Cosmic Horror

Here, we dive into the weird worlds of cosmic horror, discuss films that define the genre onscreen, and offer tips to actors and creators looking to (love)craft their own projects.

What is cosmic horror?

At its core, cosmic horror asks the question: What if humanity is truly insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe? The genre often involves characters who seek knowledge, only to encounter creatures, concepts, or locations that are beyond human comprehension.

Why is cosmic horror scary? It erases the natural human comfort that we’re important and our lives have meaning. At the heart of every cosmic horror story is the most ancient fear of all: fear of the unknown.

These types of stories are also called eldritch horror or Lovecraftian horror—after the writer who pioneered the concept, H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft’s stories often involve terrors so great they defy definition, as well as a race of “Elder Gods” who view humans the way we might regard ants on the side of the road.

"Directive 8020 is the next game in line to continue the Dark Pictures anthology series. As the first game to kickstart Season 2 of the ongoing anthology, Directive 8020 is taking its setting to the dark and unforgiving world of space. This is the first time that the series is leaving Earth, and early footage promises plenty of cosmic body horror on the horizon.

This is an exciting change of pace for the series, as Directive 8020 is Dark Pictures' first major venture into the sci-fi horror sphere. House of Ashes dabbled with some sci-fi elements with its vampiric monsters from outer space, but Directive 8020 aims to bring humans into the furthest reaches of the unknown. Directive 8020 is a grotesque chapter in the anthology, which is a staple in sci-fi horror. The sci-fi horror subgenre is having a huge renaissance period, and if Directive 8020 wants to be as successful as possible, it needs to announce its release date sooner than later..."

source https://www.tumblr.com/arnaerr

"Visionary writer/director Jason Trost (The FP series, All Superheroes Must Die) uniquely blends classic horror influences with the latest in digital filmmaking technology, forging a new frontier in modern independent cinema. While touted as the first side-scrolling horror adventure film, pulling from classic video game influences, The Waves of Madness is also inspired by the timeless terror of 1930s monster movies.

The Waves of Madness follows “a special agent dispatched to investigate a distress call from a round-the-world cruise. Upon arrival, the agent finds the ship eerily abandoned and haunted by a malevolent force that distorts reality and warps sanity into terror.”

The trailer emphasizes the retro, side-scrolling fun, while the brand-new poster teases a rather Lovecraftian foe ahead..."

"The big hook in Shattered Space is that it's "completely handcrafted" and self-contained: You can leave the planet of Va'ruun'kai whenever the urge hits, but the story takes place entirely on that world. That story revolves around big trouble on the homeworld: A secret experiment went terribly wrong (shocking, I know) causing a big-ass tear in the space-time continuum that swallowed up a huge chunk of the Va'ruun capital Dazra, and in the immediate aftermath of all that death, destruction, and trauma, various political factions are jockeying for power and control.

Such is the way of human nature, I suppose, but it's not just power-hungry politicos you'll be dealing with: That grav-drive accident has also opened the door to horrors from another dimension, who can pop in from out of nowhere to ruin your day.

Shattered Space looks like kind of an unusual mashup. The whole Great Serpent, "All must serve" thing smacks of Dead Space-style cosmic horror, but the underlying "pick a faction" storyline comes off as far more conventional Bethesda fare. Combat also promises to be more up-close-and-personal: The base game focuses primarily on ranged gun combat, but art director Istvan Pely says Bethesda is "closing that distance" in the Shattered Space expansion.

"Space is scary," Pely says in the video. "Part of getting that across is amping up the aggression and chaos of combat." Having hostile giant space spiders warping directly into your face will no doubt help with that, too..."

"Hatem Hossam AlDeen’s feature AKH, the Arab world’s first-ever cosmic horror film, has hit cinemas across Kuwait following a premiere at Cinescape 360 Mall. The event saw the attendance of the film’s cast and crew, marking a major milestone in the region’s film industry..."

"I think we can all agree that horror is one of the most fun genres to write and to experience. Horror takes you on a roller coaster of emotions and experiences.

There are lots of different kinds of horror movies and TV shows, and a diverse array of subgenres to examine. There are things that go bump in the night, and things that go bump from outer space.

Today, we're going to examine the cosmic horror definition and examples of it, as well. We'll dig into all the Lovecraftian monsters, aliens, and spectral forces. We'll also look at how these kinds of tales make it into film and television.

So get ready for take-off..."

"In the modern age, Lovecraftian or eldritch horror has become more and more popular, with increasing numbers of films representing this particular subgenre of scary movie. Named after the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Lovecraftian horror refers to stories that lean on the specific tropes emblematic of the writer's work, including forbidden knowledge, cosmic dread, the insignificance of humanity, and creatures or entities that exist outside the boundaries of human perception. Also referred to as eldritch horror, this particular brand of scary movie has become incredibly popular in recent years.

The best Lovecraftian horror films delve heavily into the themes of Lovecraft's original works, or at least have a superficial surface-level relation to them on the grounds of imagery like Cthulu, the cephalopod-like entity and famous horror antagonist. Some eldritch horror movies are direct adaptations of Lovecraft's stories, whereas others simply take heavy inspiration from the genre while still ultimately creating something new. Whatever the case, many of the best Lovecraftian horror movies are relatively recent films..."

"Crouch End. It’s a weird name, when you think about it. Perhaps that’s what Stephen King did one day (or night). He thought about the name and was inspired to imagine terrifying things happening there. Perhaps he looked up the toponymy of the name, thought by some to refer to the point where the influence of a church parish expired. Whatever, King devised a version of the place where dark forces mustered and made visiting Americans disappear.

It starts like this:-

“By the time the woman had finally gone, it was nearly two-thirty in the morning. Outside the Crouch End police station, Tottenham Lane was a small dead river. London was asleep…but London never sleeps deeply, and its dreams are uneasy.”

The story was published in 1980. The version I stumbled across online informs us that it also appeared that year in a collection of short stories by various authors called New Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos, meaning it relates to a genre of fiction horror writer H.P. Lovecraft originated. Lovecraft subscribed to cosmicism, a philosophy that holds human beings to be insignificant.

How relaxed are you feeling so far…?"

https://collider.com/bliss-horror-movie/

Joe Begos’ 2019 Bliss blends all the grungy glamor of a Bret Easton Ellis novel with 1970s campy body horror to the grand heights of mind-altering cosmic horror. Starring Dora Madison as Dezzy, a Los Angeles artist struggling to paint now that she’s sober, Bliss takes the audience on a bender like no other. As Dezzy falls back into drugs and partying, she makes great strides in her painting, at the cost of waking up covered in blood with no memory of the night before. Breaking her sobriety with a new drug, bliss, Dezzy experiences terrifying and surreal visions. Under the influence, her friend, Courtney (Tru Collins), slips her something else entirely. Dezzy begins to experience a thirst for blood that sends her into a bloody spiral. As Dezzy roams Los Angeles’ party scene, high and wild, the walls of reality begin to collapse around her. The horror could be an induced hallucination, or it could be real. Through a carefully curated aesthetic and eclectic editing, Bliss drugs the viewer alongside Dezzy to simulate a 90-minute-long trip unlike any other. (...)

Trailer

"Enter the unforgiving lands of Alaska and try to survive eldritch horrors in Edge of Sanity, available now on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Check out the Edge of Sanity launch trailer for a peek at the nightmares you'll encounter in this Cthulhu-inspired, 2D survival horror game.

In Edge of Sanity, uncover a disturbing story while madness claws at your mind. Lead a group of survivors and explore, scavenge, and survive together - against untold eldritch horrors..."

"Night Silence is a 2024 horror film about an old man who encounters inexplicable deaths and dark secrets at a nursing home. The movie blends “Lovecraftian horror with the true fears of ageing.”

Directed by Bartosz M. Kowalski (Hellhole; Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight and its sequel; Playground) from a screenplay co-written with Pawel Maslona and Mirella Zaradkiewicz.

The movie stars Maciej Damiecki, Zdzislaw Wardejn, Wlodzimierz Press, Anna Nehrebecka, Anna Korzeniecka, Sebastian Stankiewicz, Robert Wabich, Olaf Lubaszenko, Kocik-Diakonów, Joanna Balasz and Krzysztof Satala.

Plot: Octogenarian Lucjan (Maciej Damiecki) is admitted by his son to a bucolic nursing home, where he is warmly welcomed by both the residents and the facility’s staff. However, he soon uncovers a dark secret hidden in the basement. His disturbing visions begin to coincide with the deaths of several fellow residents, along with the emergence of strange, malevolent creatures that manifest every midnight..."

"Titan Comics and Hard Case Crime launch the new series Minky Woodcock: The Girl Called Cthulhu this October, and you can get an early sneak peek at the first issue with an unlettered extended preview that we have for you below…

Sensational artist, author, and playwright, CYNTHIA VON BUHLER melds her glorious illustrations with the eldritch elements of HP LOVECRAFT and ALEISTER CROWLEY.

Inspired by a true WWII maritime operation, shocking satanic events, monstrous men, and one salacious sea creature, this third series tells the tale of Minky’s encounter with legendary horror writer H.P. LOVECRAFT, creator of the dreaded CTHULHU..."

Invidious Link | Youtube

1984. A computer program. A terrifying discovery. PARAGON.

‘PARAGON,’ a retro 1980s-style sci-fi horror short film, has captivated audiences worldwide and was an official selection at the Fantasia Film Festival and the Sitges Film Festival—two of the top and most prestigious genre fests in the world.

"One quiet night in the summer of 1984, an MIT student discovers an unfathomable horror after accidentally inventing a computer program that can predict the future."

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27560708/

"FromSoftware’s Bloodborne takes not only themes and elements from Lovecraft but also the storytelling structure from the author.

The game might begin on an understandable note but quickly descends into Eldritch horrors that are far beyond mortal comprehension.

Bloodborne’s effective usage of cosmic horror, paired with its Gothic aesthetic, makes for a memorable experience that has enraptured fans for nearly a decade.

From the moment you set foot onto the forsaken cobblestones of Yharnam, Bloodborne makes it abundantly clear there is something very, very wrong. After all, your first vision in the game is a beast emerging from a puddle of blood before you awaken in an abandoned clinic.

Going down the stairs to exit the clinic is a metaphor for how the game’s descent from safety to insanity has already begun.

While some of the Lovecraftian inspirations are easy enough to spot, those who have read the author’s work will agree that FromSoftware has done a deep dive into the realm of cosmic horror.

From the narrative’s subject matter to its pacing, along with all the visuals in the game, Bloodborne’s homage to Lovecraft is one of the many reasons this beloved title is brought up in many discussions..."

Art Gallery - https://www.deviantart.com/adehenne/gallery/all

"With the domination of Shonen manga like One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach for years, a subgenre has also been discreetly thriving in the industry— horror. At the forefront of this genre stands Junji Ito, a master of eerie storytelling and grotesque imagery. Among his creations, Uzumaki is regarded by Ito as the “most complete demonstration” of his artistic ability, in addition to being one of the most terrifying horror stories ever written.

While this masterpiece manga first started its serialization in 1998, fans had to wait quite a long time for the anime adaptation to come to fruition. The long wait is finally over as Uzumaki‘s Adult Swim adaptation is set to premiere on 28th September...

... Horror as a genre has always thrived in visual mediums. Thus, the creepy imagery of Uzumaki is perfect for animation, where the spirals can take on a life of their own. In addition to this, the story’s exploration of cosmic horror, body horror, and psychological terror taps into fears that are universal, which are bound to resonate with viewers on a new level..."

"The Daemon had its world premiere at FrightFest and won the crowd over with its Lovecraftian trappings. The debut was extra special for co-director David Michael Yohe, as the premiere happened to fall on his birthday. Thankfully he got the gift that he wanted – a well received response to his debut – and was in high spirits when he attended the media wall alongside his co-director Matt Devino and cast members Tyler Q. Rosen and Sara Fletcher.

THN spoke to the team about the prevailing power of H. P. Lovecraft, haunted houses, and gooey practical effects..."

"This game was released in 2019 and was well-received for its depiction of a “Black Day” in which the world is engulfed in cosmic terror.「Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones」Although it is a sequel, chronologically this work comes before it, so it is a so-called prequel.

The developer is Misterial Games. The game is a departure from the previous game, which was a top-down 2D game, and instead uses first-person 3D graphics to create a world filled with madness. The drawings are based on this concept..."

"A month ago, we covered Forgive Me Father 2, a Lovecraft-inspired FPS with a unique art style and a sequel to Byte Barrel's 2022 Forgive Me Father. Currently in Early Access, FMF2 is set to receive a massive content update later this month introducing a variety of new locations, enemies, and weapons for players to enjoy.

Arguably the most unique weapon coming with the update is Obelisk, a powerful artifact described by the developers as an "eldritch railgun" – a description as precise as the weapon itself. Recently, in response to the community's excitement over Obelisk, the team shared a new gameplay demo focusing exclusively on this magical WMD:

Showcasing Obelisk in action, the latest demo fully captures the weapon's destructive power, showing the protagonist reducing demons to gibs and performing a ritual to reload the railgun. "Channeling the power of the cosmos through your enemies! Shoots a perfectly accurate, piercing beam of instant death that only the toughest of foes can survive! This one is an easy grab, though its elaborate 'reloading' procedure is not for the faint of heart," reads the team's description of Obelisk..."

ARTICLE

Summary:

• The article discusses the experience of cosmic horror
• It traces the evolution of astronomical thought from geocentrism to heliocentrism, highlighting figures like Kant and Giordano Bruno, who recognized the implications of an infinite universe.
• Early works of science fiction, such as Fontenelle's Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds, illustrate how philosophical dialogues about the cosmos helped to confront cosmic horror, transforming dread into curiosity and wonder.
• The article emphasizes that both telescopes and microscopes inspired science fiction by revealing vast and tiny worlds, leading to reflections on humanity's position in nature.
• The genre is portrayed as a means to explore political and social possibilities, offering a way to envision different futures and cope with the anxieties of modern existence.

Blaise Pascal, Thoughts (Reference Pascal and Ariew1670)