MovieChat Forums > Red Riding Hood (2011) Discussion > Dark/twisted film versions of fairy tale...

Dark/twisted film versions of fairy tales

posted 14 years ago by Normal-Bates
40 replies | jump to latest

Let's start a thread in which we recommend and discuss other dark/creepy film versions of classic fairy tales. I'll start with the obvious ones:

The Company of Wolves (Little Red Riding Hood)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpvPUgwMaVM

Snow White: A Tale of Terror (Snow White, obviously)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOlQ75fhWKE

Both are my two of my most treasured films. Both of them boast with beautiful, sinister Gothic atmosphere, and are not too shy to deliver underlying messages on sexuality and such, or please the gorehound viewers with many 'yuck' moments. Besides, many of the early versions of fairy tales, before the were sanitized for children, were bloody, gruesome, sex-packed things, the stuff today's horror is made of. Do some research on your own. Believe it or not, this is what many of our beloved fairy tales were crammed with: mutilations, cannibalism, necrophilia, rape, etc.

"Snow White: A Tale of Terror" I adore just a pinch more than the other one, mainly because of the wonderful, talented Sigourney Weaver, who plays Claudia, the stepmother. It's a very flawed film, but still beautifully shot, performed and directed. The production values are incredible. The idea of giving the viewer a little more insight on the villain and how he/she turned out evil is a most interesting idea, and it seems to work, because, despite Claudia turning evil, you are aware of her true motivations, how she feels, and why she does this -- she's no longer this 100% evil character. She's just a sad human being who does the wrong choices, unlike most one-dimensional Disney villains.

Also, there's a horror comedy cartoon version of the "Three Little Pigs". It was the last episode of "Tales from the Crypt". Check it out!

The Third Pig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUAsuGkFwtc

And here are some more of them:

The Brothers Grimm (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0355295/)

Hansel & Gretel (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1002567/)

Deadtime Stories (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092850/)

[–] deadbunny28 13 years ago

u gotta check out Freeway 1 & 2...the first one is a real life spin off red riding hood and the second a spin off of Hansel and Gretel...they are hilarious and riveting

[–] red_rackham_77 13 years ago

In the company of wolves was an artistic interest, wouldn't say it is all that great but as a cult film I would see it anytime. Snow White, now that was great! I wished the dwarves were little men who are thieves and sometime murderers in a way but I loved this film nonethless.

But red, oh man that wasn't a twist of anything except in my stomach and in my head, if it wanted to be twisted then they could have made Red younger, have a pedophile in their mist, and maybe have the wolf not be red's father oh! And no teen romance.

[–] oakcourt 13 years ago

Couldn't think of any when I read this thread - am watching RRH at moment and came on to the thread to check out cast etc. Someone early on in the thread mentioned Pan's Labyrinth, never thought of it as a fairytale but it is so beautiful even in its grimness - Spanish Civil War etc and the young girl who played the lead was so sweet in it.

[–] red_rackham_77 13 years ago

Oh I love Pan's Labyrinth, still do till this day. It seemed like a gimm's fairy tale made by today's artists and the best. This film RRH was just made for hormones-over-brain-teenagers.

[–] Brandestoc 13 years ago

I'll check some of these links out later.

[–] prickles 13 years ago

Everafter?

[–] kitten_red 13 years ago

I did have a poetry book given to me when I was younger (was old, vintage type) in which goldilocks gets impaled on the spire (spikey pointy thing) of St peter's church for stealing from the tree bears.

there is also a book originally published as virago's book of fairy tales but then re-issued as 'Angela carter's book of fairy tales' which is full of stories from around the world that she collected. one of the weirdest in there was an Inuit (eskimo) story about a woman who had lots of children, and her clitoris was so big she could pull it over herself or other people. not joking!

another series that might be worth checking out (but not for the faint of heart) is Anne Rice's sleeping beauty trilogy. In which sleeping beauty is raped by the prince (before he wakes her with a kiss) and is then taught how to be a human pony. S&m, riding crop, sex slaves and all.

but for a milder take on a fairy tale, should try reading 'sisters red' by jackson pierce ...in which red riding hood is actually a pair of sisters who hunt wolves. she also wrote 'secretly' which is meant to be based on hansel and Gretel but I haven't read that one.

Comes with free virgin kit. Virgin not supplied.

[–] PippinInOz 13 years ago

What a coincidence - I was just about to post those two films up as examples of just how chilling and dark the fairy / folk tale can be represented on film. Totally agree with you here!

Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997) is just fantastic is it not? In fact, thinking of buying a copy right now.

If you have not seen it, do not miss the opportunity. Fairy/Folk tales were not originally the polished up Disney - fied versions people have become familiar with. If you like those, that is great, but if you want something a little closer to those original tales of 'caution', evil, witchcraft - Snow White: A Tale of Terror is for you.

Red Riding Hood on the other hand is just not my cup of tea at all. Although clearly some people will enjoy it.

[–] hobehoney 12 years ago

Company of the Wolves was my favorite movie when i was younger, though the years have not been king to the special effects, the story is still strong in my mind. Pan's Labyrinth, is awesome.

Generally there seems to be a lack of dark Fairy tale movies, hopefully this with change. I was not a fan of Snow White and the Huntsman but it might lead the way for other movies, as Batman did for comic book movies.

I really enjoyed reading the original tales grim, thank you, to that poster:)

It's not a movie but i always enjoyed The Storyteller. I watched them again recently and found they were just as good as they had been years ago. Check it out. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092383/

[–] PippinInOz 12 years ago

Thank you for the recommendation hobehoney - I will be checking out The Storyteller sometime soon.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] isgudinnan_15 12 years ago

I would LOVE to see a dark twisted tale about the little mermaid >:D

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] zsanctuary-1 10 years ago

Company of Wolves is AWESOME.

Also, throwing this out there if anyone is interested. Yes, shameless self promotion, yet relevant to the topic.

http://youtu.be/ew39yjklH8g

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] foxy6715 10 years ago

How come no one's meationed "The Singing Ringing Tree " .
I think it's German, remember it as a child.
Pretty sure it can be found on YouTube.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] nightwishouge 9 years ago

There's a film version of The Juniper Tree starring Bjork. The director turns the story into a domestic drama that is almost Bergman-esque. I found it kind of boring (not enough fairy tale elements were retained), but it's worth watching anyhow, if you can track it down.

Also the Finnish television film The White Reindeer has a strong folk/fairy tale vibe. It's sort of the Scandinavian version of a werewolf movie. It's from the 1950s so don't expect it to be too gruesome, but the cinematography is nice and it's got some good atmosphere.