There’s a popular theory about how nightmares may have evolved as a natural form of exposure therapy where our brains simulate encounters with our deepest fears in order to better prepare us for the horrors of the waking world. Funnily enough, psychologists claim that consuming horror media can have the same cathartic effects in real life, which is likely the reason why we see so many scary movies incorporate relatable horrors into their stories – horrors like the suffering that can arise from living with a mental illness.
And in honor of Joanna Tsanis’ The Killgrin personifying mental anguish as a literal monster that feeds off of its victims’ misery, we’ve decided to come up with a list highlighting six Mental Health Monster Movies. After all, the horror genre has a long and celebrated history of crafting memorable antagonists inspired by the darkest recesses of the human mind.
For the purposes of this list, we’ll be defining “Mental Health Monster Movies” as any creature feature where the story (or the antagonist) serves as an allegory for dealing with a mental illness. That being said, don’t forget to comment below with your own psychological horror favorites if you think we missed a particularly relevant example.
With that out of the way, on to the list…
6. The Babadook (2014)
Even the movie’s detractors have to admit that Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook changed the game when it comes to genre productions that wear their psychological inspirations on their sleeves. That’s why we couldn’t possibly publish an article about Mental Health Monsters without bringing up the film that paved the way for movies like Smile and most of the other entries featured here.
Not only does The Babadook feature the most memorable monster on this list, but it also works as a serious and well-scripted drama that just so happens to feature a supernatural antagonist. In fact, the film’s poignant ending and refreshingly honest reflections on grief and depression feel just as impressive now as they did a decade ago.
5. Relic (2020)
Watching our loved ones fade away as age catches up with them is one of the most terrifying experiences that we all must learn to deal with at one point or another, so it makes sense that are truckloads of horror movies about walking corpses and creepy old ladies meant to remind us of our own mortality. However, Natalie Erika James’s Relic stands out from the crowd by having its decaying “monster” also be a victim, with the story expertly diving into the emotional cost of losing an elderly family member to old age (or a supernatural case of black mould).
Combining body horror with plenty of existential dread and a surprisingly empathetic script, this somber tale about death and dementia is one of the most effective films on this list if you’re willing to embrace its deliberate pacing and exceptionally moody atmosphere.
4. Antlers (2021)
The original Algonquian description of the fearsome Wendigo is much more nuanced than most of the monster’s depictions in popular culture, with this cannibalistic spirit having frequently been used to illustrate tragically real mental disorders derived from extended periods of starvation. That’s why it makes sense that the Guillermo-Del-Toro-produced Antlers (which was based on a short story by Channel Zero’s Nick Antosca) chose to re-interpret the creature as an allegory for addiction rather than a simple man-eating monster.
While I personally would have preferred it if the film incorporated more elements of the original Native myth into the story, Antlers is still one hell of a creepy fable about child abuse and how untreated addiction can lead to disaster in a family unit.
The flick’s disturbing monster design isn’t too shabby, either!
3. Hellraiser (2022)
The first of two David Bruckner movies on this list, Hulu’s Hellraiser reboot may have been controversial among fans of the franchise (I personally enjoyed it despite the new mythology ignoring much of the nuance present in Barker’s original creation), but the film’s most interesting change was in using the gruesome Cenobites as a jumping-off point for a story about addiction and the kind of psychological trauma that makes someone seek out new and dangerous experiences.
The allegory doesn’t always work, but it still makes for a much more compelling setup than the loosely related horror yarns of previous Hellraiser sequels. Plus, the new Cenobite designs are appropriately gnarly!
2. The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
Another nightmarish reflection on the horrors of aging, Adam Robitel’s mockumentary about an elderly woman struggling with Alzheimer’s is much more than your average jump-scare-laden Found Footage flick. For starters, the film’s novel take on possession horror distances it from the Exorcist-wannabes that oversaturate the sub-genre, but it’s really the film’s painfully realistic examination of mental degradation that makes it a must-watch.
Veteran actress Jill Larson is also a revelation as the titular Deborah, balancing the character’s menacing outbursts with somber moments of quiet suffering so expertly that you often forget that this isn’t a real documentary – and that’s not even mentioning the film’s nightmarish conclusion that’ll likely be burned into your retinas for the rest of your days.
1. The Night House (2020)
Horror movies about unseen threats live or die based on the strength of their main performance (after all, acting opposite of nothing is no easy task), so David Bruckner was quite fortunate to secure Rebecca Hall as the lead for his underrated supernatural horror flick, The Night House. Not only does Hall do a great job of convincing us that we should fear the unseen monster that stalks the titular house, but she’s also totally committed to a disturbingly believable portrayal of a woman haunted by the same inner turmoil that led her husband to take his own life.
Dealing with complex themes of grief, suicide and how struggling with these issues can isolate us from our loved ones, The Night House isn’t just a scary experience, but also a deeply moving one. The amorphous nature of the story’s main threat might irk some viewers, but I’d still recommend this thoughtful little character study to fans of psychological scares.
The Killgrin is now available on VOD via Dark Sky Films. Watch it tonight!
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