There’s more to horror than just blood, guts and a healthy dose visceral. For some films, its subtext is rooted firmly in the emotion that’s has preoccupied many philosopher, poet, writer, and scientist for generations, love. With Love on our mind and Valentines creeping upon us like a dark figure in an alley, we have packaged together a little list of films that would be perfect to watch whilst cuddles up on a sofa with someone special; whether they are alive, dead or somewhere in between!   Filled with love, lust and a pinch of gore, you’ll be lovin’ these Horror Films for Valentines.

 

 

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg‘s zombie rom-com is a hilarious and graphic story that centres around one man’s love that transcends the oncoming zombie apocalypse! Filled with blood, guts and a lovely bunch of flowers!

 

Nina Forever (2015)

The 2015 British horror comedy Nina Forever is tale of sex, blood and zombies, as a man’s recently deceased girlfriend comes back whenever he hops into bed with another woman. It’s a perversely clever story of a love triangle that is captivating and ghoulish but will hit you in all the feels!

 

The Fly (1986)

Overshadowed by the grotesque body-horror that you come to expect from director David Cronenberg, The Fly is actually a tragic love story about an eccentric scientist caught up in an experiment gone-wrong and the beautiful science journalist he has fallen in love with.  

 

Beyond The Darkness (1979)

Beyond The Darkness is dark is sleezy Italian horror from the imagination of Joe D’Amato. When a jealous housekeeper kills her employee with Voo Doo Magic, the victim’s young embalmer boyfriend digs up her corpse so he can keep her with him forever. It’s creepy, weird and about the only film on this list where you can watch a grown man breast feed!

 

Hellraiser (1987)

Hellraiser is a 1987 British supernatural horror film written and directed by Clive Barker. Featuring torture garden styled demons, a disorderly family and special effects that would put anyone off their dinner. At the heart of this story is a twisted and forbidden romance between Julia Cotton and her brother-in-law who has just recently escaped from hell, after surrendering himself to the eternal tortures of the demons known as Cenobites.

 

Let the Right One In (2008)

Let the Right One In is the graphic and moving story of a bullied 12-year-old boy and his unlikely friendship with an ancient vampire. Young Oskar falls for the child-like creature called Eli as she grooms him into servitude. A coming of age story with a real bite!

 

What Lies Beneath (2000)

What Lies Beneath stars Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer as a loving couple who experience a strange haunting of their home that challenges the very bedrock of their relationship. Spooky happenings in this haunted house story with more twists than a 60s dance club.   

 

Thirst (2009)

Thirst is a South Korean supernatural erotic horror film that sees a love affair turn into a blood bath when a couple turn into vampires. It’s a savage and visceral film that explores life and death and the sacrifices we sometimes have to make.  

 

Brain Dead / Dead Alive (1992)

Before Peter Jackson was walking with hobbits and monkeying around with Kong, he was making kick ass horror films such as the hilarious and graphic zombie film Brain Dead. When shy Lionel Cosgrove falls for a Spanish Romani shopkeeper’s daughter, his jealous mother accidentally sets about a zombie invasion. It’s a love story filled with severed limbs, bloated corpses and more one liners than in Demi Lovato’s green room.

 

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

A classic story gets a romantic twist when Francis Ford Coppola turns Bram Stoker’s Dracula into a story of eternal love and damnation. Featuring stunning cinematography, an amazing cast and about a bazillion scenes with a topless Gary Oldman. Nice nips!

 

Bride of Chucky (1998)

Made as homage to The Bride of Frankenstein, Chucky gets lucky in the 1998 sequel to Child’s Play, Bride of Chucky. When serial killer Charles Lee Ray’s ex brings him back to life, Chucky quickly dispatches her, only to bring her back as a walking talking barbie doll. It’s a slasher featuring a strange love affair between two sick and twisted killer dolls!

 

The Hunger (1983)

Tony Scott’s directorial debut, The Hunger, stars David Bowie as the latest squeeze of a femme fatal vampire that just can’t let go of a relationship, even when it’s dead and tucked away inside a coffin! Filled with sex, murder and a chilling ending that will stick with you for days!

 

Tromeo and Juliet (1997)

Notorious film studio Troma Entertainment take on William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet with a graphic, sexy and disgusting take on the classic love tragedy play. Featuring body-piercing, computer sex and decapitations, Troma’s tour de force of disgusting storytelling will leaving you heaving as the film closes, especially on the films big twist!

 

Return of the Living Dead Part 3 (1993)

Love shines true in the third part of the zombie comedy series, Return of the Living Dead, when a young teen resurrects his dead girlfriend with a little help from some 2-4-5 Trioxin gas. However, things go haywire, when a bunch of brain hungry zombies escape form the military base holding the deadly gas.

 

Life After Beth (2014)

Life After Beth is a 2014 American zombie comedy film that proves that love persist, even in death. After his girlfriend Beth Slocum dies, devastated Zach Orfman discovers that she has come back as a zombie, and she’s not letting him go just yet, even if it means eating a few people to make their relationship work.

“Howdy Horror Fans – Love is all around, it’s on the floor, it’s in my fridge and a there’s a little bit buried in the basement. HORROR is never better than when it’s being expressive and the films on this list are DEEPLY impassioned. As it’s the season of love, why not share a little with a few words in the comments below! Tell us what films we missed and which are your favorite romantic horror films. Until next time, enjoy Valentines, and have a wicked weekend.

Keep Rotten”

 

“Morti” The Mortician