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Science fiction, as a genre, sometimes explores the world of the future, and sometimes looks at more contemporary (or even past) times, with a decidedly sci-fi spin. The main thing is that humanity and its relation to technology get explored in one way or another, which can lead to optimistic looks at the world and its future, or, in other cases, stories that are anything but.
The following movies all fall into the latter category rather than the former, delving into dark, emotionally intense, or sometimes even nihilistic areas through their grim stories and oftentimes doomed characters. These films are hard to recommend to anyone after science fiction of a more escapist nature, but, for better or worse, these movies are the sorts that’ll likely stick with you. Some warn about potential futures, and others comment on more relatable times. Either way, they all get more than a little bleak, and are ranked below, from dark to darkest.
15
‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)
Directed by Michel Gondry and written by the brilliant Charlie Kaufman, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of the most creative and philosophically profound romance dramas ever to come out of Hollywood. Starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet at the very top of both their games, it’s a film whose sci-fi elements all exist not as the foreground, but rather as tools to elevate the story’s themes of memory, identity, and human connection.
It’s not a dystopia, nor is it violent, nor is it about the destruction of humanity. So, what makes it one of the darkest sci-fi movies in history? It’s the gut-wrenching realism with which Kaufman explores the relationship between these two characters. And even though it all leads to one of the most masterful endings of any sci-fi movie, the whole ride there is filled with deep existential dread. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
14
‘Brazil’ (1985)
An undeniable cult classic sci-fi film, Brazil is a surreal kind of movie, and oftentimes feels more fantastical in nature due to its dream sequences and its protagonist’s slippery grip on reality. The setting is a dystopian one; a world that’s gone mad, and one that seems determined to push bureaucrat Sam Lowry to his breaking point and then some.
Brazil is a series of events that get wilder and more dizzying as things go along, building in intensity before ultimately concluding in a way that’s jarringly horrific. Much of Brazil is funny and satirical, which can lessen the impact of the film’s darker moments to some extent. Though, in the end (and on paper), this is pretty nightmarish stuff as far as sci-fi movies go, and the trip it proves for viewers is a frequently feverish one.
13
‘Children of Men’ (2006)
Based on P. D. James‘ 1992 novel of the same name, Children of Men further cemented Alfonso Cuarón as one of the most talented international filmmakers working in Hollywood. This dystopian action thriller has only gotten better with age, and it’s today remembered as one of the most perfect dystopian movies of all time.
The premise of a world where humanity has collapsed as a result of mass infertility is already grim enough by itself, but the way Cuarón explores that concept makes Children of Men all the darker. Violent and full of sadness, loss, and grit, the movie has just enough of a spark of hope to make it easier to bear until the credits roll. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
12
‘A Scanner Darkly’ (2006)
Richard Linklater has always been one of the filmmakers of his generation most gleefully willing to experiment and toy around with strange ideas. From that experimental spirit came A Scanner Darkly, one of the best sci-fi crime thriller movies ever. This Philip K. Dick adaptation was shot digitally and then animated using interpolated rotoscoping techniques, resulting in one of the most distinct looks in the modern history of animation.
As stunning as A Scanner Darkly‘s visuals are, however, it’s the story that’s the main attraction. Dealing with themes of addiction, loss, and government surveillance with a perfect blend of paranoia, surrealism, and dark humor, the movie is filled to the brim with tragedy that makes the moments of comedy feel like desperate attempts at injecting hope into the audience. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
11
‘When the Wind Blows’ (1986)
When the Wind Blows is principally a great war movie, but it doesn’t focus on combat sequences and depicts the consequences of a war that hasn’t happened… at least not yet. This is because When the Wind Blows is about nuclear war, and shows the impact the inevitable devastation has on an elderly couple who aren’t properly equipped to survive such an event.
Depicting such a war leads to When the Wind Blows technically qualifying as science fiction, all the while also being about the memories of World War II, to some extent, given the main characters lived through that and reflect upon it throughout. It’s a unique animated film and an undeniably somber one, telling a small-scale and tragic story that ends up being a powerful condemnation of warfare, both in the past and in the (potential) future.
10
‘The Thing’ (1982)
Coldness and grisly violence reign supreme in The Thing, which takes place at a research station in Antarctica and puts its main characters through hell with no chance of escape. Throughout The Thing, they’re forced to contend with awful weather and a shape-shifting alien, the former confining them to a single location and the latter determined to assimilate/consume/kill each and every one of them.
The brutality, chilly setting, and constant sense of paranoia all compound to make The Thing harrowing, intense, and inevitably bleak stuff, even by the standards of sci-fi horror movies. Still, it’s the commitment to such things that ensures The Thing feels impactful and memorable. It’s grueling stuff as far as mainstream horror films go, but it’s also easy to admire and consistently engaging, on top of being a bit of a downer.
9
‘On the Silver Globe’ (1988)
Sure, there’s an odd beauty to be found in On the Silver Globe, but there’s also a sense of ugliness and horror, with the film being unafraid to show a ton of disturbing things. The premise doesn’t sound too bad, on paper, given On the Silver Globe begins with space explorers trying to find a new planet other than Earth to live on, but things take a turn at a point and then just keep on turning.
On the Silver Globe follows a civilization building over time and becoming increasingly inhuman, eventually falling into the same bad patterns that humanity fell into throughout its history on Earth. On the Silver Globe was sadly unfinished, but still feels complete enough to make an impact. The end result is haunting and nightmarish, but kind of in a good way… or at least in a way that’s admirably hard to shake and/or forget.
8
‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’ (1976)
David Bowie’s music was the sort that could appeal to just about anyone. Well, more specifically, he branched into so many genres and had various styles to the point where something from his body of work would appeal to anyone out there. When it came to the movies he was a part of, though, they tended to be a little out there and arthouse in nature, The Man Who Fell to Earth included.
This film has a simple premise, following an alien coming to Earth and doing his best to fit in, only to find Earth – ironically – alienating, not to mention cruel and ultimately soul-destroying. The Man Who Fell to Earth looks at the ugliness of human nature from an outsider’s perspective and is entirely cynical about the world and the people who live there. It’s a good film, but also an oftentimes nihilistic one.
7
‘Videodrome’ (1983)
Father of body horror and the auteur behind several of the best Canadian movies ever made, David Cronenberg has produced a filmography with a surprising amount of movies that should be considered essential viewing for horror fans. One such revolutionary masterpiece is Videodrome, which some may go so far as to call Cronenberg’s best film to date.
Videodrome satirizes and critiques modern media and the way it distorts reality with the same kind of grim tone that has always characterized Cronenberg’s work and style. Gory, psychologically intense, and too thematically profound to keep up with without at least one re-watch, Videodrome is one of the bleakest sci-fi horror films of the 20th century. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
6
‘Event Horizon’ (1997)
Paul W. S. Anderson directed Event Horizon, a film that had one of the most notoriously tumultuous productions of any Hollywood project from the 1990s. As such, the film was a critical and commercial failure upon release. In the years since, however, it has gone through a process of re-appraisal that has effectively transformed it into one of the most beloved sci-fi horror cult classics of its time.
Event Horizon is far and away one of the scariest movies set in space, and some may even call it the bleakest space horror film ever shot. Its gore is incredibly graphic, its psychological horror elements are overwhelming, and its plot at times feels downright evil. Anderson specifically set out to build as dark and visceral a project as he could after directing the PG-13-rated Mortal Kombat, and he definitely succeeded. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
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Jeremy Urquhart
Almontather Rassoul
