Erik the Phantom, Christine Daae & Vicomte Raoul de Chagny - The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
We're kicking things off with a love triangle, in which a disfigured and love-sick Phantom will do anything to keep hold of opera star Christine - even if that means taking lives and torturing Raoul, another man after Christine's heart. It's not a romance that necessarily tugs at the heart strings, but Erik's loneliness, depravity and blackmailing ways are all in name of complicit desire.
The Bride of Frankenstein is arguably responsible for one of horror's most famous couples. In this sequel to James Whale's original, Henry Frankenstein is forced to help Doctor Pretorious create a mate for Frankenstein's Monster, in order to save his own wife. The plan doesn't exactly work out however, as once the bandages are off, The Bride is terrified of what she sees and rejects him. It's a classic tale of unrequited love, soured by the reality that she was the Monster's only chance of true companionship. So, how does he cope with such emotional damage? By tragically realising they belong dead and blowing up the laboratory, of course.
Seth Brundle & Veronica Quaife - The Fly (1986)
Forget Top Gun, Dirty Dancing or When Harry Met Sally - if you want a definitive love story from the 1980s, David Cronenberg's The Fly is the one to watch. With other masterpieces such as Videodrome and Dead Ringers, Cronenberg is quite the master at the horror-romance hybrid, yet this film is particularly effective in exploring love in its most dark and visceral capacity. Journalist Veronica Quaife is forced to watch her lover, scientist Seth Brundle, slowly deteriorate (in fantastically oozy ways) into a human-fly hybrid - a Brundlefly - after a teleportation experiment goes horribly wrong. If needs must, Veronica could well abandon her wall-climbing, vomiting boyfriend but she remains at his side, even when bloody terrified or albeit... a little bit forced. Of course, carrying his prospective mutant-child isn't exactly the tale of true romance, however the strong feelings felt for this once-brilliant man most certainly come to fruition in the films climactic sequence, when after shooting her mutant-boyfriend in the head, she falls to the floor weeping in despair. Well as the saying goes, in sickness and in health, 'till death do us part...
This entry may be a bit of a curveball, but the tumultuous relationship between Dan and Alex from Fatal Attraction is a tale that has struck fear into the hearts of all adults. It's a fantastic portrayal of lust, infidelity and obsession, following a weekend affair that takes a rather nasty turn. Not to mention, this is the film that created the now-familiar cultural vernacular "bunny-boiler", following Alex's spiteful boiling of the Gallagher's bunny - a middle-finger to Dan's wholesome family image. A tale of romance? Most certainly not, but it's a thrilling parable regarding the extremities of romance and infidelity.
Caleb Colton & Mae - Near Dark (1987)
Vampires and romance are one of those great pairings, like Leatherface and his chainsaw, to which the perils of young love can be wonderfully explored. From the woes of Buffy and Angel to the twinkly affairs of Edward and Bella, the sexual tension, nighttime longing and unrelenting passion are what make the vampiric sub-genre often romantic. Yet, there is something about the relationship between Caleb and Mae in Near Dark that is so wonderfully compelling. Against all odds, amidst the mutilation, bloodletting and ensuing consequences, their feelings toward one another reign supreme, granting all hopeless romantics a rather bright and uplifting ending.
Julia Cotton & Frank Cotton - Hellraiser (1987)
What would you do to be back in the arms of your ex-lover? Be careful now, as he or she could well be living in your attic, hiding from sadomasochistic cenobites and requiring skin. You're right, this is hardly the stuff of true love, but golly Julia is so desperate to once again share a bed with Frank, she'll lure men to their deaths and even murder her own husband, to simply harvest their viscera and see Frank's full rejuvenation.
Lionel and Paquita - Braindead/Dead Alive (1992)
Zombie hordes, Sumatran rat-monkeys, lawn-mowers, kung-fu priests... it's easy to forget that at the heart of Braindead, there is a love story. After all, the essence of this tale follows a young man Lionel, who tries to maintain a relationship with his love-interest, Paquita, in spite of his overly possessive mother - "no one will ever love you as much as your mother..!" - and a spreading disease. A few bodily mishaps and one Freudian re-birth later, a triumphant, ooze-ridden couple emerges, proving that with a few household items at-hand, true love can conquer all.
Who'd have thought that the infamous Chucky would find a companion? Well midway through the Child's Play series Tiffany emerges, and both form a humorous yet terrifying three-foot, deadly twosome. The two share an entertaining journey through love, sex, betrayal and well... murder. Not to mention, they bring little Glen into the world. Sweet, no?
Shaun and Liz/Shaun and Ed - Shaun of the Dead (2004)
What's more romantic than striving to save the life of your (ex) girlfriend amidst a zombie apocalypse? Wearing his heart on his sleeve and 'red' on the other, Shaun battles the undead and tramples across the suburbs of London, in an attempt to keep his loved one safe. It's not a tearjerker, nor is it cheesy, but its a near-perfect depiction of relationships in contemporary Britain. Of course, there is another person in their relationship that deserves a mention. I'm not a fan of the term 'bromance', but Ed and Shaun's relationship, although totally platonic, is positively touching and just as engaging.
Oskar and Eli - Let the Right One In (2008)
We're returning to the vampire sub-genre here, but with a very different love story. The relationship between Oskar and Eli is one of childhood-companionship. Both are in need of protection and understanding, and their blossoming relationship set amongst the backdrop of a cold, bleak Sweden is a beauty to behold. It's a touching, enigmatic and totally compelling romance, combining innocence with vampiric vivacity and playground menace.
Sang-hyun & Tae-ju - Thirst (2009)
The relationship between Sang-hyun, a Catholic priest turned vampire, and Tae-ju, his friend's wife, is the epitome of blood lust, taboo and desire. As the two embark on an affair, their impulses get the better of them. Tae-ju is turned into a vampire and their new found, powerful courtship soon descends into reckless, blood-thirsty chaos. It's a graphic and visceral exploration of a couple's animalistic desires, that provides a definitive exhibition of love and horror.
So there we have it - from unrequited love to unrelenting lust, vampires and brides to bodily mutilation - this has been a brief overview of horror's top romances. By keeping it to films only, I'm undoubtedly missing out on some classic television pairings, be it Buffy and Angel, Sooki and Bill or Gomez and Morticia Addams. But are there any other filmic couples which you feel should be on the list? As ever, let me know your thoughts! Until next time...
Happy Valentine's Day.
