Since the emergence of horror movies, many filmmakers have tried to innovate and subvert the genre, in the hope of crafting new recipes that could impress the audience. In the search for the ultimate scary experience, many movies were equipped with action sequences, in order to mix the nervous atmosphere typical of horrors with adrenaline-fuelled flashes of the action genre.
Despite diverting from the slow and anguished rhythm of classic horrors, these movies didn’t distort the genre but, on the contrary, demonstrated its malleability and versatility. From classics like Aliens and They Live to more recent films like Mandy and Upgrade, this list takes into consideration many horrors that took the decision of incorporating action scenes in their script and did it successfully.
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10 Dog Soldiers
Kismet Entertainment Group
Written, directed and edited by Neil Marshall, at his debut, Dog Soldiers tells the story of a group of British soldiers among which we find Private Cooper (Kevin McKidd). While participating in a training mission against a SAS unit in the Scottish Highlands, Cooper’s group finds the other unit completely annihilated, with only the captain Ryan (Liam Cunningham) still alive. He carries a bloody claw mark on his chest.
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Dog Soldiers is well directed by the multitasking Marshall, which can’t be stopped by a low budget. The action sequences are plentiful and so are the splatter scenes, here at their max. At the same time, the ensemble cast is clone-knit and effective in the renditions of their respective roles. Dog Soldiers showed since from the start the talent of the English director and paved the way for his trusty filmography. A genuine and passionate beginning.
9 Mandy
SpectreVision
Co-written and directed by Panos Cosmatos, Mandy stars Nicolas Cage as Red, a logger who lives isolated with his girlfriend Mandy (Andrea Riseborough) in the proximity of the Shadows Mountains. When a violent religious cult captained by Jeremiah Sand (Linus Roache) and allied with a mysterious biker gang intrudes into their life, Red plans revenge. Hallucinogenic and ultra-violent, Mandy features a great performance by Nic Cage and blood-tainted action sequences.
This horror movie is, at first glance, a spectacle for the eyes; the superb cinematography, characterized by the vast use of red tones and neon lights, perfectly matches the bloody screenplay. At the same time, composer Jóhann Jóhannsson emphasizes the moods of the movie by crafting a haunting soundtrack that mixes rich synths and drone metal sensibilities. Lastly, the slow-paced rhythm favors the atmosphere of fear, while the copious action scenes inject adrenaline into the spectator. Cult.
8 Upgrade
Blumhouse Productions
Upgrade was directed by Leigh Whannell and features Logan Marshall-Green as Grey Trace, an auto mechanic that hates technology. In the near future where Grey lives, technology has advanced and now machines are employed rather than humans in many activities. One day, the self-driving car of his wife crashes with them on board; 4 men assault and kill Grey’s wife while leaving him paralyzed. A technological solution will soon being brought to his attention.
Upgrade mixes perfectly its body horror premises with action sequences effectively directed by Whannell. The cinematography is from another world thanks to Stefan Duscio, while the gory aspect of the horror subgenre is not spared. Simultaneously, Logan Marshall-Green proves to be the best choice for the role of Grey: at ease and convincing, his performance is always on point. Upgrade has a great atmosphere and an intelligent techno-horror plot that grows with time.
7 From Dusk Till Dawn
Dimension Films
From Dusk Till Dawn features George Clooney as the bank robber Seth Gecko and Quentin Tarantino as his brother Richie. After robbing and burning down a liquor store while at the same time killing two men, the Gecko Brothers take shelter in an Inn and kidnap pastor Jacob Fuller’s family. Their objective is simple: using the family to pass the Mexican border.
Written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by long-time friend Robert Rodriguez, From Dusk Till Dawn is a classic of the action horror genre, mixing at the same time elements of comedy. The action scenes in this horror movie are solidly directed by the Mexican filmmaker who doesn’t miss a beat. At the same time, Guillermo Navarro’s cinematography perfectly describes the hot and dusty climate of the American-Mexican border. From Dusk Till Dawn will scare you and entertain you, while giving you one of the best George Clooney’s characters ever.
6 Attack the Block
StudioCanal
Written and directed by Joe Cornish, Attack the Block stars John Boyega as Moses, the leader of a teenage gang in South London. When a meteorite brings into their council estate an alien creature, Moses and his crew decide to defend the block. This British movie mixes comedy and horror creatively, while at the same time seasoning the plot with many actions scenes.
Attack the Block is a small jewel, given the director’s ability in making a concoction of genres. The result is an entertaining movie that features solid actions sequences, an atmospheric night urban environment like in the best horrors, and killer dialogue lines that makes you laugh repeatedly. Not satisfied, Joe Cornish doesn’t forget the locations portrayed in the movie and leaves some space in the screenplay for a social commentary on the situation in the council estates. Attack the Block is a great debut for Cornish and an unforgettable future cult.
5 Planet Terror
Troublemaker Studios
Planet Terror is part of the double feature Grindhouse, which comprises also Death Proof by Quentin Tarantino. The absolute MVP behind the movie is again Robert Rodriguez, previously featured also with From Dusk Till Dawn; the filmmaker wrote, co-produced, directed, scored, co-edited and acted as cinematographer as well. Mixing successfully horror and action, Planet Terror is deeply entertaining and thrilling.
The movie tells the story of a group of survivors who has to confront themselves with zombies created by a biological weapon. Conceived as an homage to 1970s genre movies, Planet Terror features major stylistic elements taken from the B-movie era: for instance, the scratched patina of the images, the epic and tough dialogue lines and many explosive actions sequences. Furthermore, this action horror is remarkable for some great interpretations by Josh Brolin as the sadic Dr. William Block and Freddy Rodriguez as the mysterious El Wray.
4 Predator
20th Century Studios, Inc.
Directed by action champion John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Predator tells the story of a military rescue team commanded by Major Dutch Schaefer (Schwarzenegger) on a mission in Central America. While attempting to rescue a foreign minister in a jungle, the team comes across a deadly and dangerous alien. The movie was very successful at the 1987 box office and was later developed into a franchise.
Predator is a great example of the combination of action and horror. The fast-paced and adrenalinic characteristics of the former compliments well the stressful and uneasy features of the latter. In fact, the jungle environment, other than being beautifully photographed by Donald McAlpine, helps to create a claustrophobic sensation that goes hand in hand with the tension. With its muscular approach, Predator is definitely a product of its time and a classic in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s filmography.
3 Blade
Marvel Entertainment
Written by David S. Goyer and directed by Stephen Norrington, Blade features Wesley Snipes in one of his most famous roles. Blade is a half-vampire half-human who possess all the strengths of the vampires but no weaknesses; with his old partner Abraham Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), he hunts down vampires and kills them. On their way, they find the thirsty and dangerous Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff), a vampire who wants to defeat humans.
Blade has become a cult over the years, and it features a solid directing style, with a gloomy and dark cinematography that fits perfectly the topics narrated. Simultaneously, the movie hits you with its suspenseful and tense action sequences and its more horror moments, always full of blood. One of the first commercially successful movies by Marvel, Blade still shines for its accomplished mix of horror and action.
2 They Live
Larry Franco Productions
They Live is one of the unforgettable masterpieces by John Carpenter, and it stars Roddy Piper as Nada, a working-class nomad who drifts from town to town looking for a paycheck. After arriving in Los Angeles, Nada finds a job in construction and meets Frank (Keith David); soon, Nada is entangled in a mystery that revolves around special sunglasses.
They Live is amazing in multiple aspects. Carpenter’s style is expressed here stronger than ever with flawless directing, incredible action sequences like the endless fight scene between Nada and Frank, and an unforgettable soundtrack co-composed with Alan Howarth. At the same time, form meets substance with an underlining critical commentary on Reaganomics and its laissez-faire brand of capitalism. They Live is a pearl and none other than a mandatory vision in every film school.
1 Aliens
Brandywine Productions
Aliens is the second installment of the Alien franchise and the third movie of James Cameron. This second chapter is characterized by a departure from the tense and slow-paced rhythm of Alien and for embracing more elements of the action genre. After being in hyper-sleep for 57 years in an escape shuttle of the Nostromo, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is rescued and debriefed about what happened. It won’t be long before her work will be needed again.
Aliens is full of action sequences shot perfectly by James Cameron and amplified by the continuously increasing tension that pervades the movie: the time for relaxation is non-existing and the spectator is constantly on the edge. At the same time, Sigourney Weaver is excellent in her acting and once more perfect in the role of her life. Aliens increases the action in the franchise and still stands today as a genres-mixing milestone.
