Many of us want to find love in our lives, and sometimes, that love comes to us in unexpected ways, or, more accurately, forms. They say you should be open-minded when it comes to love, and movies have tested that theory through stories about misunderstood connections from beings most would consider a nightmare. That’s the magic of monster romance films, where the protagonist finds themselves unexpectedly smitten by a creature many would run away from.
Whether it’s zombies, fish people, vampires, or the like, these movies tap into people’s fascination of unexpected romance with a dark fantasy edge. As the discourse surrounding the upcoming Wicker movie has proven, a lot of people wouldn’t mind getting a little… experimental with their love lives, or at least imagining the fantasy of being with someone you aren’t supposed to. They blend horror and romance for creature features that explore relationships and connection through monsters who may just understand you more than most men. Never judge a book by its cover, after all. Below, check out a selection of monster romance movies to add to your watchlist, or give a rewatch.
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The Shape of Water – A Woman Finds Unexpected Love With a Fish Man
Guillermo Del Toro is no stranger to taking audiences on fantastical adventures with his blend of drama, fantasy, and science fiction. Such is the case with his Best Picture-winning film that gives a whole new meaning to the term “Fish are friends, not food.” Elisa (Sally Hawkins) works as a soft-spoken custodian at a secret research facility. She spends most her days alone, but her life changes when she meets Amphibian Man (Doug Jones), an amphibious creature held prisoner within the facility.
What starts as an unexpected friendship develops into a romance as Elisa connects with the sea creature on a deeper level. He shows Elisa more warmth and softness than most men have in her life. This creature romance blends period drama aesthetics with Del Toro’s signature sci-fi world-building for a tale about finding love in the least expected places.
Nosferatu – A Dark Kind Of Romantic Obsession
Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) is a tortured young woman. Despite being in a relationship with Thomas (Nicholas Hoult), she is haunted by and dangerously attracted to a sinister entity in her dreams. That entity, Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), takes his infatuation with Ellen to new heights when the vampire goes on a destructive quest to have her for himself.
If you’re looking for a happy ending, or any happiness really, in a movie, you won’t find it here. But what you will find in Robert Eggers’ take on Nosferatu is a visually striking and tonally dark period horror film that captures the dread and twisted fascination and connection between Ellen and Orlok.
Warm Bodies – Romeo and Juliet, but Make It Zombies
Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous English-language stories in history. So, how do you change things up to make the timeless tale of doomed love fresh and unique? By making Romeo a zombie in this adaptation of Issac Marion’s novel of the same name.
Set during a zombie apocalypse, Julie (Teresa Palmer) finds herself in a position she thought she’d never be in: she’s falling in love with a zombie named R (Nicholas Hoult). And the thing is, the feeling is mutual. It makes for a unique spin on the YA romance genre in how R’s inability to speak is replaced by an internal monologue where he lays out all his thoughts and feelings, and a surprisingly charming movie about how love can change you (if you’ve seen the movie, you know what we mean).
Twilight – He Has the Skin of a Killer
An obvious pick? Sure. But there’s a reason why Twilight and its sequels remain talked-about to this day, and it isn’t just because of hate watches. There’s a certain appeal in watching Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) fall in love and navigate the dynamics of Edward being a 200-year-old immortal vampire. The teen angst feels straight from the 2000s, and we’re still not over the shiny diamond skin, but Twilight has its merits and touches on the fantasy of having a vampire for a boyfriend.
Lisa Frankenstein – Finding That Undead Soulmate
Zelda Williams’ spin on the Frankenstein mythos gets an ‘80s makeover in this underrated horror-comedy. Lisa (Kathryn Newton) is a misunderstood teenager whose safe space so happens to be the grave of a man in her local cemetery. One day, following a freak storm, The Creature (Cole Sprouse) is brought to life, to Lisa’s short-lived horror and lasting amusement. What follows is a quirky film about Lisa and The Creature’s unorthodox relationship as they try to make their love work and avoid being caught by the community.
Spring – An Overseas Romance Turns Monstorous
Picture this: you’re on a trip abroad hoping for a much-needed break from life. Life, in turn, surprises you with an unexpected romance with someone who so happens to be hiding a dark secret. That’s the case in this indie horror romance movie about Evan (Lou Taylor Pucci), a man who just lost both his parents and is on the run from the law following a bar fight.
He travels to Italy, where he meets Louise (Nadia Hilker). The two hit it off, and Evan thinks he’s found the right one. That is until he discovers Louise’s secret. We won’t spoil what that is, but given the title of this article, you may have a clue what it is.
Beauty and the Beast – A Tale As Old As Time
Disney’s kid-friendly take on monster romance tells the classic story of Belle (Paige O’Hara), a headstrong young woman who offers to take the place of his father, Rex, as the Beast’s (Robby Benson) prisoner.
From there, and with the help of the castle’s magical servants, Belle slowly brings Beast out of his shell. In turn, he starts falling in love with Belle in a romance that breaks the spell placed on him and his servants. Beast may be, well, a beast, but he, unlike the men in the village, genuinely cared for Belle. It just goes to show that good men come in all shapes and sizes.
Let the Right One in – A Vampire Flick Done Right
One of the best horror movies ever made, Let the Right One In tells the story of a 12-year-old boy named Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) who forms a friendship with Eli (Lina Leandersson). Eli, though, isn’t like the other girls, as she’s a vampire in the form of a young girl. While this Swedish film isn’t a monster romance in the typical sense, it does explore the friendship and silent romantic feelings Oskar develops for Eli, which he can’t act upon given her true nature. Regardless, it’s still a must-watch for any horror fan for its tension-inducing atmosphere and strong performances.
King Kong – It Was Beauty That Killed the Beast
On a quest to find the mythical Skull Island, a film crew discovers more than what they bargained for in Peter Jackson’s somewhat unappreciated 2005 remake of the 1933 classic. While Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) did get kidnapped by the natives as a sacrifice to King Kong, she ultimately sympathizes with the creature as he protects her from Skull Island’s dangerous creatures and realizes the 50-foot-tall gorilla might just be misunderstood. It’s ultimately a doomed romance, but the movie does leave viewers with the important message that hate and fear should not be the first response to things we don’t understand.
Featured Image: IMDB (via Instagram)
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