5 Dance Inspired Horror Movie For A Weekend Night Binge
The art of dance. It’s alluring. It’s hypnotizing. It’s terrifying? When most people think of dance, they would relate it more towards an art form or an expression of the performers. However, did you know that it can also be a suitable backdrop or story for horror or dark thriller movies? Whether it’s a cursed dance or a sinister academy that’s hiding more than it seems, here are 5 types of horror and thriller movies involving dance that will make you reconsider that ballerina or dance class application…
Photo Credit : Spec Hamilton
#1 SUSPIRIA
If you had to ask a horror fan which is the most famous horror movie that involves elements of dancing, they might answer Suspiria! There are two versions of Suspiria, which is the original 1977 Italian giallo film or the newer 2018 remake. Both films, however, have a similar storyline and setting as they both follow the story of a young American ballet student named Suzy (or Susie in the remake) who travels to Germany to attend a prestigious dance school. However, the longer she stays there, the more she starts to learn about the dark truth of the school itself and the fate that awaits those who study there! Depending on your taste, both films have a different vibe on how they handle the subject matter of the film. The original 1977 film has a mystery vibe to it, as well as being more violent and also more colorful. The remake, on the other hand, has a more muted and bleak tone to it, with a lack of colors and a slower, more thoughtful pace to it. Regardless of which one you choose, you can be sure that either film will make you question what dance academies actually hide! The 2018 Suspiria remake can be found on Netflix and Amazon but you have to search for DVDs for the original 1977 film.
Photo Credit : Wallpapercave
#2 Black Swan (2010)
If you’re looking for a more psychological element to the concept of dancing, there is the 2010 American psychological horror film Black Swan which is directed by Darren Aronofsky. If you didn’t know, Darren Aronofsky is a rather famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask!) director known for making films that contain elements of surrealism, melodrama as well as dark and disturbing elements. His movie, Black Swan, stars Natalie Portman as a ballerina who auditions for a role in the production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. However, in her quest to perfect her role in the production, she starts to get overwhelmed by feelings of pressure and perfectionism, leading to her to lose her grip on reality and enter into a descent of madness. The movie deals with the subject matter of over-perfection to the point of becoming insane. Expect to see the main character suffer from elements of hallucinations as well as even more sensitive topics such as self-harming. If you are interested in more psychological elements of dance, we can highly recommend this movie. Black Swan can be watched on Disney+.
Photo Credit : Fiction Machine
#3 Climax (2018)
Another dance film that also happened to come out in 2018, Climax is a French horror movie directed and written by Gaspar Noe. The film is set in the late 90s and follows a French dance troupe that travels to an abandoned school to hold a multiple day-long rehearsal. During the final night of rehearsal, the group takes turns taking celebratory after-party drinks, unaware that their drinks have been spiked with LSD, leading to a night of violence and psychosis. The film is unique in that its production differs from how other movies are made. A majority of the film’s dialogue were unrehearsed, and were improvised on the spot by the cast. Additionally, the movie also experiments with editing and camerawork, including a long take that lasts over 42 minutes. The film also includes a cast that features dancers who have no prior acting experience before this film. If you’re looking for a more experimental and acid-trip inspired film, Climax is one of our recommendations. Climax can be viewed on Amazon & Google Play Movies.
Photo Credit : Fiction Machine
#4 Stage Fright (2014)
If all the earlier recommendations seem overly dark and morbid for your tastes, how about a truly unique genre mashup of a musical and horror? That’s right! Stage Fright is a unique movie experience that combines elements of a musical with the slasher genre. The movie is directed by Jerome Sable in his directorial debut and it follows a young singer who attends a musical theater camp that is terrorized by a masked serial killer who hates any and all musicals. It’s a truly weird mashup, but it provides for an interesting form of a movie that is unlike most others. The movie contains entertaining dance numbers that are matched with bloody kills later on. If you’re looking for a fun, sort of outlandish slasher movie that has dancing and musicals in it, nothing will likely come close to Stage Fright. Stage Fright can be rented on Amazon & Apple TV.
Photo Credit : CNN Indonesia
#5 KKN di Desa Penari
Hitting closer to home this time, another horror movie that incorporates elements of dance is the Indonesian horror films, KKN Di Desa Penari, alongside it’s sequel Badarawuhi Di Desa Penari. Unlike prior films which focuses on more modern takes of dancing, Desa Penari focuses more on the traditional elements of dance, incorporating Indonesian folklore and mystic into it’s story. The first movie focuses on a group of students who are carrying out a student study service in a remote village. When they encounter a mysterious dancer during their stay, their expedition takes a turn for the worse. It’s sequel, Badarawuhi is actually a prequel to the first movie, and focuses on Mila who is tasked with a shaman to return a mystical bracelet to the village only to get dragged into the supernatural incidents of the remote village. This movie is perfect for those that are more interested in the mystical and classical supernatural elements of ancient folklore. KKN Di Desa Penari is available on Google Play for rent, while it’s sequel is currently airing in cinemas as of right now
If the movies above don’t make you terrified of using dance as a medium for the supernatural, how about stepping into an immersive, movie-like experience where you can be the main character yourself? That’s right! You can find an experience like this located right at Hauntu, The Curve Malaysia.
Hauntu The Curve is an immersive and interactive horror experience set in the prestigious Seri Panggung Academy, a mystical dance academy that uses traditional dance such as Mak Yong as a medium for the supernatural, complete with dark secrets of it’s own. What awaits you inside? Find out when you experience Hauntu!
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