Some people look at the night sky and imagine the wonders that are out there among the stars. They dream of visiting other planets, exploring other worlds. I, on the other hand, find the idea of leaving our comfortable little planet to visit the dark and airless vacuum beyond our atmosphere very frightening and misguided. There is inherent danger in stuffing humans into small, confined spaces in a hostile environment. Recent news of the astronauts that were stuck in space, opens a new window felt a little like witnessing a real-life nightmare to me.
It is hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that anyone has gone into space at all, much less walked on the moon. The first space flight and all the competition leading up to it ignited imaginations and inspired many films. I would argue that ANY movie set in outer space is a horror movie, but early intentional entries into the space horror genre have ranged from low budget efforts like The Blob, opens a new window to The Day the Earth Stood Still, opens a new window, and the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers. We have been fascinated not just by the idea of what will happen when humans visit outer space, but also, what happens if something from space visits us.
If these movies are to be believed, I should be scared! This is not a list of heartwarming alien friendships like the kind seen in Star Trek, opens a new window and in E.T, opens a new window. Keep reading if you’re fascinated and enjoy being frightened by remote settings, isolation, and encounters with the unknown. Also, be on the lookout for an upcoming HCPL podcast about space horror!, opens a new window
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