Top 10 Horror Movie Remakes of Classic Fairy Tales

The Korean folktale ‘Janghwa Hongryeon jeon’, about two sisters and their abusive stepmother, has been adapted into various films over the years. “A Tale of Two Sisters” is one of the best known, thanks to a strong critical and commercial response upon its release in 2003. The film is a stylish and shocking ghost story with memorable performances from its cast. It was notably remade in Hollywood as “The Uninvited” in 2009, but make no mistake: the OG is the version you should seek. Mental illness and family trauma are but two of the themes explored here, and the film definitely benefits from repeat viewings.

Estonian mythology is a rich world of unique gods, heroes, and monsters, with the latter taking center stage in the fantasy horror movie “November”. Set in a village filled with supernatural beings, the film depicts a dark and dreamlike world where mythological figures are part of ordinary life. That includes ‘kratts’, servants made from hay or household odds and ends and brought to life thanks to a pact with the Devil. The film transports viewers to another world, thanks in no small part to the haunting and gorgeous black and white cinematography. Not a lot of people have heard of “November”, but it’s an excellent arthouse horror choice that deserves every bit of the acclaim it received.

Speaking of European mythology, there’s also a wealth of folklore at the heart of 2015’s “The Hallow.” Corin Hardy’s film follows a British conservationist and his wife and son, who move to a remote Irish village surrounded by a sinister forest. The locals claim that fairytale creatures live inside, and pretty soon, it becomes clear that they’re not just telling tall tales. It all adds up to a tense and scary horror film with special effects that are very well actualized. “The Hallow” knows exactly what it wants to do, and achieves its aims in an atmospheric and memorable way.

There’s been a lot of seriousness thus far on our list, but the world of fairytale horror isn’t all grim and dour. Take 1986’s “Deadtime Stories,” for instance. This cult anthology flick knows its audience, and does a great job at adapting classic, well-known stories into a horror framework. While the first story involves witches, the second and third tales are twisted adaptations of “Little Red Riding Hood'' and “Goldilocks”. “Deadtime Stories” only pulled in $2.7 million at the box office, but that isn’t too shabby for such a small horror flick in' 86. Meanwhile, its reputation today as a video-rental favorite and cult film ensures that these “Deadtime Stories'' will be re-told for years to come.

This gothic fantasy horror film was developed for Showtime, but is much more than your average made-for-TV movie. The adaptation of this Brothers Grimm fairytale offers an original and bewitching take. Played by Sigourney Weaver, the evil stepmother doesn’t start out with bad intentions. Her eventual corruption is made all the more memorable thanks to some outstanding makeup work. Sam Neill, Monica Keena and Gil Bellows also give their all to the roles, creating a unique and compelling spin on the story.

We return to Eastern Europe for our next pick. Weaving in various fairytale tropes, Czechoslovakian director Jaromil Jireš’s surrealist film follows the titular heroine as she undergoes a sexual awakening in a dangerous world of monsters, religion, and magic. Based on a 1935 novel, it has elements of various fairy tales, such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “Little Red Riding Hood”. Dreamlike and captivating, it’s the sort of cult classic that gained an audience through midnight screenings, forum posts and word-of-mouth. “Valerie and Her Week of Wonders” isn’t for everyone, but it remains a challenging arthouse exercise that bears thought-provoking fruit with each viewing.

John C. Reilly may be a part of the ensemble cast for “Tale of Tales,” but make no mistake: this ain't no comedy. Well, at least not in any traditional sense. Also starring
Salma Hayek, Vincent Cassel and Toby Jones, the film adapts sections of the seventeenth century fairy tale collection “Pentamerone”, from Italian poet Giambattista Basile. The narrative focuses on women in different stages of life, with the overarching themes of desire and obsession. They have clear contemporary echoes, such as the pursuit of physical perfection. “Tale of Tales'' is shot and presented in a gorgeous, opulent fashion - a true labor of love that feels otherworldly from start to finish.

The lush cinematography and atmosphere of Neil Jordan’s “Interview with the Vampire” adaptation can perhaps be traced back to his work on this earlier film. “The Company of Wolves” was directed by Jordan in 1984, but its execution feels timeless. This is due not only to the strong performances and gorgeous production design, but also the classic fairytale themes. These connections between “The Company of Wolves” and “Little Red Riding Hood” are obvious from the start, but Jordan’s film differentiates itself in a number of ways. For starters, the frequent ‘once upon a time’ cutaways allow for plenty of side characters to enter in and out. Additionally, the outrageous werewolf effects are something to behold, even by today’s standards.

Director Darren Aronofsky’s psychological horror film provides nail-biting tension from first frame to last. Starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis as rival ballerinas, the movie is about a production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake - at least on the surface. Aronofsky gives plenty of nods to the Russian and German folk tales that lie at the heart of “Swan Lake”. But he also ensures that “Black Swan'' is something unique. The relentless pursuit of perfection is showcased in all of its potential madness, with visceral shots that also evoke elements of body horror. Fear, paranoia, sickness; it’s all here in “Black Swan,” and executed brilliantly.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions!

“The Lure” (2015)
Part Mermaid Musical, Part Horror Flick

“Bluebeard” (1972)
A Mystery Comedy About a Literal Ladykiller Based on a French Folktale

“Little Otik” aka “Greedy Guts” (2000)
A Czech Comedy Horror Gem

Dario Argento’s supernatural horror film is a masterful horror classic that everyone should watch at least once. Co-written with Daria Nicolodi, “Suspiria” draws on common fairy tale tropes, such as witchcraft, and more specifically elements of “Snow White”. In fact, the film’s iconic visual palette was reportedly inspired by Walt Disney’s version of that story. Due to its violence, 20th Century Fox actually released it in the United States through a shell company. There was a bold remake in 2018, but once again, the original is the superior version. The film isn’t for the squeamish, but for those who can stomach the gore, it’s a bloodcurdling ride through the darker side of fairy tale magic.