Many comic book movies have started following the exact same thematic and narrative beats as one another. The films are becoming cookie-cutter “perfect,” but in doing so, they lose all the originality and dynamic flavor that people loved about these stories in the first place. If comic book movies dared to explore genres, the entire landscape of superhero movies would likely be changed immediately and drastically for the better.
However, few are brave enough to be the first venturing out to make a non-action-movie superhero film. If some bold creator were willing to adapt one of any of these magnificent comic books into a great horror movie, they would inevitably become one of the greatest superhero movie creators of this modern age.
10 Infidel By Pornsak Pichetshote & Aaron Campbell
Fans of Infidel, written by Pornsak Pichetshote with art by Aaron Campbell, know that this comic would easily become one of the best haunted house films of the decade. In fact, not too long ago, TriStar Pictures obtained the rights to adapt Infidel into a movie, and signed Hany Abu-Assad on to direct.
Infidel tells the story of an American Muslim woman living in a haunted apartment building. This building is haunted by a strange entity in that it feeds off of a very specific emotion: Xenophobia. Infidel brings horror back to its roots and reminds people there’s nothing more terrifying than the hatred and instability of your next-door neighbor.
9 Batman: The Long Halloween By Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale
With many fans looking forward to the upcoming adaptation of “Batman: The Long Halloween” being added to the new DC animated canon, others are wondering if they might ever see a live action film adaptation of the story. “Batman: The Long Halloween,” by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Tale, is undoubtedly one of Bruce’s most horrifying tales in the comics.
Even the basic plot is enough to support a horror movie. The fact that Batman has to stop a serial killer with a specific holiday theme is the perfect set-up for a horror movie. Superhero movies are apparently currently afraid to attempt being horror movies, but this might be the perfect place to start trying it out.
8 Immortal Hulk By Al Ewing & Joe Bennett
There are many more horrors than those that lurk outside. Sometimes, the most terrifying thing a person can experience lies right beneath their very skin. Immortal Hulk, written by Al Ewing with art penciled by Joe Bennett, features a story ripped right out of the pages of many classic horror novels.
This interpretation of the Hulk— also known as Devil Hulk— happily waits dormant inside of Bruce Banner’s body until he’s able to explode out of his body again at nighttime. Once darkness falls, the monstrous Hulk bursts out of Bruce, perhaps stronger than ever before. This werewolf-esque twist to Bruce’s story would make for the perfect horror adaptation — and maybe even the MCU’s first.
7 Shadowland By Andy Diggle & Billy Tan
If the MCU is unwilling to experiment with a character like Bruce Banner, that they have made a bit lighter-hearted than usual in the movies, they might be more willing to go with a more brooding figure. Daredevil is one of the darker figures in the MCU at present, which might make for the perfect lead-in to a film adaptation of “Shadowland” by Andy Diggle with art by Billy Tan.
This story not only features Daredevil, but other heroes that exist in the MCU now— like Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Spider-Man, and Elektra, as well Moon Knight who soon will thanks to his upcoming Disney+ series. The story perfectly fits the horror concept and sees Daredevil getting possessed and becoming a murderous monster.
6 Locke & Key By Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodríguez
Locke & Key has already been adapted for the screen via a series on Netflix, with two seasons under its belt and a third confirmed to be on the way. However, while the show is good, the argument can (and should) be made that the comic book series Locke & Key by Joe Hill, with art by Gabriel Rodríguez, should have been turned into a horror movie.
It still could be, and arguably still should be. This horror comic features elements of many different horror styles, and would be incredible to see adapted to the silver screen. Not only that, but the series’ ghosts and demons would make for the great supernatural horror comics film that fans are truly dying to see.
5 Wytches By Scott Snyder & Jock
Arguably one of the best comics writers of the modern day is Scott Snyder. His six-issue series Wytches, with art by Jock, is an excellent horror comic; much like Infidel, it too will hopefully soon become a film. Plan B Entertainment bought the rights to adapt this story into a film, and fans are hopeful that the movie will be a horror movie worthy of the comics.
As the title suggests, Wytches follows a story centered around a town of people that are willing to dedicate themselves and their bodies to the wytches of the woods in order to get the wytches’ help— and the people who fight against them. This story is fresh, original, and could breathe new life into the horror genre as a whole, in both comics and movies.
4 X-Men: Curse Of The Mutants By Victor Gischler & Paco Medina
There are quite a few stories in Marvel and DC comics that could make for great horror movies, and quite a few that would probably be terrible. If handled correctly, storylines like “X-Men: Curse of the Mutants,” written by Victor Gischler with art by Paco Medina, could be the perfect way to give a more light-hearted group like the X-Men their own horror movie.
This story has more to do with vampires than any other creatures, though they may have to adapt the idea of a blood bomb that turns X-Men into vampires. However, characters like Blade should definitely stick around if this story were adapted to the silver screen as a horror movie.
3 Marvel Zombies By Robert Kirkman & Sean Phillips
If the MCU were to adapt any horror story from the comics into a horror movie for their films, it would probably be along the lines of “Marvel Zombies.” This series, written by Robert Kirkman with art by Sean Phillips, was only five issues long, but it certainly left its mark on comics fans.
This story is also set in an alternate universe, so the MCU could reasonably adapt this storyline into an alternate timeline than the main thread in the MCU without causing any problems. In addition, the MCU has expanded so much— to even include new shows like What If…?— that an alternate universe film where popular characters become zombies isn’t even that far-fetched anymore for the franchise.
2 Winnebago Graveyard By Steve Niles & Alison Sampson
In the world of comics, there are countless amounts of excellent comic books and series created by small independent creators that will never get the recognition or widespread rabid fan base that they deserve. However, comics like Winnebago Graveyard by Steve Niles— with art by Alison Sampson, Stéphane Paitrea, and Jordie Bellaire— deserve their chance in the sun (or moon) just as much as any other horror story.
This story even excels beyond many mainstream stories, focusing on a family as they find a Satanic ghost town while on their cross-country road trip in a Winnebago. There are countless moments from this comic that would translate beautifully to the silver screen, if only the story ever got the chance to make the jump.
1 Aquaman: The Trench By Geoff Johns & Ivan Reis
Recently, it was announced that the spin-off movie James Wan wanted to make about the Trench from DC Comics was being cancelled. However, this does not mean that “Aquaman: The Trench” wouldn’t still make a perfect horror movie. This would be the perfect monster horror film, as the Trench are a genuinely monstrous and beastly entity that can split up and form up together as needed.
In addition, the ocean is a particularly good setting for horror movies, and could be well-utilized as an underwater backdrop for this scary movie. While it seems that the Trench movie won’t be coming anytime soon, fans shouldn’t let go of their hope for it. If it does ever get made as a movie, it would inarguably be an excellent horror story to adapt.