Summary
- Historical settings intensify the horror in films, pairing monumental events with ruthless killers and paranoia in chilling narratives.
- Slow-burners like The Nightingale immerse viewers in historical circumstances, shining a light on unfortunate parts of society.
- Overlord combines historical dates with action and violence to create an entertaining film that doesn’t aim for historical accuracy.
This article contains brief mentions of sexual assault and suicide.
History can be dark, and a few horror films use historical periods to their advantage, placing chilling fictional stories within significant moments in time. The threats found in narratives within horror films that take place in the present day are intensified when the story is set back a few years. Monumental wars and ravaging plagues pair well with the ruthless killers and paranoia often associated with the horror genre. However, films within the subgenre of horror vary in their use of action and jump scares.
While each film contains graphic images of violence, a few are slow-burners, allowing audiences to truly engross themselves in the historical circumstances. Films like The Nightingale and The Devil’s Bath are haunting because their stories shine a light on unfortunate parts of society many years ago. Other films like Overlord use historical dates as a setup for their larger concerns with quickly-paced action and violence. Regardless of how each film sets out to startle audiences, there’s no denying that the best historical horror films are made better by their use of the past.
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10 Trench 11 (2017)
Historical Setting: World War I
Set during World War I, Trench 11 sees Allied soldiers stepping foot into the titular German bunker after it’s suspected that more weapons are being made there. A horrific discovery is made in the bunker, and it’s enough to make one’s skin crawl. Trench 11 has been criticized for its predictable plot and its dreary characters, but it excels in establishing an eerie atmosphere throughout the film.
Fears of cramped, tight spaces and parasitic infections can be introduced into the plot of any horror film, regardless of its setting. However, Trench 11 uses its historical setting to its advantage. The phobias highlighted in Trench 11 are much more intense amidst the turmoil of the war. Trench 11’s tale is gripping and has audiences invested in its characters’ escape until the very end.
9 The Nightingale (2018)
Historical Setting: 1825 Tasmania Before The Black War
From director Jennifer Kent, best known for her film The Babadook, The Nightingale tells a chilling story rooted in Australian history. Set on the island of Tasmania — which was referred to as Van Diemen’s Land by British colonizers starting in 1825 —, The Nightingale is a thrilling horror film that changes tone and moves in a direction audiences don’t expect. Because it doesn’t remain a horror film for its entire runtime, The Nightingale ranks lower than other historical horror films, but it’s not based on its quality as a film.
The Nightingale follows Clare Carroll (Aisling Franciosi), an Irish convict, who befriends an Aboriginal Tasmanian tracker. Together, they set out on a path of revenge targeting British forces after their lieutenant attacked Clare and killed her loved ones. The Nightingale tells a powerful story about Australian history and its acts of racism. Though the depictions of sexual assault and murder are graphic, the story told in The Nightingale is important and couldn’t be done without its historical setting.
8 Overlord (2018)
Historical Setting: D-Day
Produced by J. J. Abrams, the historical setting in Overlord is used to support its horror, mythological, and action elements. Taking place the day before D-Day, American soldiers are sent out on a mission to destroy German radio towers. Overlord starts like any other war drama but earns its place within the horror genre when a shocking discovery is made.
Upon their arrival, it’s discovered that German soldiers are making serums to resurrect deceased individuals. Unlike a few of the other historical horror films, Overlord doesn’t set out to be historically accurate. The moment in history that frames Overlord is simply used as a means to establish two different sides audiences can easily identify. Overlord combines the violence and gruesome images associated with war and zombie attacks, resulting in an action-packed and entertaining film.
7 The Head Hunter (2018)
Historical Setting: The Dark Ages
Previously known for directing the comedy-horror film ThanksKilling, Jordan Downey had a better understanding of horror in The Head Hunter. Working with a low budget and limited resources, Downey brought to life a fantasy world set in the Dark Ages. The Head Hunter follows a main character known as Father (Christopher Rygh) who is a bounty hunter given the job of hunting monsters that threaten a nearby kingdom.
Rygh earned praise from critics for his portrayal of the skilled hunter who’s filled with a need for revenge after his daughter was killed by one of the brutal monsters. Scenes of confrontations between the Father and the monsters intentionally choose not to linger on the monsters’ faces to conceal any digital imperfections due to The Head Hunter‘s low budget. Downey’s film delivers an imaginative thriller that has become one of the better examples of low-budget filmmaking.
6 Black Death (2010)
Historical Setting: The Early Years Of The Bubonic Plague
Though Black Deathtakes place before the Salem Witch Trials began, the film does find inspiration in the general hysteria surrounding witchcraft. Black Death takes place during the early years of the titular plague and follows a monk, Osmund (Eddie Redmayne), and a group of soldiers who make their way to an isolated village in hopes of getting away from the life-threatening sickness.
When Osmund mistakenly kills a woman he loves, believing witchcraft was being done to her, he remains blinded by his devastation and spends the rest of his life killing random women he assumes to be witches. There are plenty of bloody scenes for fans of horror to enjoy, but beyond that, Black Death includes a subtle amount of commentary surrounding the danger of acting senselessly out of fear. Additionally, the creation of 1348 Medieval England is well done with the production design and special effects.
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5 The Devil’s Bath (2024)
Historical Setting: 1750 Austria
The Devil’s Bath follows a religious woman, Agnes (Anja Plaschg), who finds herself stuck in a monotonous chore routine after getting married. Agnes, inspired by Eva Lizlfellnerin’s real-life story, is unfulfilled in life and spirals into a depression. Plaschg deftly portrays a woman out of options with no way out of her debilitating routine. Agnes’ ending and the loophole she takes to end her suffering while hoping to avoid eternal punishment, is inspired by the actions of many women during 17th and 18th century Europe.
The effort put in by writer and director duo Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala to create a historically accurate film, in all respects, is apparent and adds to the horror atmosphere. The Devil’s Bath goes against what most audiences expect of a horror film. Instead of an action-packed fight for survival that sees a bloody escalation in the third act, The Devil’s Bath is more of a slow-burn that uses its dated setting of 1750 Austria and real-life inspirations to create an unsettling film.
4 Witchfinder General (1968)
Historical Setting: The English Civil War
Mass paranoia of witches living among communities has popped up a few times throughout history. Michael Reeves’ final film, Witchfinder General, is loosely based on the story of Matthew Hopkins. During the English Civil War, Hopkins worked as an unofficial witch-hunter, accusing numerous individuals of participating in witchcraft, and was responsible for a surge of witch trials during that time. Hopkins and his assistant John Stearne are played by Vincent Price and Robert Russell and are pursued in the film by a soldier named Richard Marshall.
Reeves’ film doesn’t have jump scares, but audiences are kept at the edges of their seats due to the haunting setting and acts of violence. The violence throughout the film cleverly contrasts its open, countryside background and its score, which includes a few gentle songs inspired by classic folk music. Despite its low budget, these elements helped Witchfinder General become an effective cult horror film.
3 The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
Historical Setting: The Spanish Civil War
Two of Guillermo del Toro’s films — Pan’s Labyrinth and The Devil’s Backbone — take place during the Spanish Civil War and center around the experiences of children. The latter film stars Fernando Tielve as Carlos, a young boy at an orphanage who comes across a haunting ghostly figure of a young child. The Devil’s Backbone allows the audience to view the horrors of political tension through the eyes of Carlos.
According to del Toro’s DVD commentary of The Devil’s Backbone, Carlos represents a sense of innocence in the film. For his seamless ability to create an equally moving and frightening horror film, del Toro has earned a lot of praise for The Devil’s Backbone. To many fans and critics, The Devil’s Backbone ranks near the top of del Toro’s best horror films, falling close behind the award-winning Pan’s Labyrinth.
2 The Witch (2015)
Historical Setting: 1630s New England
Having grown up in New Hampshire with an interest in witches, Robert Eggers made his directorial feature film debut with The Witch. From A24, The Witch follows a Puritan family in the 1630s that encounters a strange, evil force outside their farm. The evil forces that loom over the family are largely unseen, leaving it up to the audience to create a horrifying image in their minds.
That being said, The Witch is more of a psychological horror film that builds slowly but has a gripping story, a modest pace, and gradual tension to keep audiences engaged. Anya Taylor-Joy, making her film debut, plays the family’s eldest child and is mesmerizing to watch on screen as frequent blame and accusations of witchcraft are thrown her way when something bad happens to the family. Eggers’ horror film has an overall creepy ambiance and is rich with detail, allowing for the viewer to feel transported to its New England setting.
1 Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Historical Setting: After The Spanish Civil War
Pan’s Labyrinth is considered one of Guillermo del Toro’s best films and one of the best fantasy-horror films of all time. Pan’s Labyrinth takes place in Francoist Spain, a moment in Spanish history after the Spanish Civil War in which Francisco Franco ruled the area. Impacted by the conflict in Spain and her own household is 10-year-old Ofelia. Like The Devil’s Backbone, the world of Pan’s Labyrinth is shown predominately from the child’s perspective.
To escape her troubles, Ofelia steps foot into an imaginative labyrinth, but the location is far from a peaceful getaway. Ofelia comes across some of the scariest creatures in del Toro’s filmography, such as the Faun and the Pale Man. The horrors within the fantasy setting and those as an after-effect of the war come together and create an evenly breathtaking and grim film.