In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. In the reasonably lit present, however, it can sometimes be fun to imagine what might happen to humanity in a worst-case scenario. That’s where grimdark storytelling comes into play, with these deeply unsettling yarns combining over-the-top horror elements with traditionally fantastical narratives.
Of course, there’s no discussing grimdark fiction without bringing up Warhammer 40,000 – a whole universe of games, books and collectable miniatures that practically codified the genre (with plenty of help from the legendary artist John Blanche). And with the wonderful news that horror maestro Mike Flanagan might be joining Henry Cavill’s long-gestating adaptation of the 40k franchise over at Prime Video, I’ve decided to come up with a list recommending six Grimdark movies to prepare you for the upcoming show!
For the purposes of this list, I’ll be defining “grimdark” as a genre of speculative fiction where bleak philosophy and gory ultraviolence meet classic sci-fi and fantasy tropes. That being said, don’t forget to comment below with your own grimdark favorites if you think we missed a particularly grim example.
With that out of the way, onto the list!
6. Dredd (2012)
The 2000 AD comics were a major influence on Warhammer (with parent company Games Workshop even producing official Judge Dredd miniatures at one point), so it stands to reason that the most faithful cinematic adaptation of this dystopian universe would make it onto the list.
In fact, the Judges of 2000 AD inspired the Adeptus Arbites faction from 40k, and one could even argue that Olivia Thirlby’s Judge Anderson is something of a sanctioned Psyker due to her telepathic powers. Of course, it’s the oppressive atmosphere that really pushes this production into grimdark territory.
If you like this one, I’d also recommend checking out 1990’s Hardware – an unofficial 2000 AD adaptation that manages to be even darker than Dredd.
5. Event Horizon (1997)
Space travel in Warhammer 40k depends on navigating a treacherous alternate reality known as The Warp – a mysterious realm inhabited by chaos demons and Lovecraftian abominations that can drive the average person insane. That’s why it makes sense that Event Horizon would show up on this list, as Paul W.S. Anderson’s sci-fi horror film revolves around a spaceship that accidentally opens a portal to a hell-like dimension.
Screenwriter Philip Eisner would later admit to being influenced by the Warhammer universe during the writing process, as both he and Anderson wanted the flick to feel more like a haunted house /possession movie in space rather than a retread of Alien.
4. Pandorum (2009)
One of the most underrated entries on this list, Christian Alvart’s Pandorum takes place entirely within a colony ship in the distant future. When a malfunction leads to two members of the original flight crew waking up ahead of schedule, they find out that the vessel has been overrun by homicidal creatures.
I won’t get into further details in order to avoid spoiling the experience for new viewers, but suffice to say that this bizarre monster movie has a lot more up its sleeve than techno-horror action. The flick could also easily have taken place inside one of the Warhammer universe’s massive Voidships, which is why it’s included on this list.
3. Mutant Chronicles (2008)
I’ve already written about howMutant Chronicles plays out like a b-movie prototype for a Warhammer 40k production, but this criminally underseen RPG adaptation also features some surprisingly effective storytelling in between the glorious slaughter of disgusting mutants.
The Sin City-like blend of exaggerated CGI and old-school practical effects may not work for everyone, but I’d still recommend giving this indie experiment a try if you like your monster movies served with a side of retro-futuristic thrills.
2. Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie (2010)
The only official Warhammer adaptation on this list, Ultramarines may suffer low-res textures and janky animation, but it still manages to provide a classic space marine yarn written by genre veteran Dan Abnett.
The flick is a little hard to get into if you’re not already familiar with some of the extensive 40k mythology, but I’d argue that it’s still an entertaining gateway experience for folks who are still on the fence about diving into this grimdark universe.
If you’re a fan of this one and would like to see more animated Warhammer, I’d also recommend checking out the fan-made adaptation of my personal favorite 40k novel, Helsreach – which is available for free on YouTube!
1. Hard to be a God (2013)
Based on the other classic sci-fi story by the Strugatsky brothers, authors of the must-read Roadside Picnic (which would later be adapted into Stalker), Aleksei German’s final film is just as brutal as it is thought-provoking.
Following a group of scientists as they travel to a distant planet that appears to be stuck in the dark ages, this disturbing parable soon forces the scientists to confront the limits of human depravity when intellectualism is seen as a crime. The source material also appears to have influenced some of the backstory of 40k’s Emperor of Mankind, and that’s why I consider Hard to Be a God a grimdark classic!
