Ben (Film Sponge’s Editor and Chief) and I have been talking about Prometheus for over a year now. I can hardly believe that our wait for this (perhaps) Alien prequel is final over!
In honor of Ridley Scott’s return to the genre he helped create, I’ve compiled this list of the Top 10 Sci-Fi Horror films ever. While Sci-Fi and Horror are both vast genres, I have decided to limit this list to films that feature both advanced technologies AND alien life forms.
Check out the list after the jump and let me know if your favorite Sci-Fi Horror film made the cut!
1. War of the Worlds: George Pal’s 1953 film adaptation of H.G. Well’s novel The War of the Worlds is perhaps the first great Sci-Fi Horror. While fear of alien invasion was nothing new, this film’s relentless and terrifying vision of complete societal destruction was perhaps bolstered by the still-stinging wounds of World War II. A perfect metaphor for the dawning of the Cold War.
2. Event Horizon: Ok, we have Sci-Fi movies and movies about Hell but has there ever been a film that blends both? Yes there is: Event Horizon. As heady as 2001 and as gory as any Hellraiser movie, Event Horizon is a gripping epic of agony.
3. Pandorum: Another gore-fest for the highly intelligent, Pandorum is a Sci-Fi mind-fuck that harkens back to the genius of Isaac Asimov. We’ve got a humongous spaceship, space madness, and vicious ghoul-like aliens (or are they?).
4. Starship Troopers: “It’s an ugly planet, a bug planet!” The only entry on this list that can also be considered a black comedy, Starship Troopers is an action packed thrill-ride from start to finish. With a variety of insect aliens, this film is sure to make your skin crawl.
5. Pitch Black: Before Vin Diesel was a household name, he was Riddick: The anti-hero of Pitch Black. A transport vessel crashes into a hostile planet just as an extended night falls, releasing ravenous, flying, shark-like aliens. A straight forward story with real character development (something often lacking in Sci-Fi AND Horror films), Pitch Black already has one sequel (The Chronicles of Riddick) and a second one is currently in the works.
6. John Carpenter’s The Thing: Captivating, nihilistic, and utterly disgusting, few movies pack the punch of John Carpenter’s The Thing. Made in the days before CGI, The Thing is nonetheless riveting with effects that have rarely been matched. Avoid last year’s prequel at all costs!
7. Dark City: Dark City offers advanced technologies and super creepy aliens (Mr. Sleep!) all presented with neo-noir flare. Dark City is also a detective story with hints of The Matrix. Light on gore, this film will likely appeal to film fans across the board. A definite sleeper, this film never got the props it deserved.
8. Predators: What I like best about last 2010’s Predators is that we finally battle the aliens on their turf. This film also reveals that there are several sub-species of Predators (one larger and dominant, another weaker and more subservient). A+ actors like Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne make this sequel amazing.
9. Alien: The mother of Prometheus? I guess we’ll know for sure in just a few more days! Some will argue that Alien is the best film on this list, for so many obvious reasons.
10. Aliens: “Get away from her you bitch!” Aliens, like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, is that rare sequel that (in my opinion) surpasses the original.
So what do you think of this list? Are there any films you believe should have made the cut but didn’t?
Saucy Josh writes a blog for intelligent Horror Movie aficionados called Blood and Guts for Grown Ups: https://bloodandgutsforgrownups.wordpress.com/