Labyrinth and 4 Other Dark Fairy Tale Movies to Watch Without the Kids in the House
These fantasy movies are sure to leave you horrified.
Every good fairy tale with a happy ending has a scary ancestor: a dark tale from ancient times where Cinderella's wicked sisters have their eyes pecked out by doves and the Little Mermaid turns to seafoam in despair.
Directors seeking an unconventional approach to the material often resort to deconstructing traditional fairy tale plots into stories that are not at all for children.
1. Labyrinth, 1986
Young Sarah is searching for her little brother Toby in a magical land ruled by a great goblin king named Jareth.
But the only way into the king's fortress is through a mysterious labyrinth full of monsters and traps. And the girl must hurry: if she doesn't reach the castle before midnight, her brother will be turned into a goblin.
The movie was made by the famous British puppeteer Jim Henson. David Bowie was invited to play the villain, and the main character Sarah was played by the then unknown actress Jennifer Connelly.
2. The Fall, 2006
A young stuntman named Roy lands in the hospital after a failed stunt, meets a girl named Alexandria, and tells her a gripping story. In it, five daredevils join forces to fight the terrible villain Odious.
Director Tarsem Singh is a master at combining ethnic motifs from different cultures in his work. At the same time, The Fall can hardly be called a fairy tale for children, because at some point the story takes on truly dark features.
3. Gretel & Hansel, 2020
A deranged single mother kicks her children, Hansel and Gretel, out of their home. The siblings head into the woods to find food, but discover something sinister.
Oz Perkins' adaptation of the classic fairy tale returned the story of Hansel and Gretel to its dark origins, while reimagining it through the lens of a new social consciousness. The film added many new meanings to its source material: in particular, reflections on the nature of women.
4. Red Riding Hood, 2011
Valerie's parents want her to marry a blacksmith, but she is in love with a woodcutter. Meanwhile, a werewolf appears in the area, dragging villagers into the dark forest. With the help of a priest, they soon discover that the beast is one of them.
Catherine Hardwicke, director of the first Twilight, adapted this mystical thriller from the well-known fairy tale. Red Riding Hood will appeal to those who love dark fantasy about monsters and werewolves.
5. Pan's Labyrinth, 2006
Ofelia and her pregnant mother move in with her stepfather, Captain Vidal, a ruthless killer and sadist. He is busy trying to rid the countryside of guerrillas.
On her first evening in the new place, the girl meets a mysterious Faun. He tells Ofelia that she is actually a princess of an underground kingdom who has lost her memory.
Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth is a serious shake-up, even for adult viewers. The magical elements of the plot are intertwined with real events, and at times the movie feels like a surreal nightmare.