Guys, this was hard. Like, waaaaaaaay harder than I expected. It turns out there are LOT of Steampunk movies with a bit of the gothic or macabre so they’d work for Halloween. I decided to choose five categories and provide both my pick plus at least one runner-up in that category. Luckily for us, it’s still 30 days until Halloween so you’ve got plenty of time to watch them all!
Best Steampunk Halloween Movie with…
…Ghosts
Crimson Peak (2015) is just fabulous. These were some of the scariest, most amazingly rendered ghosts I have ever seen. And the filmmakers did a clever job of making the main character’s life mirror the book she was trying to write. If you want something sincerely spine-tingling, check this one out.
Runner-up: The Woman in Black
…Monsters
Van Helsing (2004) was one of the first movies I ever reviewed for the site and it still holds its own against newer titles. This flick brings together Dracula, the wolf man, and Frankenstein’s monster, not to mention Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale in the lead roles. Though more of an adventure than a horror film, the special effects definitely bring in some of that special Halloween freak-factor you’re looking for.
Runner-up: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter (2012)
…A “Fractured Fairy Tale”…
The Brothers Grimm (2005) continues to be among my all-time favorite movies, and if you haven’t seen it you simply must seek it out this Halloween season. It follows the exploits of two con men as they discover all the stories they tell their unwitting victims are actually true…
Read full review and check out the Fairy Tale Guide/Drinking Game
Runner-up: Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters (2013)
…Subtitles
Dark Portals: The Chronicles of Vidoqc (2001), known simply as Vidoqc in France, is a stunning piece of film, and creepy to boot. The titular character was actually a real detective in France in the 1800s, and among the first to use forensic methods to solve crimes. Over time, his almost “magical” ability to catch criminals led to a mythos involving the supernatural, and in the film they take this to the extreme.
Runner-up: City of Lost Children (1995)
…Johnny Depp
So, it turns out there are at least three different Steampunk Halloweenish films that star the oh so talented Mr. Depp, so he gets his own category. If I have to choose my favorite, I think I’d have to go with Sweeny Todd (2007), but only because I love the music as much as the movie. There is plenty of gore, but also a touch of macabre comedy in this one, unlike the two runners up (see below)
Review coming later this month!
Runners-up: From Hell (2001) and Sleepy Hollow (1999)
What do you think? Did I miss one of your steamy Halloween favorite? Leave a comment!