Modern Fairy Tales
As an undergraduate one of my assignments was to write a modern piece of fiction based on fairy tales and folklore. My process can vary, however, something that I like to do is absorb myself in various media to get the creative juices flowing, including film. Consequently I've decided to compile a list of modern fairy tales and adaptations to help other people that might be interested in writing in this genre. Of course, if you feel I've missed something out, please make suggestions. Obviously, I haven't seen everything and some movies like Beastly are too rubbish to include on any list (except maybe worst films of all time), so some movies aren't on here, but nonetheless, here's a few to start with.
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- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsJessica HarperStefania CasiniFlavio BucciAn American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy comes to realize that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders.As fables of caution a lot of fairy tales are adapted into horror movies. Some more so than others. In this case it's Snow White.
- DirectorNeil JordanStarsSarah PattersonAngela LansburyDavid WarnerA teenage girl in a country manor falls asleep while reading a magazine, and has a disturbing dream involving wolves prowling the woods below her bedroom window.This is a loose adaptation of Angela Carter's take on Red Riding Hood. I remember the transformation was pretty good.
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsNoah HathawayBarret OliverTami StronachA troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.Not based on one fairy tale but has plenty of germanic folklore in it. Evil wolves, a princess in an ivory tower, a luck dragon, loads of stuff.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsTom CruiseMia SaraTim CurryA young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.Similar to The NeverEnding Story it's a mash-up of various folklore. I actually really like this film.
- DirectorJim HensonStarsDavid BowieJennifer ConnellyToby FroudSixteen-year-old Sarah must solve a labyrinth to rescue her baby brother when he is taken by the Goblin King.Another superb amalgamation of fairy tale themes and Bowie....Awesome.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsJohn NevilleEric IdleSarah PolleyAn account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences across late 18th-century Europe with his band of misfits.Yeah, more blending of themes. Gilliam has a few on this list.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsCary ElwesMandy PatinkinRobin WrightA bedridden boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.This is a great film. The 80's seem to have been a pretty prolific era for fairy tale mash-ups.
- DirectorClive BarkerStarsCraig ShefferDavid CronenbergAnne BobbyA troubled young man is drawn to a mythical place called Midian where a variety of friendly monsters are hiding from humanity. Meanwhile, a sadistic serial killer is looking for a patsy.Although this is very much a horror it has a strong sense of fairy tale.
- DirectorAkira KurosawaIshirô HondaStarsAkira TeraoMitsuko BaishôToshie NegishiA collection of tales based upon eight of director Akira Kurosawa's recurring dreams.A wonderful film that explores Japanese folklore.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppWinona RyderDianne WiestThe solitary life of an artificial man - who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands - is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.Like Gilliam Burton has a penchant for fairy tale themes.
- DirectorWes CravenStarsHeather LangenkampRobert EnglundJf DavisA demonic force has chosen Freddy Krueger as its portal to the real world. Can Heather Langenkamp play the part of Nancy one last time and trap the evil trying to enter our world?This was apparantly based on Hansel & Gretal and I can see that.
- DirectorMarc CaroJean-Pierre JeunetStarsRon PerlmanDaniel EmilforkJudith VittetA scientist in a surrealist society kidnaps children to steal their dreams, hoping that they slow his aging process.Jean-Pierre Jeunet is another top class film maker who has a distinct visual style that he blends into fairy tales.
- DirectorMatthew BrightStarsReese WitherspoonKiefer SutherlandBokeem WoodbineA twisted take on "Little Red Riding Hood", with a teenage juvenile delinquent on the run from a social worker travelling to her grandmother's house and being hounded by a charming, but sadistic, serial killer and pedophile.Good performances. A straight up adaptation of Red Riding Hood.
- DirectorMichael CohnStarsSigourney WeaverSam NeillGil BellowsIn this dark take on the fairy tale, the growing hatred of a noblewoman, secretly a practitioner of the dark arts, for her stepdaughter, and the witch's horrifying attempts to kill her.This is a gruesome version of Snow White. I thought it was alright at the time.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsDaveigh ChaseSuzanne PleshetteMiyu IrinoDuring her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.Of all the Studio Ghibli stuff I think this is the most effective fairy tale based story.
- DirectorSebastian GutierrezStarsRufus SewellCarla GuginoJim PiddockIn Ireland, two carnies abduct a mermaid and decide to take her to America. In their sea route, the seductive and mysterious creature reveals an uncontrollable darker side.An horrific version of The Little Mermaid.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsMatt DamonHeath LedgerMonica BellucciWill and Jake Grimm are traveling con-artists who encounter a genuine fairy-tale curse which requires true courage instead of their usual bogus exorcisms.Yeah well it says it in the title.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsJeff BridgesJennifer TillyJodelle FerlandBecause of the actions of her irresponsible parents, a young girl is left alone on a decrepit country estate and survives inside her fantastic imagination.This was well received but I found it kinda boring.
- DirectorDave McKeanStarsStephanie LeonidasJason BarryRob BrydonIn a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a fifteen-year-old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.Low budget but pretty good.
- DirectorDavid SladeStarsPatrick WilsonElliot PageSandra OhHayley's a smart, charming teenage girl. Jeff's a handsome, smooth fashion photographer. An Internet chat, a coffee shop meet-up, an impromptu fashion shoot back at Jeff's place. Jeff thinks it's his lucky night. He's in for a surprise.Excellent indie based on Red Riding Hood.
- DirectorTarsem SinghStarsLee PaceCatinca UntaruJustine WaddellIn 1920s Los Angeles, a bedridden patient in a hospital captivates a young girl with a fantastic tale of heroes, myths, and villains on a desert island.Tarsem Singh makes beautiful looking films but sometimes he can be a little guilty of sacrificing story for style. This is probably his best effort and the result if fantastic.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIvana BaqueroAriadna GilSergi LópezIn the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.This is a great movie by a film maker who really understands his subject.
- DirectorWayne KramerStarsPaul WalkerCameron BrightChazz PalminteriA low-ranking thug is entrusted by his crime boss to dispose of a gun that killed corrupt cops, but things get out of control when the gun ends up in wrong hands.Given half a chance this a decent film, certainly worth watching for the modern take on Hansel & Gretal.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsPaul GiamattiBryce Dallas HowardJeffrey WrightApartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. When he discovers that she is actually a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the journey back to her home, he works with his tenants to protect his new friend from the creatures that are determined to keep her in our world.
- DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsCharlie CoxClaire DanesSienna MillerIn a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm.Another Gaiman story, he's a master of modern fairy tales. I wasn't overly bothered about this film but it's not bad.
- DirectorKevin LimaStarsAmy AdamsSusan SarandonJames MarsdenA young maiden in a land called Andalasia, who is prepared to be wed, is sent away to New York City by an evil Queen, where she falls in love with a lawyer.This actually has some pretty funny moments. It kinda riffs on the whole Disney thing.
- DirectorRobert BeaucageStarsSarah Livingston EvansJared EdwardsAnna-Marie WayneThrough a series of dreamlike images, a girl and her three friends find themselves stranded in a dark and surrealistic forest by someone - or something - who has obsessively loved, watched, and waited for the girl ever since childhood.An indie movie that plays like Beauty & the Beast.
- DirectorJamin WinansStarsChristopher Soren KellyQuinn HuncharJessica DuffyA mysterious creature, known as Ink, steals a child's soul in hopes of using it as a bargaining chip to join the Incubi - the group of supernatural beings responsible for creating nightmares.This is a film that has an absolutely brilliant ending so you come away thinking it was awesomely great. It's not, it's very good for sure, especially for the small budget, but it's not without a few cringe worthy moments of dialogue and out of place sub-par Matrix style martial arts. It seems like I'm slagging it off, I don't want to, it's certainly worth watching, it's just a little bit overrated.
- DirectorHenry SelickStarsDakota FanningTeri HatcherJohn HodgmanWandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, an 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice.I love this film, wonderful, creepy and fantastic. Good stuff.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsChristopher PlummerLily ColeHeath LedgerHaving made a deal with the Devil himself for immortality many millennia ago, the now decrepit mystic Doctor Parnassus fights for the freedom of his only daughter's soul.I actually thought this was well crap.
- DirectorNeil JordanStarsColin FarrellAlicja BachledaDervla KirwanAn Irish fisherman discovers a woman in his fishing net whom his precocious daughter believes to be a selkie.This was pretty lame too. Bring back the sub-par Matrix style martial arts.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsRachel WeiszMark WahlbergSaoirse RonanCenters on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family - and her killer - from purgatory. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.Pretty much Little Red Riding Hood. This is a great film and possibly Jackson's best. Yeah I think it's that good.
- DirectorJoe DanteStarsChris MassogliaHaley BennettNathan GambleA pair of brothers stumble upon a mysterious hole in their basement that leads to the darkest corridors of their fears and nightmares.I really enjoyed this.
- DirectorSimon FellowsStarsMaggie GraceDanny DyerMatt KingA modern take on the classic fairytale, Alice in Wonderland, set in the North East of England.An urban take on Alice in Wonderland. It's got Danny Dyer in it so don't expect much and it's enjoyable enough.
- DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsNatalie PortmanMila KunisVincent CasselNina is a talented but unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom. Pushed to the breaking point by her artistic director and a seductive rival, Nina's grip on reality slips, plunging her into a waking nightmare.Essentially an adaptation of Swan Lake and it's really good. It's certainly my favourite Aronofsky effort.
- DirectorTroy NixeyStarsKatie HolmesGuy PearceBailee MadisonA young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend believes that she has released creatures from a sealed ash pit in the basement of her new home.I quite liked this, to say much more would be to give too much away, but you'll get the fairy tale elements if you watch it.
- DirectorJulia LeighStarsEmily BrowningRachael BlakeEwen LeslieA haunting portrait of Lucy, a young university student drawn into a mysterious hidden world of unspoken desires.very much a bleak, adult take on the fable.
- DirectorJoe WrightStarsSaoirse RonanCate BlanchettEric BanaA sixteen-year-old girl who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives.There are plenty of fairy tale elements scattered throughout this movie from Cate Blanchett's evil step mother to little red riding hood imagery
- DirectorBenh ZeitlinStarsQuvenzhané WallisDwight HenryLevy EasterlyFaced with both her hot-tempered father's fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love.Although it may not be a straight forward adaptation, the blending of fantasy and reality convey a sense of magic and mysticism.
- DirectorStobe HarjuMark RoperStarsFrancis X. McCarthyGlenda BraganzaHelene RobbieA coma sends an old man into his childhood's sinister fantasy world, where he must fight dementia and gain back his memories before it's too late.Essentially, this is an extended music video for a Finnish metal band called Nightwish. I guess a kind of concept video for a concept album, a bit like a rock opera such as Tommy. It plays out like an anti-snowman with distortion and double kick added to the sweeping score, which juxtaposes well with its dark fantasy look. The whole thing is quite Gaiman, which is a good thing.
- DirectorRyan GoslingStarsChristina HendricksIain De CaesteckerMatt SmithA single mother is swept into a dark underworld, while her teenage son discovers a road that leads him to a secret underwater town.