Cosmic horror, also known as Lovecraftian horror, is a popular subgenre in the horror world but there are surprisingly few successful films. While many have tried, some filmmakers have discovered the difficulties with translating cosmic horror to the screen. These tales involve characters facing deep emotional turmoil and intense fears of the unknown or unexplainable that they cannot fight against, which can understandably be difficult to display in a visual medium. While many can so easily fall flat or lose their edge, here’s a short list of the best cosmic horror films to send you into your own existential nightmare.

Event Horizon (1997) 

The crew of a spaceship are sent out to find the missing Event Horizon after it mysteriously reappeared, only for them to discover that the horror that brought the ship to its abandoned state is still present and ever dangerous. This is a great example of a tense, psychological thriller from the 90s that doesn’t rely too heavily on the campy tropes of the time. In fact, the film prides itself on being a slow descent into madness, both for the characters and the audience. This is a truly spooky and riveting story with a phenomenal performance from Sam Neil at his utmost creepiest. 

Color Out Of Space (2019)

When a mysterious meteorite lands on their property, a family finds themselves in a battle for their lives and sanity against a horrifying, unexplainable entity. While a loose adaptation on the 1927 Lovecraftian short story, the film stays true to the emotions evoked in the original, namely the terror and confusion when confronted with and threatened by the unknown. Reality and space-time begin to bend around this otherworldly nightmare, provided with truly maddening performances from the entire cast. The stunning cinematography and visual effects are a feast for the eyes, albeit one that’s hard to swallow, but impossible to look away from.