Dark fantasyis a popular genre that mixes surrealism, horror, and magic into its settings and storylines. Ancient myths and legends are popular subjects of dark fantasy, so when a foreign film fits into the dark fantasy category, local legends and occult elements are often a part of the story.
Other times, these films are closer to adaptations of classic stories, or in some cases, inspirations for them. From ancient legends to modern mockumentaries, these are thebest dark fantasy foreign language movies.
7Black Orpheus
A Modern Adaptation Of A Dark Legend
The ancient Greek legendof Eurydice and Orpheus is one of the original dark fantasy stories, telling the story of a mortal traveling to the underworld and making a deal with the God of Death to return his lost love. This movie is an adaptation of a stage play calledOrfeu da Conceiçãoby Vinicius de Moraes, also from Brazil, that also recreated that ancient legend.
The story ofBlack Orpheusis told against the frenzied, colorful backdrop of a Carneval celebration in a typical “favela” or Brazilian working-class neighborhood. The story is told using a critically acclaimed soundtrack that helps create a bright yet foreboding atmosphere along with some very creative lighting and costuming choices. With characters like Hermes also present, it’s also a beautiful example of the ancient world depicted on film.
6Pan’s Labyrinth
A Twisted Tale With An Unhappy Ending
One of Guillermo del Toro’s masterpieces, the film is known asEl laberinto del faunoin its native Spanish and is one of the best modern examples of fantasy and horror in movies. The director intended to craft a parable set in a fairy tale world, and the vivid connections to a reality set in the later days of World War 2 only add to the tension. The 22-minute standing ovation this movie got when it was shown at Cannes indicates he was successful.
The main character of this story is a little girl named Ofelia, who moves to a new city with her pregnant mother to be with her new stepfather. She comes to believe that she’s the reincarnation of a mythical princess from the Underworld, and through a tragic series of circumstances, she travels through a labyrinth to find her way back.
5Hero
The Fantasy Of A King’s Assassination
Herois described as a “wuxia” film, which means it’s part of a genre that usesancient Chinese literature and legendas the source material. It tells a story of sword masters, kings, and martial artists during the time of the Warring States Period, specifically 227–221 BC.
The movie is a combination of historical fiction and the power of the supernatural, and the costumes and sets are famous for their color-coded motifs that are intended to symbolize the elements, gods, or powers of each character. They have names like Long Sky, Flying Snow, and Broken Sword, while the hero of the story remains nameless.
4Trollhunter
A Dark Fantasy Mockumentary
Comedy and dark fantasy are a fun and entertaining combination, and plenty of movies and TV shows that take this angle seem to be from Norway.Trollhunteris one example. The Trolls of Norwegian mythology are giant humanoid creatures with powers like immense strength, stunning longevity, and a keen sense of smell. This movie’s esthetic is very mucha documentary, with some unmistakable references to movies likeTwister,except it’s Trolls the main characters are chasing instead of tornadoes.
What starts out as a group of university students searching for information about a bear poacher becomes a very different kind of project entirely when the suspect “confesses” that he hasn’t been hunting bears, but trolls. The students ask the Trollhunter, known as Hans, if they can follow him on a hunt. He consents but only if they do exactly what he says. Both horror and hilarity ensue.
3The City Of Lost Children
Stealing Dreams And Making Nightmares
Nightmares, monsters that can’t dream, and hideouts in abandoned oil rigs are all a part of the story in this dark fantasy sci-fi movie from France. Viewers who like a side of mecha-horror that recallsmovies like David Lynch’sDuneorTime Banditswill also appreciate the esthetic ofLa Cité des enfants perdus.
The main character is a creature named Krank, who was created by a scientist who has long since passed away. Krank uses the dreams of kidnapped children to slow down his aging process. The rest of the plot involves a cyborg cult, a carnival, and a girl who learns how to manipulate dreams to beat the bad guy, which might sound familiar to fans ofNightmare On Elm Street.
2La Belle Et La Bête
The Original French Movie Adaptation
The original story ofBeauty and the Beastwas published in 1757, so this dark fantasy movie was almost two centuries in the making. The way that camera work and editing are used to create a fantastic, surreal world within the Beast’s castle at a time when special effects were limited is nothing less than amazing, which is one of the reasons this movie has aged so well.
This version follows the original, describing Belle’s father as a formerly wealthy man who lost everything at sea and presently struggles to take care of his three daughters. One day, he’s off to another town to retrieve a handsome payment and asks his daughters what they want. Adelaide and Felicie ask for frivolous gifts, but the modest and lovely Belle only asks for a rose, which turns out to be the most expensive gift of all.
1Along With The Gods: The Two Worlds
Occult Fantasy From Another World
Written in the original Hanguel, the literal translation of this title isTogether with God: Sin and Punishment, which gives the viewer a better idea of the plot and takes inspiration from various ideasabout the afterlife. It starts when the main character, a firefighter named Kim Ja-hong, dies on the job and is escorted to the afterlife to be judged.
Ja-hong doesn’t have to stand trial alone. He has three guardians assigned to help him by escorting him to his trials and acting in his defense, and they have 49 days to accomplish this goal. Ja-hong has to navigate through various hells, such as the Hell of Murder, the Hell of Indolence, and the Hell of Filial Piety, just to name a few, before he can be reincarnated. His problems are complicated further when a close relative dies and becomes an evil spirit that demands revenge.
