Sci-fi and horror movies are often blended together due to the way the themes and tropes in the two genres blend. The most prominent aspects in sci-fi, such as extraterrestrials, technological advances, and futuristic worlds, are complemented by the terror and gore often represented in horror. Coupled together, the sci-fi horror genre was born.
Some of the best movies in the sub-genre are widely praised and considered undeniable classics, such as Ridley Scott’s Alien and John Carpenter’s The Thing. However, other films like Annihilation and The Invisible Man are often overlooked as not fitting neatly into the already blended genre, but also incorporate other similar genres. The best sci-fi horror movies are able to perfectly embrace the themes of the popular category while telling a compelling, memorable narrative.
Annihilation Is the Perfect Surreal Sci-Fi
In the sci-fi horror Annihilation, Lena (Natalie Portman), a cellular biologist, is enlisted to enter the Shimmer, a strange area that emerged after a meteor struck the east coast of the United States. The government wants to know why no one has returned from the expeditions in the Shimmer except for Lena’s husband, Kane. Along with a couple of other scientists and a paramedic, Lena journeys into the anomaly to conduct scientific research, quickly encountering the strange plants and animals the cosmic substance has created.
Despite the hate Annihilation gets from sci-fi viewers, the strange plot is absolutely captivating, perfectly complemented by Natalie Portman’s haunting performance as the desperate wife and curious scientist. The film is visually stunning, including genetically modified life that is equal parts horrifying and wonderful. It stands out among the dark and bloody films in the sci-fi horror genre, creating a surreal world of new life and mysterious deaths.
Annihilation is a misunderstood and underrated sci-fi film that doesn’t get enough credit for its exceptional use of characterization and visuals to represent a very realistic theme. Lena’s narrative is at the heart of the movie because she has experienced loss and grief. The Shimmer, the other scientists, and Lena’s journey is an exploration of the despair and hopeless feelings of mourning, which can only be overcome by the acceptance of things that cannot be changed.
Aliens Hide Among Civilization in Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is an amazing black-and-white movie that still holds up as the best alien invasion allegory in sci-fi history. In this narrative, Dr. Miles Bennell initially doesn’t believe his patients’ claims that their loved ones are being replaced by emotionless impostors. However, when he sees the pod people for himself, he teams up with a couple of friends in hopes of escaping the town before the aliens can replace them as well.
Though Donald Sutherland’s remake is great, the original 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers is praised as one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. The narrative is a response to the anti-communism hysteria that was prevalent in America at the time, leading to widespread fear of the loss of individual identities. Modern audiences also consider it an impactful allegory on conformity and how this leads to a loss of independent thought and expression.
There are a lot of great alien invasion movies, but Invasion of the Body Snatchers defined a few of the popular tropes in the sci-fi sub-genre. The term “pod people,” which is a term used for the impostors in the film, became a pop culture reference for those who conform. It also popularized alien movies being used as social commentary for the current mindsets and fears of the time.
Prey Is a Prequel That Surpassed the Original
Prey is the fifth installment in the franchise, but the best Predator movie ever made, acting as a prequel to the rest of the series that easily surpasses all the other plots. Set in the 1700s, the film follows Naru, a young woman from the Comanche Nation who yearns to prove herself as a hunter. She gets the opportunity to showcase her skills and save her people when an alien with advanced technological weapons lands on Earth.
Though Prey was released on streaming, it could have easily found success as a theatrical release, quickly impressing the sci-fi horror fanbase. The franchise had previously failed with subpar sequels, but this prequel breathed fresh life into the extraterrestrial thriller. Shockingly, its most compelling feature was the characterization of Naru, whose likability made the stakes of the plot all the more intense.
Considering the popularity of this 2022 film, it’s no surprise that Prey 2 is in development. From the acting to the visuals, Prey succeeded as not only a wonderful prequel but an excellent film that can be enjoyed without any previous experience with the Predator franchise. In addition, the movie has been praised for its representation of Indigenous culture, which blended seamlessly with the historical sci-fi storyline.
The Invisible Man Revolutionized Sci-fi Psychological Thrillers
In the 2020 Blumhouse horror The Invisible Man, Cecelia escapes her abusive spouse, Adrian, who is a talented and successful optics engineer. Shortly after Cecelia runs away from Adrian, it is revealed that he has taken his own life and, shockingly, left his fortune to her. However, as she begins experiencing strange things and becomes convinced she’s being stalked, Cecelia suspects Adrian never died and is seeking revenge.
The Invisible Man diverges significantly from the classic 1930s horror by the same name, shifting focus from a mad scientist who learns how to become invisible to the victim of this skilled inventor. While this remake still explores the dangers of advanced technology and experimentation, it has an exceptional focus on the harm of powerful people abusing their power. Adrian’s impressive invention is overlooked due to his actions, which prove that unimaginable tools like an invisibility suit can be horrifying in the wrong hands.
Due to the success of the film, a sequel to The Invisible Man is reportedly in development, though not much is currently known about the project. However, a continuation of this narrative has a lot to live up to. The intensity, mystery, and psychological turmoil highlighted in the beloved modern classic was a perfect standalone sci-fi horror that has defined the flawless way to blend psychological thrillers with the science-focused genre.
Nope’s Slow-Burn is Worth the Payoff
In the sci-fi movie Nope, siblings Otis and Emerald are struggling to keep their family ranch running after the sudden death of their father. After some paranormal activity and a UFO sighting, the two hope to profit from capturing the activity on their property. However, as things get more strange and the shocking extraterrestrial being shows itself, they battle to survive the ordeal.
Jordan Peele’s western horror is unlike any other alien sighting movie, capturing the classic themes of alien narratives but blending it with a unique setting and fresh backstory. By focusing on a family of ranchers that raise horses for Hollywood, the plot explores the oversight of Black cowboys in cinema and the role they’ve played in western entertainment. This complements the overall storyline, which focuses on paranormal phenomena as a spectacle used to profit from others’ superstitions.
Nope is known for switching genres expertly, beginning as a modern-day western that transcends into a sci-fi mystery before completing with a horror feel. At first glance, the film is not what it appears to be, subverting the traditional expectations of an alien encounter. However, the strange but impactful themes of Nope are eerily memorable long after the credits have rolled.
Alien Has Defined Cosmic Horror
Alien is a classic horror movie set in a futuristic world in which a crew on a commercial spaceship is awakened from their cryo-sleep due to a distress call from another vessel. When they show up, they encounter extraterrestrial eggs that contain a hostile species. Though it initially seems like the harm is quickly mitigated, an alien bursts from the chest of one of the crew, unleashing mayhem on the ship.
The Alien franchise includes several movies, including a couple of crossovers with the Predator series, but the original continues to be an icon of sci-fi horror. The film is one of the few cosmic horrors that truly terrifies, not relenting when it comes to the gore, fear, and perfectly timed jump scares. Sigourney Weaver’s role as Ellen Ripley has yet to be surpassed, and she is well-regarded as the best final girl in the horror sub-genre.
The franchise is one of the most popular alien-centric movie series ever made, despite several subpar sequels that failed to live up to the hype of the original film. However, the series Alien: Earth, based on the movie series, has had overwhelmingly positive reviews and rejuvenated fans’ interest in the cinematic universe. It’s a fun and suspenseful reminder of the intense slow-burn plot of the first Alien film.
A Quiet Place Is a Modern Classic
In the 21st-century monster movie A Quiet Place, a plague of creatures with intense hearing but no sight has taken over the world. Survivors are forced to live quietly and carefully, knowing any small noise could attract the massive, deadly beings. The storyline follows a family that has endured a great tragedy but continues to build a life in a dangerous world.
There are a few A Quiet Place movies, but the original became an instant classic following its release. It’s regarded as one of the best sci-fi horror movies ever made due to its unique blend of genres. The intensity of the storyline and the horror of the creatures makes it an impactful horror, but the emotional appeal of the family’s experiences are also the perfect drama.
The last couple of films haven’t had quite as positive a reception as the original, though they have all had considerable praise, resulting in A Quiet Place Part III being in development to round off the franchise. Between the gripping family narratives that keep viewers invested and the mysterious, horrifying monsters that are appealing to any horror fan, A Quiet Place is the most appealing sci-fi horror.
Paranoia Grips the Audience in The Thing
In John Carpenter’s The Thing, a group of American scientists in Antarctica takes in a sled dog, which was mysteriously being attacked by a helicopter. However, they quickly learn that it wasn’t a dog at all, but a creature that has the ability to take on the forms of beings it comes in contact with. After finding out the creature has the ability to take human forms, the group becomes paranoid and begins turning on each other.
Though there was an early version of The Thing and a 2011 remake of the storyline, this 1982 sci-fi horror is well-regarded as one of the best in the genre. Many fans would even argue that it’s the greatest movie of all time, becoming a cult classic long after its release, but succeeding in becoming the most praised film in the sub-genre.
Despite being a box office flop, Carpenter’s The Thing has exceptional acting, eerie special effects, and a building sense of dread that is unparalleled. It has defined one of the most important themes in creature features and alien invasion movies, which is the sense of paranoia people feel in a dire situation that results in humans also being the monsters in the creepy narrative.
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