Rarely have two genres been able to complement one another in such an effective and transformative way as science fiction and horror in the medium of film. The vast possibilities and fear that can come from futuristic technological advancements and alien species have made science fiction a perfect fit for numerous legendary horror films over the years. Films likeAlienandThe Thingshow just how much mileage can be attained from the combination of these two genres, creating one of the best genre combinations in film history.
However, for every massive critical or financial success story that comes from science fiction horror, there are still a number of great underrepresented stories and films that deserve their own time in the spotlight. There are no limits to the creativity that science fiction has provided for the horror genre, which, combined with horror filmmaking’s lower budget requirements, results in a great deal of hidden gems being created.Whether they were critically panned at the time or simply couldn’t find their audience, many underrated sci-fi horror films deserve to be recognizedfor their strengths.
15’Vivarium' (2019)
Director: Lorcan Finnegan
A highly symbolic sci-fi horror film with seemingly infinite different interpretations,Vivariumfollows the story of Gemma and Tom, a newly engaged couple in search of the perfect starter home. However, after following their off-putting real estate agent to a new housing development, the duo finds themselves trapped inside this starter home, trapped in an endless maze of the same neighborhood. As if to make things more complicated, the characters are now forced to raise a child in this home, although the child is far from normal, and features several alien and otherworldly qualities.
Vivariumtakes a much more existentialand psychological approach to the sci-fi horror genre, placing its simple and relatable characters in a hellish predicament to see their psyche and relationship crumble as a result. It works as well as it does thanks to the stellar pair of lead performances fromImogen PootsandJesse Eisenberg, whose work is dynamic and multilayered enough to take home any number of conclusions about what the film is saying about love, isolation, and the nuclear family.
A young couple looking for the perfect home find themselves trapped in a mysterious labyrinth-like neighborhood of identical houses.
14’Splice' (2009)
Director: Vincenzo Natali
Splicefollows the story of young scientists Elsa and Clive, who decide to rebel against all legal and ethical ramifications and go forward with a dangerous and unprecedented experiment. They splice together human and animal DNA together in an attempt to create a new, never-before-seen organism. The creature in question, known as “Dren,” starts life as a deformed infant before eventually growing into a beautiful yet dangerous winged human chimera who begins to form a bond with her creators. However, this bond soon proves itself to be much more dangerous than anticipated.
While the “experiment gone wrong” story is far from original in the sci-fi horror realm, what makesSplicework as well as it does is the effects work that still holds up greatly to this day. Drea is such an interesting and compelling creature design-wise, as the character grows to be more nuanced and dynamic as the film goes on, a far cry from the standard of creature features like this. While the controversial ending left audiences mixed upon its release, it’s difficult to deny the excellent filmmaking chops on display here.
13’Pontypool' (2008)
Director: Bruce McDonald
Pontypoolfollows the story of disc jockey Grant Mazzy, who, on coming in for what seems to be another day of work at his basement radio station, begins seeing reports of the spread of a zombie virus. Mazzy soon takes the initiative and barricades himself inside his radio booth, hoping to be able to find a way to warn his listeners about the virus and, in the process, find out how it works and spreads. Mazzy’s time is limited, however, as the virus is slowly making its way toward his booth and his coworkers.
While the film technically predates the massive explosion of the zombie film that would dominate the 2010s,Pontypoolis still a highly experimental and one-of-a-kind take on a zombie film. The film focuses much less on the physical horror of the zombie threat,instead exploring the character dynamics and internal struggles of people in their immediate reactionsto this apocalyptic event. Especially for fans of modern zombie shows and media,Pontypoolacts as a great underrated gemthat finds ways to consistently deliver and surprise.
Watch on AMC+
12’Underwater' (2020)
Director: William Eubank
While many sci-fi horror monster movies will use aliens as their form of unknown and mysterious life,Underwatertakes the same premise and structure for the equally mysterious dangers of the deepest parts of the ocean. The film follows a squadron of researchers working at a secret station at the bottom of the ocean, where, after an earthquake destroys their equipment, the group of six is forced to dawn underwater suits and travel by foot to the nearest station for refuge. However, the creatures of the dark ocean floor are incredibly dangerous, making their journey anything but simple.
While relatively simple in its premise,Underwaterexceeds greatly in its execution, witha great mixture of terrifying monster designs, compelling characters, and horrifying sequencesthat leave viewers on the edge of their seats. The film was sadly overshadowed by being not only a January release, but by being one of the last movies released before the pandemic shut down theaters in early 2020. It’s a genuine shame, because, under different circumstances, the film certainly had what it takes to become a genuine sci-fi horror blockbuster.
Underwater
11’Spring' (2014)
Springfollows the story of Evan, a young man dealing with a personal downward spiral, and decides to attempt to find a solution via a sudden trip to Italy, fleeing from his obligations in the US. While in Italy, Evan miraculously finds what seems to be the girl of his dreams, fostering a genuine relationship with someone that he knows nothing about. However, as this spur-of-the-moment relationship continues, Evan begins to learn the terrifying supernatural truth behind his supposed perfect match, ending up in an even worse and more chaotic situation than before.
Springcombined sci-fi horror with romance to create an engaging and unpredictable story of love and betrayalacross the countryside that easily brings audiences to the edge of their seats. The film acts as a great subversion and bait and switch to everything that would be expected from its creature feature angle, able to tell a compelling and genuine story of unconditional and blinding love. Especially for fans ofMoorhead and Benson’s other works,Springis a must-watch that fully delivers on its ingenious premise.
Watch on Tubi
10’Circle' (2015)
Directors: Aaron Hann, Mario Miscione
A simple yet highly disturbing single-room horror film,Circlesees 50 strangers awakened and unable to move in a mysterious room in a circular formation. Without any memory of how they got there, they attempt to learn more about themselves and how to escape. Soon enough, the dreadful game begins, as they learn that every two minutes, one of the 50 people will die, with the group forced to vote on who will be executed by the strange device at the center of the room.
Circlemakes excellent use of its small budgetand single location by focusing directly on the inherent dread and interpersonal human connections and deception that come from its painful premise. It’s far from perfect in its execution, butit does enough with its premise to insight into further discussion and allow for a great number of shocking momentsand surprises throughout. Especially with how very few characters actually have names, it makes it incredibly easy for an audience to place themselves into the situation and consider how they would deal with the deadly killing game of social deduction.
Watch on Netflix
9’Psycho Goreman' (2020)
Director: Steven Kostanski
Psycho Goremanis a strange yet perfect mixture of a hyper-violent sci-fi horror film and a quirky family comedy, creating a highly charming yet destructive experience. The film follows innocuously young siblings Mimi and Luke, who accidentally find themselves resurrecting Psycho Goreman, an ancient alien overload hellbent on taking over the universe. However, thanks to a magical amulet at their disposal, the alien is forced to obey their every word, leading to many hijinks and chaos as they attract intergalactic attention from across the universe.
Psycho Goremanis the type of film that immediately sells itself thanks to its wild and hilarious premise, yet the film is able to further deliver when it comes to spectacle. The film is held to a multitude of amazing practical effects, from the highly creative designs of Psycho Goreman and the other aliens to the high number of gruesome and iconic kills. Still, it’s this wholesome and comedic juxtaposition of buckets of blood and gore compared to the plight and struggles of young children that has made the film one of the mostunderrated horror comedies of recent memory.
Psycho Goreman
Watch on Shudder
8’Slither' (2006)
Director: James Gunn
Before he would go on to directGuardians of the GalaxyandThe Suicide Squad,James Gunn’s directorial debutwasSlither, a wild and chaotic body horror-filled sci-fi horror comedy. The film saw a small town having to deal with the unexpected consequences of an alien invasion, with the hivemind plague slowly taking over the entire town and turning them into mindless zombies. However, more than just world domination, the alien also has an unexpected goal after harboring a loving crush on one of the town’s residents and the wife of the first man infected.
Slitheris filled with the same beautiful style and vision as Gunn’s more popular works, just with a nice heaping of brilliantly disgusting effects and a multitude of bloody and gory carnage. However,this excess of gore and death doesn’t stop the film from having genuine heartfelt moments and effective comedywith its cast of hilarious characters. The film also features terrific performances from the likes ofMichael Rooker,Elizabeth Banks, andNathan Fillion.
Rent on Amazon
7’Oxygen' (2021)
Director: Alexandre Aja
Oxygenfollows the story of a woman who has woken up inside a cryogenic chamber with no memories of her former life or how she ended up in the chamber. However, with the chamber running out of air, she must figure out not only who she is and how she got here, but also how to preserve her own life in an increasingly distressing claustrophobic space. As she uncovers the smallest of details about herself and her situation, she begins to paint the biggest picture and scope of everything around her, further increasing the stakes of her survival.
Oxygenmakes great usage out of its minuscule singular location, acting like a futuristic sci-fi equivalent of a film likeBuried, where the core of what makes the film work so well is the lead performance. In this case,Mélanie Laurentmakes terrific usage of the premise, going through nearly every cycle of grief, desperation, and anger while acting as an easily rootable central protagonist. The film also features a surprising amount of twists and turns to keep it highly unpredictable and engaging despite its singular cold and isolating location.
6’Possessor' (2020)
Director: Brandon Cronenberg
A literal mind-melting sci-fi horror experience,Possessorfollows the story of Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough), an elite corporate assassin who uses futuristic brain-implant technology to take control of other people’s bodies to terminate high-profile targets. However, this latest assignment proves to be the most dangerous and difficult, as the extended time spent inside this mind threatens to destroy her mind and leave her stranded in a mental void of nothingness.
Possessormakes excellent use of its high-concept material to create a satisfying, thought-provoking experience that isn’t afraid to shy away from the absolute worst possibilities of technology. It certainly isn’t afraid to tap into the horror aspect of its horror-sci-fi genre, with a great number of disturbing hyper-violence sequences that will quickly sear their way into the minds of viewers. It proved toshow thatBrandon Cronenbergwas just as capableas a director as his legendary horror director father,David Cronenberg, as he would continue to prove with his next film,Infinity Pool.
An agent works for a secretive organization that uses brain-implant technology to inhabit other people’s bodies - ultimately driving them to commit assassinations for high-paying clients.
