Best Superhero Horror Films

This month Lunatics Radio Hour is delving into the history of Superhero Horror. Here is a list of some of the best Superhero Horror Films!

Listen to episode 158 of Lunatics Radio Hour podcast for more.

Brightburn (2019): What if Superman didn’t have a heart of gold? What if he decided he wanted to do whatever the hell he wanted? I mean who could stop him? And worse yet, what if he was a twelve year old boy? Brightburn answers all these questions and shows how truly terrifying a person with Superman’s powers would really be. It is a great mix of a superhero story and classic slasher. A killer stalking his victims and taking them out one by one in some pretty gory kill scenes, with the origin story of one of the most beloved comic book characters.This film takes the superhero narrative and flips it on its head, teaching audiences that not every alien baby that falls out of the sky is trustworthy.

Toxic Avenger (1984): I debated recommending this one because of how deeply offensive it is, but it is a cult classic when it comes to superhero horror. Toxic Avenger is a nonsensical movie about a janitor at a gym who is turned into a grotesque crime fighting monster after a cruel prank results in him being coated in nuclear waste. With its outrageous jokes, insane gore, and little to no plot line, this is a typical 80s horror comedy through and through. However if you are in the mood to watch some criminals being violently murdered by a monster in a tutu this is the perfect film for you.

Constantine (2005): There is nothing better than a grungy, angry, depressed superhero who has to keep reluctantly saving the world. And who better to play this character than Keanu Reeves? Constantine is a supernatural horror film based on the comic book character John Constantine, an “occult detective,” who investigates the supernatural and fights demons. If you are a lover of the occult, like me, you’ll enjoy watching as the story weaves in some real mythos from spiritual and occult practices. The film also stars amazing actors like Rachael Weisz, Tilda Swinton, Keanu Reeves and many more. A perfect comic book adaptation for someone who is tired of the oversaturated superhero movies of today and wants something dark and angsty. 

Swamp Thing (1985): The title says it all! Another story based on a DC character, this incredibly cheesy 80s movie opens with a scientist, Alec Holland, studying plant life in the swamps of Louisiana. Holland is attacked by enemy forces who want his research, causing him to spill his brand new plant formula all over himself, turning him into the Swamp Thing. The story  then becomes a role reversal creature feature. This time the creature is the protagonist, taking out those who intend to use his formula for evil and he even gets a pseudo love story. While this film may not have the best special effects or costumes, it does have some pretty disturbing transformation scenes. Plus I always root for the monsters in horror anyway so it was nice to watch one actually be the hero! 

The Crow (1994): Aside from possibly being the ultimate goth movie, The Crow is in many ways a superhero horror story. Based on yet another comic book character, Eric Draven (The Crow) is a man who has been brought back from the dead to kill those who murdered him and his fiancé the night before Halloween. Although The Crow mostly kills bad guys simply as a means of revenge and not to be a hero, he still has some characteristics that make him superhero-esque. Draven is brought back with superpowers, since he is already dead he cannot die and he has the ability to see others' memories and feel their pain. He is referred to as “The Avenger” by one of his adversaries and becomes a sort of Batman-like figure for the criminals and police of the city. Unfortunately this movie is most well known for the horrible tragedy that occurred on set, resulting in this being Brandon Lee’s last work. I encourage you to watch to see Lee’s hypnotizing performance and immerse yourself in the gothic world of The Crow.