Sci-Fi Horror Films: When Science Fiction Meets Terror
Is sci-fi horror a subgenre of horror, or a subgenre of science fiction? Or perhaps neither, maybe it’s a hybrid genre that stands on its own? I say we take the third option and move on without hurting anyone’s feelings. Also, the Turkish podcast “Gerisi Hikaye” coined the perfect term for this: “Science-Horror” (Bilim-Korku), and I absolutely love it.
This genre has a massive fanbase, so I thought, why not put together a list?
Event Horizon (1997)
If you’re somewhere unknown, millions of kilometers from the safest place you know, how would you prefer to lose your mind? It’s the year 2047, and a rescue ship is dispatched to find the “Event Horizon,” a research vessel that was sent beyond our solar system seven years ago and vanished. And Then Things Happen. Claustrophobic settings, deep space, cosmic horror, even cosmic nihilism that you’ll feel in your bones. It starts with an Alien-esque vibe, but things don’t stay that way. That’s yet another reason to watch it. Sam Neill delivers, and the soundtrack is phenomenal. Liberate tutemet ex inferis.
Alien Series
The first two films rank among my all-time favorites. The crew of the space mining vessel Nostromo encounters a deadly alien creature while investigating an unknown signal. I wrote that sentence and immediately wanted to rewatch it. The gloomy, unsettling atmosphere of the Nostromo came alive in my mind and sank deep into my soul. That’s the kind of film the first one is. Ridley Scott launched this series, and James Cameron continued it with the second installment, “Aliens.” I love the second one too. The third film, Alien 3, was directed by David Fincher. While the third film wasn’t as well-received, the director’s chair of this series is like a constellation of stars. Later came Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Alien: Resurrection,” though it’s not one I particularly enjoyed. The franchise continued with Alien vs. Predator, Prometheus, and Covenant—and we’ll soon see a TV series and another film joining the universe.
The Thing (1982)
Set in an isolated Antarctic research station, the film tells the terrifying tale of a shape-shifting alien creature that can infect humans. Directed by John Carpenter, this classic is the pinnacle of paranoia and fear. Carpenter stated that this film is part of his “Apocalypse Trilogy” alongside Prince of Darkness and In the Mouth of Madness, and that it was inspired by Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness.” On another level, it allegorically depicts the Cold War-era spy paranoia and the “traitor among us” narrative. Even though over 40 years have passed, the film’s ending still sparks fan theories and debates to this day. It’s also been called “the greatest horror film of all time” by numerous film magazines and authorities. Now, don’t watch it and then come back saying “I wasn’t scared at all.” These evaluations are made considering technical details, screenplay sophistication, and many other factors. It’s directed by Carpenter, has Lovecraft in it, features paranoia, Kurt Russell, and that unmistakable ’80s atmosphere. What more could you want?
Pitch Black (2000)
Those whose childhood coincided with the VCD era will know this film—it was released as “Deep Darkness” (Derin Karanlık) in Turkey. A group of people who crash-land on a desert planet must deal with creatures that hunt in the dark. Vin Diesel’s character Riddick will do anything to survive. There are quite a few logic holes that annoyed the science crowd, and some even object to calling it science fiction. There are also plenty of scenes inspired by Alien. So why did I include a film I’ve criticized this much? Because it perfectly captures the early 2000s vibe. It doesn’t try to say anything profound, it’s straightforward. It shows you beautiful shots. The sunset scene, for instance, is magnificent. The action is solid. Riddick is a strong character. There’s a sequel too, but I don’t care for it. If someone tells you this film is a waste of time, they’re not entirely wrong—but let me say this: there’s a special joy in watching bad films, and it’s a culture unto itself. Once you learn to enjoy it, you’ll become addicted. I wanted to make this point using this film as an excuse.
Phantoms (1998)
A small town has been mysteriously emptied, with only a few people remaining. The survivors discover that a supernatural force has taken over the town. This film, adapted from Dean Koontz’s novel, deals with humanity’s struggle against the unknown. I couldn’t verify this, but I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that Koontz personally adapted the screenplay. The film features Ben Affleck and Rose McGowan—Tatum from Scream. When you see the other cast members, you’ll find yourself saying “Oh, I know that person!”
The Faculty (1998)
At a high school, it’s discovered that teachers and students are being taken over by aliens. A group of young people must stand against this invasion. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, this film successfully combines youth horror with science fiction. I also included this film in my list of horror films set in colleges.
Village of the Damned (1995)
A small town is overrun with children born after a mysterious event caused everyone to faint. These children possess supernatural powers and threaten the town. Another John Carpenter film on this list. While not as dense in subtext as The Thing, it still carries underlying themes, addressing issues of immigration and authority. Those fascinated by unexplained mysterious events will know about the green children of Woolpit. This film always reminds me of that incident.
Jason X (2001)
I can hear you asking, “Is this the Jason from Friday the 13th?” Yes, dear readers, the one and only! Jason Voorhees, 455 years after being contained at the Crystal Lake research facility, is taken aboard a spacecraft in his frozen state—and Then Things Happen. Frozen Jason might not taste as good as the fresh version, but in terms of power, he’s even more super and über than the original. Even in the 25th century, slasher teenagers are just as dumb as ever. They’ve got what you might call “bold” fashion choices for a spaceship. In other words, all conditions for Jason to start his massacre have been met. This film also features the most iconic Jason mask.
Invaders from Mars (1986)
The film on this list is not the 1953 original, but the 1986 version directed by Tobe Hooper. A child discovers that Martians are invading Earth and tries to convince the adults. Wonderful ’80s atmosphere, alien terror, a clever little kid, and spaceship designs created in that era’s retro-futuristic style without even realizing they were retro-futuristic. It’s a beautiful film. One of those movies that works even when watched during the day. Perfect for a Sunday brunch.
Pandorum (2009)
We watched this Dennis Quaid and Norman Reedus film released as “Terror in Space” (Uzayda Dehşet) in Turkey. Sometimes I appreciate this straightforward approach. They probably just looked at it and said “write ‘terror in space’ and move on.” The ship Elysium is transporting 60,000 people to a new planet called Tanis. Earth has depleted its resources, so these people have set out with hope for a new life. Part of the crew awakens from hypersleep remembering nothing, and it doesn’t take long for them to realize something has gone terribly wrong on the ship. Those who loved the flagships of this list, Alien and Event Horizon, will definitely love this one too.
Moon (2009)
Blue-collar space worker Sam Bell works alone at a mining facility on the Moon. He harvests Helium-3, an energy source, for a company called Lunar Industries. Sam’s only companion is the facility’s artificial intelligence. While trying to maintain his sanity in this monotony, he has an accident during a moment of distraction, and Then Things Happen. This time I’m ending with “And Then Things Happen” not for self-promotion, but because that’s where it needs to end, because everything after this is a spoiler, and the entire film’s identity is built on it. From what I’ve seen, people discussing this film haven’t paid much attention to this. If you’re hearing about it here for the first time and it caught your interest, go watch it without learning anything more. Finally, Sam Bell is played by Sam Rockwell and he plays the role brilliantly.
eXistenZ (1999)
I don’t usually like saying “ahead of its time,” but when it comes to David Cronenberg, I can’t find a cooler description that fully captures what I mean. We actually saw a lot of this kind of work in 1999 during the peak of millennium hype, but this one is the best among them. Let’s talk a bit about the plot: eXistenZ is a revolutionary virtual reality game developed by game designer Allegra Geller. It’s played through a biotechnological device called a “bio-port” that connects to the player’s nervous system. During the game’s first test run, Allegra is targeted in an assassination attempt and is forced to flee with her assistant. While trying to discover the identity and motives of the assassins, they decide to test the game in real life. As expected, the line between reality and the virtual world becomes blurred, and they’re swept into a dizzying game-within-a-game vortex. The film actually progresses with a structure like a video game—missions, side quests, and all.
Sputnik (2020)
The story begins in 1983, during the Soviet Union’s space program. During a space mission, cosmonaut Konstantin Veshnyakov and his crew member experience a mysterious event while returning to Earth. One of the cosmonauts dies, but the surviving cosmonaut doesn’t return to Earth alone. Like The Thing, this film uses Cold War-era paranoia as its subtext. It also beautifully explores the variability of human nature in extraordinary circumstances. They don’t call this film “Russia’s The Thing,” but I do. Watch it and see if you agree with me.
From Beyond (1986)
Another film adapted from a Lovecraft short story of the same name. Scientists are working on a device called the “Resonator” that stimulates the pineal gland in the brain and makes it possible to see entities from a different dimension. When they successfully activate the device, they encounter creatures living in another dimension. However, the experiment goes horrifically wrong. Then again, if it hadn’t gone wrong, what would it be doing on this list?
Annihilation (2018)
A sci-fi horror film adapted from Jeff VanderMeer’s novel of the same name, written and directed by Alex Garland. The film features an area called “The Shimmer”—a region formed after a meteor struck Earth, constantly expanding, filled with strange mutations and unknown dangers. After a man assigned to that area disappears and returns some time later, another team including his wife enters the zone. A film that somehow incorporates and blends all sci-fi elements, with great atmosphere and screenplay.
The Invisible Man (2020)
Everyone knows this film, adapted from H.G. Wells’s classic novel. However, as you can tell from the title, I’ve chosen the most recent remake for this list. Cecilia has been in a deeply damaging and captive relationship with a wealthy, control-obsessed genius. One day, she manages to escape from her boyfriend’s ultra-secure mansion. Following this, her deranged genius boyfriend commits suicide—but from that day forward, Cecilia is constantly harassed by an invisible entity. It’s impossible to explain without spoiling the surprise, and you’ve probably already guessed where things are heading. But it’s no easy task to maintain suspense and tension until the very end in a film called “The Invisible Man”—yet the director pulled it off.
Nope (2022)
The latest film from Jordan Peele, one of the standout names of recent years. The Haywood family trains horses for Hollywood films. At the beginning of the film, the family patriarch dies from mysterious objects falling from the sky. His son and daughter try to continue running the ranch after their father’s death. Strange events begin occurring at the ranch. Horses disappear, and unexplainable phenomena appear in the sky. They realize a UFO is circling their ranch and decide to capture it on film as proof. While it’s a sci-fi horror film, it tells the story of how Hollywood, as a machine, grinds up people dreaming of fame.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
A remake of the original film from 1956. Directed by Philip Kaufman, the cast includes Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Goldblum, and Veronica Cartwright, a virtual starship of talent. A fungal spore from space lands on Earth. These spores attach to plants and develop inside structures called pods. These pods produce alien copies that replace humans. The loss of human individuality as people transform into emotionless copies carries deep messages about social conformism and the loss of individual freedoms.
They Live (1988)
Another John Carpenter masterpiece. His third film on this list—and honestly, I could have pushed it to five if I’d tried. But this film holds a special place apart from the other two. Even those unfamiliar with the film have seen clips and frames from it in countless places. It’s become iconic. Especially the “OBEY” slogan, which has been used everywhere. Here’s the plot: John Nada, an unemployed migrant worker, puts on a special pair of sunglasses and begins to see the world differently. Through these glasses, Nada reveals the aliens who secretly control the world and enslave humanity, along with their hypnotic messages. He joins the resistance to bring down this system—and Then Things Happen. The film delivers a powerful critique of the system. It stands out as a film that criticizes capitalist exploitation mechanisms, ideological control, and consumer culture. It can be read through Gramsci’s concept of hegemony, but let me also say this: if we do a Marxist reading, we’ll encounter a few glaring issues. Let’s not forget it’s an American film. Regardless, here’s to Comrade John Carpenter, who conveyed the idea that the proletariat must become conscious of the capitalist system and transform into a revolutionary movement.
Predator (1987)
A group of elite soldiers is assigned by the CIA to rescue a guerrilla camp in Central America. During the mission, the team leader Major Dutch Schaefer and his men begin to be hunted one by one by an invisible alien hunter. This hunter is not human and makes full use of technology’s benefits—technology far beyond anything on Earth. Dutch fights to survive against the creature and tries to defeat it using elements of nature. Predator has gained a massive fanbase and has expanded over the years into sequels, comic books, games, and animated series. There are even films where it crosses over with another entry on this list, Alien, featuring Predators battling Xenomorphs. It’s the perfect fusion of action and horror. In my opinion, two things make this first film great: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s performance as Dutch, and the mud.
Levent Üstünbaş
1987 yılında Eskişehir'de doğdum. Yerel gazetelerde sinema yazıları yazdım. Arkadaşlarımla Getik Fanzini çıkarttım. Sonrasında basılı neşriyat serüvenime son verip podcast mecrasına geçiş yaptım. 2019 yılından bu yana Kat3Daire5 podcastte ve Kat3Daire5 YouTube kanalında içerik üretiyorum.
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