Mixing Genres: Horror Crossover Movies With Creepy Basements

creepy basements
Photo by Momentmal–5324081

The basement is one part of the home we usually neglect. Mostly because it is a part of the house we don’t usually go to. So it is mostly left messy and dark, giving it a creepy feel.

Even in some horror movies, the basement is sometimes portrayed as a scary place because of all the evil things that goes on there.

Most evil people in horror movies use their basement as their lair. So it totally makes sense why people neglect their basements.

The concept of genre mixing is one that goes back a very long time. People like the idea of movies that twist and screw genres, allowing them to see a type of story they rarely get to see.

Horror movies often cross over into other genres, whether those genres are seemingly suited to horror, like drama, or seemingly at odds with it, like comedy.

Consider these horror movies and TV shows with creepy basements, all of which also dabble in other genres.

Horror movies with creepy basements

Get out: horror-satire

One thing many critics praised Get Out for being able to do was weave horror and satire together. Get Out directly tackles race relations in America, and it does so in both subtle and significant ways, turning metaphorical racial tensions into literal horrors.

One of the scariest moments of Get Out is the main character’s venture into the basement, where he descends into the Sunken Place under hypnosis.

Parasite movie

Parasite: horror-drama

Technically, Parasite wasn’t really billed as a horror movie. Instead, it was billed as a drama, but the dramatic elements in the movie are what allow it to grow into something horrifying.

The main family lives in a banjiha, or basement apartment, which is part of the movie’s overall critique of societal horrors that push this family to do some truly terrifying things.

The rocky horror picture show: horror-comedy

The Rocky Horror Picture Show manages to mix together horror and comedy into a musical that’s grown into a cult classic since its original release in 1975.

The movie blends together B movie tropes, low-budget horror, and the British punk scene. Dr. Frank N. Furter, a main character in the movie, keeps his Medusa Transducer, which can turn people into statues, in the basement.

stranger things basement

Stranger things: horror-science fiction

The world of Stranger Things very firmly rests in science fiction. The series draws from conspiracy theories, Cold War-era experiments, and pop culture to craft a world that at once rests in reality and utilizes science-fiction themes to make it seem otherworldly.

Every night, one of the main characters calls another from his pillow fort in the basement, which is one of the main backdrops of the series.

Misery: horror-thriller

One of the things that sets Misery apart is the fact that it doesn’t stick to a traditional horror script. Adapted from a Stephen King novel, it instead focuses on the twisted and terrifying relationship between a novelist and a deranged fan.

Serial killer Annie Wilkes uses her home’s damp, rat-infested basement to keep her captive from signaling for help.

The Amityville horror: horror-docudrama

The story behind The Amityville Horror has had its fair share of controversies; it’s alleged to be a real-life retelling of a family’s paranormal experiences after moving into a home in Long Island. But some have expressed doubts over whether or not it has any historical basis.

Still, The Amityville Horror offers a take on this purportedly true story, including the hidden 4 foot by 5 foot room in the home’s basement.

Conclusion

Both basements and genre crossing are constants in the world of horror. Especially in today’s modern world, people are having to push filmmaking boundaries further to get their films acknowledged, which means more and more genre crossing.

Whether you’re interested in the intentionally campy aesthetics of The Rocky Horror Picture Show or you want to get involved in the interpersonal relationships of Stranger Things, there’s probably a creepy basement lurking just around the corner.

SEE ALSO:
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE RENOVATING YOUR BASEMENT
HOW TO STOP YOUR BASEMENT FROM SMELLING BAD
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