Discuss Pan's Labyrinth
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Favorite Dark Fairy/Folk Tales
posted by SaltyGirlSTAFFMOD on March 5, 2017 at 3:28 PM
Okay, let me start off by saying, I hate that the term "fairy tale" is so misused. Fairy tales do not equal=happy ending, sure they do sometimes but some of the classic folk tales could also be very dark and scary. Maybe the term should be "Disney tale" instead.
My love for horror started when I was young while reading from my collection of these stories. A few of my favorites:
The Little Mermaid Oh, the sacrifices one will make for love 
The Little Match Girl This one will stick with you forever, tragic! 
Hansel & Gretel A father and stepmother purposely strand their children in the woods to starve to death, who are then taken in by a cannibalistic witch. The only thing sweet about this tale is the house. 
Bluebeard Don't open the door! 
I could go on and on but let's talk movies... Pan's Labyrinth is definitely one of my favorite of these type of films, it captures that dark element both visually and through the story perfectly! Please share your favorites. Here are some of mine:
Reply by Arrrrrrrach
on March 7, 2017 at 3:06 PM
I love all of those films. I suppose DOLLS by Stuart Gordon feels like a fairy tale to me in that it's about childhood innocence and has the cautionary tale aspect. Really like that one.
Reply by Arrrrrrrach
on March 7, 2017 at 3:10 PM
Also Legend.
Reply by Hermione
on March 7, 2017 at 3:29 PM
If you like Pan's Labyrinth you might also like The Orphanage which is both a ghost story and a kind of retelling of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.
Reply by Jedan Archer
on March 7, 2017 at 3:47 PM
I'd add Spielberg's AI to that, it's essentially a dark SciFi version of Pinocchio, as Pan is Alice in Wonderland in civil war torn Spain. Both good concepts, the latter was the much better film though.
Reply by SaltyGirl
on March 7, 2017 at 10:11 PM
@Arrrrrrrach , I just watched Dolls for the first time about a year ago. I am not sure how this one escaped me all these years, but I really liked it! Also, Legend is great pick.
@Hermione Oh yes, The Orphanage is one of my favs! I find ghost children so creepy. Have you seen del Toro's The Devil's Backbone? That one is really good too.
@Jedan Archer I haven't seen A.I. , I will add it to my watch list. Thanks!
A couple more:
Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural 1973
Dragonslayer 1981 This is a surprisingly dark Disney film.
Reply by Phasmophobia
on March 8, 2017 at 2:29 AM
I'm also a huge fan of dark fairtytales and horror-fantasy films.
My favorites are:
Pan's Labyrinth
Beauty and the Beast (1978)
Tale of Tales (2015)
Some others you might like (if you haven't already seen them!):
The Lure (2015) (crazy musical based on The Little Mermaid)
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)
Little Otik (2000)
Bluebeard (2009)
The Man Who Laughs (2012)
Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)
Reply by lmao7
on March 8, 2017 at 6:04 AM
omg Little Otik...one of the weirdest things I have seen!
Pinocchio was creepy when they turned into donkeys
Reply by Arrrrrrrach
on March 8, 2017 at 2:31 PM
Saltygirl, I just saw Dolls for the 1st time too, as well as Dragonslayer, so I know that feeling of HOW?! Both amazing.
Phasmophobia, you've reminded me I need to see Little Otik; I love Å¡vankmajer.
The Neon Demon has a bit of this kinda vibe to it, too.
Reply by SaltyGirl
on March 8, 2017 at 10:11 PM
@Phasmophobia I watched a few Czech fairytale films recently. Beauty and the Beast that you mentioned was my favorite of the ones I watched. When I was searching for your rec Bluebeard, I ran across this horror movie that is being released this month. Bluebeard 2017, I love South Korean cinema, so I am really excited about this one.
Some fun trivia. I have been reading Chainsaw Confidential by Gunnar Hansen about the making of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel used the fable Hansel and Gretel as inspiration when writing their screenplay.
Reply by Arrrrrrrach
on March 9, 2017 at 7:13 PM
Krampus!
Reply by Phasmophobia
on March 11, 2017 at 11:28 PM
Haven't seen it yet, but there's a new movie called American Fable that looks inspired by Pan's Labyrinth.
Reply by lmao7
on March 12, 2017 at 12:51 AM
Is there a film for Rumpelstiltskin?
Reply by lantzn
on March 12, 2017 at 1:53 AM
While not a movie I really enjoyed this when it came out.
The Storyteller-9 episodes
Rare Exports 2010