Horror films often get dismissed as shallow, focusing solely on scares, but the genre boasts a rich tradition of using symbolism and metaphorical imagery to explore complex social anxieties and emotions. This list delves into 10 films that utilize symbolic horror to add depth and resonance to their terrifying tales, defying the notion that horror is only about jump scares and gore.
Ginger Snaps, a 2000 Canadian werewolf coming-of-age horror movie, uses lycanthropy as a metaphor for Ginger’s journey through puberty and adolescence. Director John Fawcett and star Katharine Isabelle’s haunting performances make this film a standout in the werewolf subgenre. The film’s practical effects and atmospheric setting transport viewers to a world of adolescent angst, as Ginger struggles to navigate her newfound powers.
Under the Shadow, a 2016 Iranian horror film, is a chilling tale of terror and oppression set during the 1980 War of the Cities in Tehran. The film’s use of a Djinn as a symbol for the horrors faced by families during the war is a powerful commentary on the devastating impact of war on innocent civilians. As Shideh fights to protect her young daughter from the supernatural threat, the film’s portrayal of maternal love and sacrifice adds depth to the horror narrative.
Men, a 2022 British folk horror film, is a metaphorical exploration of toxic masculinity, going into themes of gender and the passing down of harmful attitudes through generations. The film’s body horror climax, where a monstrous man gives birth to new versions of himself, is a disturbing commentary on the consequences of unchecked masculinity.
David Lynch’s surrealist horror film Eraserhead, released in 1977, is a classic of the genre. The film’s abstract visuals and sound design create a haunting atmosphere, as protagonist Henry struggles to cope with the arrival of a monstrous baby. The film’s cryptic narrative has led to theories that the story may be entirely subjective, with Henry’s newborn a metaphor for the anxieties of fatherhood.
The 2022 Australian supernatural horror film Talk to Me uses an occult party game as a metaphor for drug use and trauma. The film’s uncanny visuals and horrific concepts make it a standout in the horror genre. The film’s exploration of the disturbing consequences of playing with forces beyond human control adds depth to its terrifying tale.
I Saw the TV Glow (Image via Getty)
Natalie Erika James’s Relic, released in 2020, is an Australian horror film that explores the emotional struggles of a family dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. The film’s use of a mysterious black mold that takes over the family’s home serves as a metaphor for the gradual destruction of memory and identity.
Matthew Holness’s British psychological horror film Possum, released in 2018, is a bleak and unrelenting film that uses a terrifying puppet to explore the theme of childhood trauma. The puppet’s spider-like body and haunting face serve as a powerful symbol for the emotional baggage that Philip is forced to carry.
The Australian supernatural psychological horror film The Babadook, released in 2014, is a classic of the genre. The film’s use of the titular entity as a metaphor for depression and mental illness is a powerful commentary on the devastating impact of mental health issues on individuals and families.
I Saw the TV Glow, a 2024 coming-of-age horror film, is an allegory for queerness and transness, with the TV show within the film serving as a symbol for the nightmarish experience of dysphoria. The film’s exploration of the struggles of finding one’s identity and the horrors of gender dysphoria adds depth to its terrifying tale.
Finally, Andrzej Żuławski’s Possession, released in 1981, is a psychological body horror film that uses a monstrous creature to explore the theme of toxic relationships. The film’s gruesome body horror and dreamlike atmosphere make it a standout in the horror genre. These 10 films showcase the use of symbolism in horror cinema, demonstrating how the genre can be used to explore complex social anxieties and emotions, defying the notion that horror is only about jump scares and gore.
