Humanity has been sharing tales about horrific monsters since time immemorial, and a few of these tales have turn out to be so ingrained in tradition that they find yourself outlasting the societies that created them. That’s why we nonetheless see films primarily based on mythic figures like Hercules and the Minotaur over two thousand years after the tip of the Hellenistic interval.
And with even Christopher Nolan borrowing from Greek Mythology in his upcoming Odyssey adaptation, we’ve determined to compile a listing celebrating six of the scariest depictions of historical Greek monsters in movie. In spite of everything, an epic quest is just as thrilling because the unusual beasts that our heroes encounter alongside the way in which.
In an effort to maintain issues diversified, we’ll solely be together with one entry per monster. That being stated, don’t neglect to remark beneath with your personal mythic favorites for those who suppose we missed a very spooky instance.
With that out of the way in which, onto the listing…
6. The Minotaur – Immortals (2011)
This 300-inspired reimagining of the traditional Greek pantheon is now principally remembered as Henry Cavill’s first main function in a big-budget motion flick, however this stylized flop really includes a handful of attention-grabbing concepts hidden amongst baffling storytelling selections and extreme use of CGI.
Personally, my favourite factor of the movie has to do with its reinvention of the Minotaur as a cenobite-like human trapped inside a metallic bull-helmet. “The Beast” will not be a really lore-accurate tackle the long-lasting monster, however I’m fascinated by the concept of the Minotaur being extra of an unstoppable Slasher villain than an unholy union of man and animal.
And for those who’re all for extra inaccurate-yet-entertaining takes on the Minotaur, I’d additionally advocate testing 2006’s surprisingly entertaining Sci-Fi unique starring Tom Hardy!
5. The Lamia – Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Sam Raimi’s PG-13 riff on his personal Evil Useless films could also be extra generally related to Romani mythology because of the nature of the curse which dooms Christine to hell after refusing to assist a struggling previous girl, however the truth is that the demonic Lamia is far older than the movie would have you ever imagine.
Historically portrayed as a demonic snake girl who takes benefit of lustful younger males and steals away youngsters, the unique Lamia is kind of a distinct beast than the Baphomet-inspired monster we see in Drag Me to Hell, although the movie nonetheless refers back to the entity as a “she,” implying that there’s a connection together with her namesake.
4. The Faun – Pan’s Labyrinth (2007)
The mysterious Satyr that leads younger Ofelia on her journey into the underworld will not be the scariest a part of Guillermo del Toro’s darkish fantasy opus, but it surely’s nonetheless one of many freakiest depictions of the Nice God Pan that we’ve ever seen on the large display screen – particularly for those who purchase into the idea that he’s secretly the Pale Man in disguise.
Dropped at life by a mixture of impeccable make-up results and state-of-the-art puppetry (to not point out certainly one of two unimaginable performances by the inimitable Doug Jones in the identical film), Del Toro’s tackle the Satyr is decidedly extra demonic than its family-friendly friends like Mr. Tumnus.
3. The Stygian Witches – Conflict of the Titans (2010)
Historically often called the Graeae, these blind sisters had been collectively often called the goddesses of previous age. Nonetheless, when it got here time to have the witches information Perseus in the direction of Medusa in 2010’s Conflict of the Titans remake, director Louis Leterrier (who had beforehand labored on Unleashed) determined that it will be rather more attention-grabbing to depict the ageing hags as undead monsters relatively than grey-haired previous girls.
Dropped at life by beautiful sensible results, the movie’s sisters look extra like hellish mutations relatively than conventional witches, with the three of them sharing a single misshapen eye as they lurk a few fetid swamp. And right here’s a enjoyable truth: the trio is definitely associated to Medusa in mythology, which explains why they’d be so hesitant to share their info with Sam Worthington’s Perseus within the movie!
2. Cerberus – Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
The undead canines that comprise Mission Cerberus have been a pillar of the Resident Evil franchise for the reason that very first recreation, however their Historical-Greek-derived title was initially solely meant to reference their honorary place because the guardians of Umbrella’s “underworld” relatively than any bodily resemblance to their namesake. It was solely in 2010’s Resident Evil: Afterlife that these packs of contaminated Dobermans would incorporate some mythological aptitude with some further mutations.
Impressed by the Adjule of Resident Evil 5, Afterlife’s new breed of Cerberus can break up its head straight down the center, revealing unbiased units of jaws on each side in addition to a smaller, extra bulbous maw within the heart – that means that they technically have three unbiased heads similar to Hades’ beloved pet!
1. Medusa – Conflict of the Titans (1981)
Usually cited because the crowning achievement of Ray Harryhausen’s lengthy and celebrated profession as a grasp of monstrous particular results, the stop-motion-powered Medusa of the unique Conflict of the Titans was a recurring supply of nightmares for a lot of younger cinephiles all through the 80s. Not unhealthy for a 14-inch-tall puppet product of latex!
Certain, the long-lasting Gorgon may not look like nightmare gasoline when judged by fashionable requirements (particularly now that stop-motion is extra related to household pleasant animation relatively than particular results), however her fluid actions mixed with a genuinely menacing design imply that that is nonetheless the definitive depiction of the Medusa practically half a century later.
