Romantic Horror Double Features for a Deadly Date Night

“Roses are red, violets are blue, one is dead, and so are you!” (Valentine)

Horror and romance have always been intertwined. Don’t believe me? Try online dating. Now there’s a surefire way to get your heart maimed. Digital nightmares aside, romance and horror really do go hand in bloody hand.

Something scary is a tried and true option for movie date night. With Valentine’s Day coming up, I’ve carved through some options, genre by genre, for a menu of double features. Each of the following films feature romance (in some way), and all provide plenty of thrills and chills. What more could you ask for? Well, maybe, a weapon — you can never be too careful when it comes to love.

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Slasher

My Bloody Valentine (1981) and Valentine (2001)

What’s pink, white, and red all over? That bloody valentine lying at your doorstep! This year, Valentine’s Day is getting lots of new scary movie releases, especially Heart Eyes. But these two slasher flicks carry a certain charm from their respective eras. My Bloody Valentine deals with a Valentine’s Day curse in a small Canadian mining town while Valentine is all about middle school revenge. And the kills are definitely on the creative side — death by boiling hot dog and an arrow to the heart from a Cupid-masked killer are highlights.

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Monster

The Shape of Water (2017) and Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

Cross my heart and hope to die, these two monster movies are love stories that can’t be missed. Monsters have always been a symbol of the Other, those who are marginalized for one reason or another. But there’s something eternally romantic about two outcasts finding acceptance from each other. Plus, The Shape of Water and Lisa Frankenstein are visually stunning. Guillermo del Toro and Zelda Williams know how to cultivate an aesthetic. If you love Universal Monsters, then these films are wonderful modern remakes.

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Body Horror

Fresh (2022) and Bones and All (2022)

These movies heard the phrase, “You’re so adorable I could eat you up!” and really took it to heart. Timothy is eating more than peaches and Sebastian gives Hannibal Lecter a run for his money. Cannibalism is a powerful metaphor for all-consuming love, especially in the beautifully fascinating Bones and All. Fresh, on the other gnawed-off hand, is more of a harrowing tale of escape. Both will have you biting your fingernails … and maybe more.

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Vampire

Ganja & Hess (1973) and Nosferatu (2024)

Vampires are sexy — always have been, always will be. These two films probably couldn’t be any more different yet they both examine what vampirism means metaphorically. Ganja & Hess is a cerebral, stream-of-consciousness journey through the blurry lens of addiction. Nosferatu is a gothic tale of sexual repression and corrupted love. With this double feature, vampirism is still sensual but that physical intimacy is tinged with something even darker than blood: flawed humanity.

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Musical

The Phantom of the Opera (2004) and Your Monster (2024)

Love takes centerstage in these two monstrous films! They could also fit within the regular monster category but their musical sensibilities really set them apart among fellow gruesome creatures. Can love overcome physical imperfection? The answers certainly vary. Each of these features backstage drama, catchy tunes, and will-they-won’t-they romances that lead up to staggering finales. Cue the applause — and the screams of terror.

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Zombie

My Boyfriend’s Back (1993) and Warm Bodies (2013)

Nothing screams young love quite like a hunger for flesh. Warm Bodies is a zombified, apocalyptic Romeo & Juliet, while My Boyfriend’s Back is a quirky ’90s romp. Right when you think it can’t get any weirder, somebody says, “You ate someone just to go to the prom with me?” But these two options also place a beating heart in the zombie genre — they both propose that love could be a driving force in reanimating the dead. If you ignore the science, it’s enough to make you go head over decaying heels.

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Ghost

Beetlejuice (1988) and Candyman (1992)

Sometimes if you play the name game, the results will scare you! Each of these titular ghosts can be summoned when you call their name. While Beetlejuice is a paranormal pest full of pranks, Candyman is an urban legend hooked on vengeance. And at the end of the day, they only seek understanding … with a little bloodshed on the side. Their scare methods are vastly different but it’s kind of like a mix of sour and sweet. I’ll let you decide which is which, ghoul-friends.

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Witch

Practical Magic (1998) and The Love Witch (2016)

Spells and potions and candles, what’s so scary you ask? Well these witches are out for blood. They might be crafting charms but their power is nothing to be reckoned with — especially if you take their love for granted. Both films lean into the more gruesome aspects of witchcraft, namely necromancy and blood magic. The Love Witch has a captivating retro aesthetic while Practical Magic is both cozy and wicked.

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AI

Ex Machina (2014) and Companion (2025)

Fear of technology has existed since we started relying on technology during our everyday lives. If it can be made more convenient by high tech, you can bet there’s an app for that. And what’s more inconvenient than the messy intricacies of love? To nobody’s surprise, mixing love with technology is not a quick fix. In fact, trying to apply artificial intelligence to the pursuit of love has the opposite effect. Major glitches ahead.

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Haunted House

Crimson Peak (2015) and The Invitation (2022)

Floorboards creak all by themselves and shadows move in the corner of your eye. That’s right — it’s haunted house time. Crimson Peak and The Invitation both deal with an outsider being welcomed into a world of opulent wealth and decaying traditions, all in the name of marriage. If you dream of running terrified down ornate hallways and grand staircases, these are the movies for you. But beware: Ghosts aren’t the only things that can haunt a sprawling estate with sinister secrets behind every wall.

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Ah, love really is in the air … oh, wait. That’s just the sound of bloodcurdling screams. But if you really want a scare, try watching the ensemble film Valentine’s Day (2010). Now that’s horrific.

Which double feature will you be lining up first? Join the conversation with other horror fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!