Horror is a genre full of subgenres: the slasher, found footage, creatures features, you name it. But one in particular, cosmic horror, is a bit harder to define—and that’s the entire point.
Here, we dive into the weird worlds of cosmic horror, discuss films that define the genre onscreen, and offer tips to actors and creators looking to (love)craft their own projects.
At its core, cosmic horror asks the question: What if humanity is truly insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe? The genre often involves characters who seek knowledge, only to encounter creatures, concepts, or locations that are beyond human comprehension.
Why is cosmic horror scary? It erases the natural human comfort that we’re important and our lives have meaning. At the heart of every cosmic horror story is the most ancient fear of all: fear of the unknown.
These types of stories are also called eldritch horror or Lovecraftian horror—after the writer who pioneered the concept, H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft’s stories often involve terrors so great they defy definition, as well as a race of “Elder Gods” who view humans the way we might regard ants on the side of the road.
The Best Horror Movies for Actors to Study Take this quote from the author’s most well-known tale, “The Call of Cthulhu”:
“The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.”
Cosmic horror trademarks
- Terror beyond understanding: The core tenet of the genre is something at the center of the story that is so enormously frightening, it defies words or explanation.
- Evil cults: That unexplainable power usually has a devoted following, which adds to the paranoia for the protagonist; these cults are far-reaching and embedded in organizations like law enforcement and the government.
- Driven to madness: A staple of Lovecraftian tales is an ending in which the protagonist finally perceives the unexplainable horror and the enormity of it cracks their sanity.
Of course, this presents a challenge to cosmic horror filmmakers: You have to show something, right? To see how the genre translates to movies, watch the seven movies listed here. All of these examples crack the code by turning the audience into a Lovecraft character; even when the horror is onscreen, right in front of you, it suggests worlds far beyond our own.
“X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes” (1963)
“X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes” is one of the best movies from B movie legend Roger Corman. Ray Milland plays Dr. James Xavier, a scientist who develops eye drops that give him X-ray vision. After too many doses, he starts to see mind-bending images past the fringes of the universe, including an all-knowing eye. Corman was a master at utilizing a small budget; for any budding filmmakers, his works demonstrate how to achieve a lot with a little. This one, in particular, is a classic cosmic horror example of an ambitious man venturing into territory that should’ve remained beyond our reach.
“Alien” (1979)
It’s easy to forget because of how much explanation happens in its six sequels, but Ridley Scott’s original “Alien” is so effective because of how much it suggests. It’s one of the most quintessential cosmic horror setups: Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and the rest of the Nostromo spaceship crew stumble onto the scene of some indescribable events, and the only question we can ask is: What the hell happened here? The designs from artist H.R. Giger add so much to this effect; when you see the titular extraterrestrial or the crashed ship it comes from, you’re left with more questions than answers.
“The Thing” (1982)
John Carpenter’s “The Thing” and its timelessly terrifying VFX work from Rob Bottin have influenced a generation of filmmakers. (Quentin Tarantino has said its DNA is in his debut, 1992’s “Reservoir Dogs.”) Based on John W. Campbell Jr.’s 1938 novella “Who Goes There?” the film follows a crew of Antarctic researchers plagued by an extraterrestrial that can imitate any physical form. It’s the unknowingness and paranoia that makes the film feel cosmic; we don’t know where the entity came from or what it looks like. There’s nothing more Lovecraftian than a being from beyond the stars that you can only describe as “the thing.”
“Event Horizon” (1997)
Paul W.S. Anderson’s “Event Horizon” is an exercise in existential horror. A crew of astronauts investigates a spaceship that has mysteriously reappeared after a seven-year absence. Once aboard, the team experiences vivid hallucinations of their deepest fears. While body horror is on full display here, “Event Horizon” is also incredibly effective at creating a foreboding atmosphere. It’s claustrophobic—and while there’s plenty of blood, it primarily creates a sensation of dread within viewers.
“The Mist” (2007)
“The Mist” infamously has one of the bleakest movie endings of all time. But before we get there, it’s a master class in eldritch horror. After a mysterious storm overtakes a small Maine town, a group of locals hole up in a supermarket as gigantic beasts move through the mist outside. It’s a horrifying situation, but Frank Darabont’s film also plays with the ways an incomprehensible threat causes people to turn on one another. Stephen King, who wrote the 1980 novella the movie is based on, is notably influenced by Lovecraft. However, King often diverges to show how the true monster is man.
“Annihilation” (2018)
Alex Garland’s “Annihilation” presents an intriguing wrinkle on the concept of an unknowable entity. Scientists investigate the “Shimmer,” a quarantined area that has been heavily mutated by an alien force. Even as cellular biologist Lena (Natalie Portman) gets closer to the truth behind the Shimmer, it remains unclear if she’s dealing with something malevolent or simply natural. It’s a true cosmic horror antagonist: It doesn’t necessarily want to kill humans; it just exists, and the characters have no way of understanding it.
“Nope” (2022)
“Nope” is all about the folly of mankind thinking it can control things it doesn’t understand. A mysterious entity hangs over the California desert, consuming everything it can; horse-wrangling siblings OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer) want to capture it on camera, while former child star Jupe (Steven Yeun) attempts to turn it into a sideshow act. Jordan Peele’s “Nope” is one of the best horror movies of the 21st century, and the creature at the center—eventually known as Jean Jacket—is a modern update on the eldritch abomination.
Knowing how to act in a horror movie is a worthwhile skill to hone; the genre is known for breaking out future A-listers. While doing your homework and perfecting your scream is vital, there are a few key elements specific to cosmic horror.
- Know the shades of insanity: Madness takes many forms. Unless the point is B movie cheesiness, a character losing their mind isn’t always ranting and raving. Your character might not even be aware it’s happening. Carefully track the role’s emotional journey, and find ways to subtly portray a detachment from reality.
- Ground your character: The eldritch entities and forbidden knowledge of cosmic horror might be beyond comprehension, but that means it’s even more important that the audience relates to your character. Don’t get bogged down in the high concepts; you’re playing someone who can’t understand it, and that’s where the horror comes from.
- Take care of yourself: Cosmic horror isn’t exactly known for happy endings. It’s tough to immerse yourself in a project where the underlying message is that humanity doesn’t matter. Focus on self-care, collaborate closely with your costars and creative team, and lean into the process, not the pessimism.