The horror genre is a wide and beautiful landscape of subgenres that let us face our fears, be they in the form of demons, monsters, slashers, mutants, ghosts, viruses, nature, or our own minds, not to mention the wide plethora of other assailants that I haven’t mentioned. I’m constantly reminded of the merchant in the beginning of Hellraiser, who asks Frank Cotton, “What’s your pleasure?” When it comes to horror, I can choose from a wide variety of delights with which to sully and corrupt my mind.

But like any other fan of the genre, horror is not the only thing I imbibe. I enjoy watching comedies, action/adventure, and even the occasional romance film (Amelie is one of my favorite movies of all time). And something I noticed in several of my favorite non-horror films is that many of them share many themes with horror!

So I decided to whip up a list of six non-horror movies that I thought of off the top of my head that I feel would be right up the alley of any horror fan. Check out the list below and let me know some recommendations YOU have in the comments below!

eXistenZ

A game designer on the run from assassins must play her latest virtual reality creation with a marketing trainee to determine if the game has been damaged.

Directed by the legendary David Cronenberg, this movie falls far more under the umbrella of “sci-fi mind fuckery” than horror. But if you think Cronenberg doesn’t add in some really horrific moments, you’re very much mistaken. Packed with phenomenal performances and featuring some typical Cronenberg grossness, eXistenZ is a wildly entertaining and absolutely bizarre journey.

Children of Men

In 2027, in a chaotic world in which women have become somehow infertile, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea.

Don’t watch this movie unless you make plans for afterwards. I made that mistake and just sat on my couch for two hours after the credits stopped rolling trying to absorb everything I’d just witnessed.

The reason why I feel horror fans will love this movie is because it has a bleak, almost hopeless feel throughout nearly the entire film. Furthermore, there are scenes of graphic violence and brutality AND it’s essentially a post-apocalyptic film, although the apocalypse here isn’t caused by a virus, zombies, or anything like that. Instead, it’s simply a biological shift whereby women can’t get pregnant, so humanity loses all hope.

It’s a really stunning film and I wholeheartedly recommend watching it.

The City of Lost Children

A scientist in a surrealist society kidnaps children to steal their dreams, hoping that they slow his aging process.

This is one of my favorite movies ever. Essentially a dark and twisted fairy tale, The City of Lost Children is playful in its surreal approach, crafting a charming and delightful film that circles the terrifying concept of child abduction.

Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet would go on to make Alien: Resurrection, which would see him reunite with The City of Lost Children stars Ron Perlman and Dominique Pinon. Additionally, it has music from “Twin Peaks” composer Angelo Badalamenti.

The Running Man

A wrongly convicted man must try to survive a public execution gauntlet staged as a game show.

Based on a story by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman), The Running Man essentially set the stage for movies and ideas like Battle Royale, The Hunger Games, The Purge, and more.

The horror elements here are basically the constant threat of the hunt. Arnold Schwarzenegger is constantly on the move to not only survive but to also find a way to expose and take down the very people who framed him. Facing one “gladiator” after another, each equally vicious and despicable, Schwarzenegger and crew are fighting for their very lives every moment of this sadistic TV show.

Dark City

A man struggles with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun.

It’s hard to describe Dark City because the movie is so unique and out there. But I don’t think anyone can deny that through its sci-fi noir veneer, there is an underbelly strongly influenced by horror. I mean, remember that little child Stranger? That’s something out of a nightmare.

Filled with an incredible cast (Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Richard O’Brien, Ian Richardson, and more) and directed by Alex Proyas (The Crow), this movie was under-appreciated upon release but has since grown a strong cult following.

The 13th Warrior

A man, having fallen in love with the wrong woman, is sent by the sultan himself on a diplomatic mission to a distant land as an ambassador. Stopping at a Viking village port to restock on supplies, he finds himself unwittingly embroiled on a quest to banish a mysterious threat in a distant Viking land.

Okay, the below trailer is absolutely godawful, so just ignore that it even exists, okay?

Directed by John McTiernan and based on Michael Crichton’s book “Eaters of the Dead” (which itself was inspired by the epic poem “Beowulf”), The 13th Warrior went through its fair share of production woes. The budget reportedly hit over $160 million, which, if adjusted for inflation, is nearly $230 million today, and the movie only took in $61 million in global box office, making it a catastrophe.

However, I was always puzzled by the distaste for the film. It’s a snappy film that doesn’t waste time and it knows how to introduce new elements in clever ways, such as the scene where Antonio Banderas learns how to speak Norse by listening during their journey.

But where horror fans can latch onto the movie is the villains. The book wasn’t called “Eaters of the Dead” because it sounded cool, it’s because that’s exactly what was happening! So, you’ve got vikings against the cannibalistic “Wendol”, who wear bear skins in order to make themselves appear more ferocious and aggressive. Plus, they have no problem ripping the heads off of their victims with their bare hands.

This really was another criminally under-appreciated film upon release. I wish it got more credit as it’s thoroughly entertaining with wonderful sets and fantastic music. Plus, I guarantee you’ll start saying the “Lo, there do I see my father…” mantra at the most random times and feel like a total badass while doing it.