be forgotten in the years that followed. Some were dismissed by critics only to be re-evaluated and have their misjudged genius recognized years later. Still more are small budget indies which were missed out on entirely, receiving little fanfare during their modest initial release.
Whatever the cause, this phenomenon crops up throughout all branches of cinema, and it's seen all the time in the sci-fi horror sub genre.
With many critics writing every space-set spooky movie off as an Alien clone (even in many cases where the film has nothing in common with that Ridley Scott classic), the sub genre gets an unreasonably bad rap. It's not helped by some big budget flops that tarnished its reputation as a sub genre at large, even if they were recognized as solid efforts later on (we see you, Event Horizon and Pandorum).
That's why film fans need lists like this, a rundown of the underrated gems from the sub genre that brings vampires to space and hides aliens beneath your bed...
10. The Keep
Released in 1983, Michael Mann’s strange and underrated The Keep has the impressive distinction of crossing more genres than most filmmakers attempt in an entire career. A WWII war film/supernatural horror/sci-fi thriller/adventure film, this unique and interesting eighties effort deserves a revival, particularly given the lukewarm reception it received upon initial release.
Originally a 210 minute epic, the film was trimmed to a taut, tense 96 minutes runtime by a concerned studio.
The film's admittedly convoluted and heavily cut story follows a set of Nazi troops who awaken an ancient and powerful paranormal force whilst setting up camp in the titular keep, foolishly attempting to move a sacred talisman. What follows is a suspenseful, unpredictable dark fairy tale whose enduring influence can be seen in everything from Guillermo del Toro's critically adored Pan's Labyrinth to 2018's trashy dumb fun Nazi-zombie horror Overlord.
With a score from synth pop icons Tangerine Dream and a cast that includes the likes of Gabriel Byrne and Ian McKellen, this one is a must-see often-overlooked classic for fans of horror, sci-fi, war films, thrillers...