Whether she read them or made them up, my grandmother always had the scariest fairy tales to tell.
As a child who grew up in the absence of television and the internet, the very first time I experienced wonder was through the fairytale stories she told me while stroking my hair before sleep. Although I was scared inside, those were the best kind of sleep of my life, and I know I’m not alone.
Was I scared of a toothless witch on a broom then? Yes, and frankly speaking, I still am when I see one on the screen.
As an ode to my granny, and for people who are into fairy tale scares, I’ve listed some of the best horror movies inspired by fairy tales.
8 Best Fairy Tale-Based Horror Movies You Must Watch
1. The Company of Wolves (1984)
Directly inspired by Angela Carter’s work in “The Bloody Chamber” Collection, the movie mimics elements of the fairy tale, “Little Red Riding Hood.”
It’s about a young girl, Rosaleen (Sarah Patterson), who lives in a forest filled with wolves and dangerous creatures in her dreams. Through several mysterious and tragic events, she discovers her pull towards animal-like instincts.
The movie also features her Granny (Angela Lansbury), with whom she lives in her dream. She tells young Rosaleen several cautionary tales: “Never stray from the path, never eat a windfall apple, and never trust a man whose eyebrows meet.”
The actor’s performances, costumes, and the lush setting of the forest are enough to keep your eyes hooked to the screen.
2. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Guillermo del Toro’s compelling movie is beautiful, exciting, and sometimes horrifying.
It’s 1944, Spain. A young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) arrives at her new stepfather’s posted area along with her ailing mother (Ariadna Gil). Her stepfather, Vidal (Sergi Lopez), is a fascist army officer who leads a pack of allies to hunt the rebels in the forest. She navigates her new life and is eventually drawn into the magical Pan’s Labyrinth. There, she meets a mythical creature, Fauno (Doug Jones), who tells her she is the Princess Moanna who’s lost her way. She needs to complete three dangerous tasks to return where she belongs.
Just tell me if this description didn’t leave you wanting the visuals.
3. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Very few people know that this Korean cult classic is based on the Korean folktale, “The Story of Janghwa and Hongreyon.”
Soo-mi (Im Soo-Jung), who was admitted to a mental institution, is now free and returns to her countryside home. She reconnects with her beloved sister. But the sisters don’t like their new stepmother, as their father has recently remarried. When they begin to lead regular lives, strange and disturbing events start to happen in their house. The twists are shocking, and some revelations are very disturbing, closely connected to their family’s history.
If you’re a fan of horror, then there’s a small chance you can predict the end. Otherwise, just sit tight and enjoy this psychological horror consisting of the themes of trauma and repressed guilt.
4. The Lure (2015)
This Polish movie’s got teenage romance, cannibalism, and man-eating mermaids. Seductive enough?
The story is set in the alternate-1980s Warsaw, where two man-eating mermaids, Golden (Marta Mazurek) and Silver (Michalina Olszanska), perform in a nightclub. Silver falls in love with a musician and goes against her natural instincts — the sisters’ bond is threatened, and Silver’s willingness to take risks for her love eventually backfires horrifically in the end.
Based on the fairy tale “The Little Mermaid,” by Hans Christian Anderson, The Lure will surprise you with its unique setting and style. You’ll love it.
5. November (2017)
One of the highest-rated folk horror films, and rightly so.
Based on Andrus Kivirahk’s novel “Rehepapp ehk November” or “Old Barney a.k.a November,” November is a black-and-white film set in an Estonian village. It follows Liina (Rea Lest), who’s in love with Hans, but he doesn’t love her back, so she tries to win him over by performing magic and witchcraft. Not to mention that the villagers are preparing for the harsh winter to come, and the means are supernatural.
The movie is surreal in so many ways and reminded me of the atmosphere Robert Eggers depicts in his movies. Have a go at this one-of-a-kind.
6. Gretel & Hansel (2020)
Don’t tell me you’re not familiar with the Brothers Grimm’s classic folktale. The story has been told a thousand times through adaptations and reinterpretations.
After their father dies, both Gretel (Sophia Lillis) and Hansel (Samuel Leakey) are forced out of their house by their mother, who’s gone mad. As they struggle with hunger in the forest, they are taken in by an old woman, a witch (Alice Krige). With no hint of her evil dietary plan, the siblings find themselves slowly slipping into the witch’s web. This movie taps into my childhood nightmares.
At the end, Gretel subverts her expected gender roles by choosing to become a witch herself.
7. The Pied Piper (1986)
Imagine if your house got swamped by thousands of rats. Wouldn’t that be more of a horror movie? The truth is, even one is enough to get me worked up.
When a village is plagued by rats, the villagers take the help of a piper who uses his hypnotic tune to lure the rats into their graves. But the story doesn’t end here; it goes darker.
This stop-motion animation is based on the popular medieval German folktale, “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.”
More than the rat plague, Jiri Barta’s The Pied Piper explores the themes of greed and capitalism within a society.
8. The Witch (2016)
Set in 17th-century New England, Robert Eggers’ The Witch is based on folktales of witches and witchcraft.
A family, outcast from their tribe, settles on the edge of an isolated forest — left to fend for themselves. Their situation becomes more complicated when their youngest son, Samuel, disappears under Thomasin’s (Anya Taylor-Joy) watch. They all blame her and suspect her of being a witch. Whether it’s true or not should be left for you to discover in the end.
One thing I can promise is that this slow-building horror is deeply unsettling and will spellbind you to the screen. Robert Eggers is on point in creating a brooding atmosphere, and the actors are brilliant in conveying the abyss of folklore.
Conclusion
Have you watched every movie mentioned in the list?
Comment down and let us know which one you like the most.