Love & Horror: Films for a Bloody Valentine's Day

By Mario Ayanami for Diario Macabro

On the eve of a date deeply detested by hopeless singles or by couples who see it only as the epitome of consumerism, there are those who always look for alternatives to the pink, sugar-coated world. If you're allergic to the surreal love affairs of Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts, this list has a few suggestions for diving into bizarre relationships, only possible in the macabre world of horror.

A Chinese Ghost Story (1987).

Taking refuge in a temple, a tax collector falls in love with a ghost who haunts the place. However, she is doomed to serve a demon that feeds on the souls of noble men. The young man gets help from a martial arts master, a staunch enemy of this demon, to free his beloved spirit. There were two further sequels to this story, not as fortunate, and in 2011, a remake whose aesthetic feels more artificial. It's true that it also includes moments of unintentional humor, typical of Asian cinema.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rko8ZqCJVIY (abre en nueva pestaña)

Thirst (2009).

Park Chan-wook directs this anguished portrait of a priest, turned into a vampire by a virus he was helping find a cure for. He ends up falling in love with his friend's wife, who also becomes a bloodsucker when our protagonist revives her. The woman—capricious, violent, eager to kill—makes life impossible for both of them. They even get accused of running a cult! Winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes, the final scene, blending an ambitious sound design with brilliant performances and no dialogue whatsoever, delivers unmatched suspense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG4AV6kLrKY (abre en nueva pestaña)

Night Tide (1961).

Restored only in 2007, Dennis Hopper plays a sailor who meets Mora, a girl who makes a living performing as a mermaid in marine shows. She isn't expected to actually be a descendant of these mythical creatures, but she is, urged on by a tiny woman, leader of the mermaids, to fulfill her destiny: leading sailors to their doom. Her true nature comes to light when she tries to kill her beloved while he's diving. After this, Mora makes a sacrifice that leaves the audience reflecting on what one is willing to do for love. Available in full at the following link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLyoXFHYmpc (abre en nueva pestaña)

Love Object (2003).

The sinister Kenneth Winslow falls in love with a sex doll he names Nikki. Meanwhile, he starts a relationship with his coworker, Lisa. Little by little, he manipulates the young woman into becoming the embodiment of Nikki, both in looks and in the way she dresses. But Kenneth's relationship with the doll becomes sickly, turning him even more perverse. When Lisa finds out about the “mistress,” her reaction doesn't sit well with the young man at all… With a profile like that, you can already imagine what he's capable of! It includes a special appearance by Udo Kier as the building's landlord.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjqhSIB5HkQ (abre en nueva pestaña)

Candyman (1992).

Bernard Rose, inspired by a story by Clive Barker, brought us this tale about Helen, a skeptical thesis student whose work seeks to debunk urban myths. As happens to good non-believers, it turns out that Candyman, a hook-handed killer, is real, once summoned in various ways (like saying his name five times in front of a mirror). Now the legend must prove his existence, dragging the young woman into a series of murders and leaving her a victim of his madness, under the killer's obsession and attraction to her. “It was always you, Helen.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOnN4M9wB0s (abre en nueva pestaña)