With the success of sci-fi horror over the past two years, it’s no surprise to see some titles heading toward the big screen in 2020. Some, like New Mutants and Morbius are crossovers, so there’s plenty of variety for nearly any audience to enjoy.
Horror is such a broad genre that there’s plenty of room for overlap, for different styles and genres to cross over and - actually - work together really well. Some of the most well-known collaborations with horror and a secondary genre are horror/comedy and sci-fi/horror blends. One of the most well-known sci-fi/horror movies, the one that many consider to be the proving ground for the sub-genre’s success, is Ridley Scott’s Alien, which released in 1979. However, it goes back much further than that; films like Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Fly (1958), and The Thing From Another World (1951) preceded it and ensured a lasting legacy for the two genres to co-exist.
Since horror can cover a lot of ground, and so much of the genre is based on societal leanings and underlying cultural and political movements, there’s always an ebb and flow to what audiences want to see most from horror. As a new decade gets underway, there’s already the beginnings of a new generation of excellent sci-fi horror films, some of which are slated for release in 2020.
Underwater - January 10
Underwater released on January 10 and resonated with audiences much in the same way that Scott’s Alien did years ago. The claustrophobic setting - deep under the sea - was similar to Scott’s setting of the vast emptiness of space; similarly, a doomed crew ended up being subjected to terror and death from an unknown creature lurking in the uncharted area. William Eubank, the film’s director, went on record and stated that the monster in Underwater is Cthulhu, which audiences suspected. This could mean that there’s a bright future for not only more sci-fi horror films of its kind, but Lovecraftian horror in the not-too-distant future.
Fantasy Island - February 14
Fantasy Island, from Blumhouse Productions, has been described as a mix between The Cabin in the Woods and the HBO series, Westworld. While the trailer certainly does hype the mystery of the island, the movie and hints at some form of technological backbone that might manufacture its guests “fantasies” and bring them to life, the film is actually based on an old ABC television series of the same name. The TV version wasn’t horror, genre-wise, so it seems Blumhouse is likely making more modern advancements to their feature film version. Fantasy Island seems to also capitalize on the teen horror vibe the studio is known for targeting and smart marketing, as the film releases on Valentine’s Day weekend.
The Invisible Man - February 28
Leigh Whannell (Saw, Insidious) has adapted his modern take on H.G. Wells’ original tale with The Invisible Man. The original novel was published in 1897, and the first movie was made in 1933. A long time has passed since the golden age of Universal’s original monsters. Since then, there have been massive advances in technology, leading Whannell to take advantage of a new era ripe with scientific discovery, innovation, and bring Wells’ tale into the realm of modern horror. It’s the perfect time to reboot the classic film, and Whannell has said that his relationship-thriller stresses on the film’s scientific aspects as a heavy focal point.
A Quiet Place 2 - March 20
John Krasinki’s sequel to his 2018 film, A Quiet Place 2, sees the Abbott family trudging onward without their family’s patriarch (Krasinski). The trailer for the film showcased the creatures - strange, extraterrestrial beings who react to even the slightest sound - and introduced new characters, played by Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou to the tale alongside Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, and Millicent Simmonds, who all reprise their roles from the first film. While not always seen as a sci-fi horror movie, A Quiet Place is fully responsive to many of the traditional creature feature movies, and adds a post-apolcalyptic element that firmly secures its place alongside others of its kind.
The New Mutants - April 3
While the X-Men movies have had some lackluster installments in the past, The New Mutants looks to capitalize on a crossover with horror to potentially build the momentum up again. With a stellar cast that includes horror genre favorite, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch), Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), and Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things), there’s something to be said for taking a chance on a genre film crossover that knows how to play to its strengths. The New Mutants follows a group of young mutants who are being held captive in a scientific facility and must try to escape and save themselves. While it’ll be interesting to see how the film’s horror elements play out, Josh Boone - the film’s director - said he was influenced by movies like A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and used techniques from legendary horror director Wes Craven during the making of the film.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife - July 10
Ghostbusters: Afterlife might not seem like a sci-fi/horror crossover, but it has been a distinct part of the horror genre since its origination in 1984. Universal Studios in Hollywood and Orlando have adapted the film for their Halloween/Hollywood Horror Nights celebrations in the past, and many horror fans cut their teeth on the franchise. While the 2016 movie, which starred Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones didn’t take off with audiences, Jason Reitman’s version offers up a legacy connection to the original Ghostbusters. Also, original cast members Sigourney Weaver, Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts are all confirmed to return and reprise their roles, which is an immediate draw for fans of the franchise.
Morbius - July 31
Since Venom hit some amazing numbers at the box office, it was only a matter of time before Sony would offer up another villain-centric story for audiences. Morbius is another Spider-Man villain, who transformed himself into a “living vampire” who has many of the strengths and weaknesses of traditional vampires throughout the fictional species’ history. Morbius was confirmed to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which could pave the way for more crossovers between not only sci-fi and horror, but superhero movies and horror, with the introduction of Blade down the road. Horror and superheroes have collided in the past, such as with the James Gunn produced Brightburn, but it didn’t have the success nor the staying power that the MCU can provide.
Escape Room 2 - August 14
Escape Room 2, which is being released not even two years after the first, takes some of the elements of the popular Saw franchise and works them into the current trend. Escape rooms are typically done as a group activity with friends and family, or can be used by workplaces for team building exercises as well. In the movie franchise, what is typically a harmless afternoon spent with friends or co-workers quickly turns dangerous and deadly. While the science fiction elements are a little more thinly veiled in these films, the utilization of technology to incorporate puzzles that create the deadly traps for participants has been used in other sci-fi horror movies, such as Cube, before. Depending on how successful this second entry is, it’s likely there will be more of these films to come.
Next: Every Horror Movie Confirmed For 2020 Release Date
