As October 31 draws near, the urge to indulge in horror films naturally intensifies. This month alone, cinemas have unveiled a range of spine-chilling movies for horror enthusiasts to savour, from Terrifier 3 to Smile 2.
However, not everyone is a fan of eerie clowns and sudden frights. So, if you’re more inclined towards romantic comedies or dramas centred on relationships, there’s no need to skip the Halloween celebrations.
Here, we’ve compiled five highly-rated films that perfectly blend horror and romance. You can stream these cosy at home or catch the new releases before they exit cinemas, reports the Mirror.
Only Lovers Left Alive (2014)
(Image: Pandora/GORDON Photography, SMPSP)
Only Lovers Left Alive has been hailed by the BBC as one of the finest films of the 21st century, featuring Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as the vampire couple Adam and Eve.
The thriller is more focused on exploring the implications of being centuries old in the modern world than it is about vampirism. The main characters, a couple who have been married for hundreds of years, choose not to feed on humans due to concerns about blood contamination from contemporary environments, instead sourcing their sustenance from blood banks.
Directed by Jim Jarmusch, this drama delves into themes of humanity, love, art and the beauty of the world.
Only Lovers Left Alive is available to stream on Mubi.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
A fusion of romance classics Romeo and Juliet and Bonnie and Clyde, Love Lies Bleeding delves into a destructive lesbian relationship.
Twilight star Kristen Stewart and The Mandalorian’s Katy O’Brian headline this R-rated slasher, portraying a passionate romance between gym manager Lou (Stewart) and bodybuilder Jackie (O’Brian), which rapidly spirals into violence. While still in their honeymoon phase, they become entangled in a web of murder, crime, and addiction, resulting in a blood-soaked 100-minute journey.
Like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the film serves as a warning against obsessive love. It holds an impressive 94% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and marks the second directorial venture for British filmmaker Rose Glass.
Love Lies Bleeding is available for rent on Sky and Apple TV.
Strange Darling (2024)
Strange Darling keeps in line with the theme of dysfunctional relationships, unfolding its story in a small town in Oregon.
The narrative is delivered through six chapters, presented in a non-linear fashion. The unsettling journey begins with a one-night encounter between the Lady, portrayed by Willa Fitzgerald, and a character played by Kyle Gallner.
With its non-chronological storytelling, Strange Darling is best experienced without prior knowledge, keeping viewers on their toes. But if you’re looking for more reasons to watch, the film boasts an impressive 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has garnered widespread critical praise.
Filmmaker JJ Abrams, known for his work on Lost, Star Trek, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, recently lauded the film on X, previously known as Twitter. He wrote: “Name a better movie this year. It’s terrifying, hilarious, heartbreaking, sexy, and wild. A ‘true’ cinematic thriller masterpiece. I lost my mind for Strange Darling.”
You can catch Strange Darling at selected cinemas.
Bones and All (2022)
(Image: Amazon MGM)
Bones and All manages to almost romanticise one of the world’s creepiest concepts – cannibalism. Starring Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell, the film follows two social misfits who fall in love during an extensive road trip across America.
It’s a disturbing watch that doesn’t gloss over the harsh realities of cannibalism or the pain of isolation. Despite winning a Silver Lion Award for Best Direction at its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and receiving positive reviews from critics, the film didn’t perform well at the box office, earning just $15.2 million.
Nevertheless, Bones and All is a must-see for fans of horror and romance.
Bones and All is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.
Warm Bodies (2013)
(Image: Lionsgate)
Warm Bodies shares similarities with Bones and All as it also centres on young individuals trying to find their place in the world. However, in this case, the protagonist is a zombie.
The film, based on Isaac Marion’s 2011 novel of the same name, features Nicholas Hoult (Skins) in the role of R. He witnesses a living woman under attack by another undead character and intervenes to save her. This sets the stage for a love story that begins to blur the boundaries between humans and zombies.
Despite its premise categorising it within the horror genre, it is sufficiently mild for cinema-goers who are easily frightened.
Warm Bodies is available to rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
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