Horror Movies With Exceptional Design Because Beauty And Terror Are Not Mutually Exclusive

Horror has a long history in film, going all the way back to the first silent flicks and trick movies before becoming the spectacle it is today. Horror and style aren't mutually incompatible, but because most horror films are so focused on atmosphere, the visuals are usually cliches that can start to seem the same.

As a result of horror films' affinity with the macabre and gloom, set design and costumes might occasionally be scarcely discernible onscreen.

High-stylized horrors are made more aesthetically spectacular by their banality, with some of them still having an impact one hundred years later.

In this article, we have listed the best horror movies with amazing designs. Let's check out.

Best Horror Movies with Exceptional Designs you Must Watch this Halloween

1. BLACK SWAN (2010)

Any movie directed by Darren Aronofsky will undoubtedly be visually stunning. And to back up this thought, you can check out The Fountain, produced by Darren, which is one of the most aesthetically pleasing science fiction movies of the 2000s. And in 2010, he gave another visually stunning horror movie Black Swan which is a treat to the eyes.

Natalie Portman, in the lead role, played a dancer, where she was fighting for the part of the White Swan in the Tchaikovsky ballet Swan Lake in the movie. In this horror flick, she was terrified when she came across the fact that she was up against a competitive dancer, who is perfect for the role of the Black Swan. From costume designs to aesthetics, this movie is a beauty to watch even in the horror genre.

2. The Cell (2000)

Tarsem Singh has already directed visually stunning and award-winning commercials and videos, like R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion." He made his debut with "The Cell" in 2000.  Jennifer Lopez is in the lead role, playing a psychotherapist who has access to a gadget that lets her transfer her consciousness into other people's minds.

Vincent D'Onofrio is in the role of a serial murderer. When he enters a coma and the police need to find one of his still-alive abduction victims, the technology comes in help. Lopez needs to go into his head to understand his psychology and find his victim. This movie has stunning graphics and nerve-wracking background music.

3. THE SHAPE OF WATER (2017)

Guillermo Del Toro creates the story of a lady in 1962 who falls in love with a sea creature kept at a government facility in The Shape of Water. Both the lady and the beast discover that their lives are in jeopardy when she decides to release the creature.

Apart from the direction and storyline, this movie has amazing costume design and graphics that make it more interesting to watch. The Shape of Water received 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design, and won for Best Production Design. 

4. Mandy (2018)

Panos Cosmatos' 2018 cult smash "Mandy," will surely give you goosebumps. With great aesthetics and beautiful costumes, this movie is the perfect example of a horror film with artistically pleasing designs. "Mandy" starring Nicolas Cage and Andrea Riseborough is a vengeance movie with a burned-out acid-laced Christian cult, a gang of motorcycle cenobites, and an axe that wouldn't feel out of place on the Klingon homeworld poses that issue.

Red and Mandy are a kind, charming, and loving couple who are at peace in the woods with their books and heavy metal recordings. In order to indoctrinate Mandy, the cult kidnaps her with the help of a group of knife-encrusted demonic gearhead monsters, and the worst keeps on happening after that.

5. SWEENEY TODD (2007)

Tim Burton's previous movies, like Alice in Wonderland, Batman, and Edward Scissorhands, are all strikingly gorgeous when viewed collectively. And Sweeney Todd is no exception here.

Based on the gloomy theatrical musical of the same name, Burton created this horror flick in 2007 and brought the Victorian storyline to life. Sweeny Todd had 3 Oscar nominations and was awarded Best Art Direction. So, if you have not watched this movie yet, then add this to your watch list now!

6. Vampyr (1932)

"Vampyr," directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, is a movie that possesses the artistry and direction it needed to make a movie appear like a dream exactly. The characters all seem to be in a constant state of fear, even when they are merely travelling in the woods. 

With amazing design and aesthetics, this movie is a definite watch. 

Wrapping Up

The one thing that makes horror movies so amazing is visually intriguing content that keeps viewers a little on edge - biting their nails throughout the movie, as nothing seems real, but is hard to forget.

This encourages the use of extremes such as vivid colors, emphasized forms, changed typography, terrifying background music, nerve-wracking graphics and more. And it aids the audience in buying into the narrative as they are always apprehensive of what is going to come next.

That was all from our side. Do let us know in the comments below about your favorite horror flick that has visually pleasing designs and graphics. To see more content about Halloween, stay tuned to Pixel Dino’s blog page!