I recently saw Nosferatu (2024) and thought it was a good example of an ArM Faerie story: the antagonist has weird desires and presentation, has a set of weaknesses and strengths, a story pops up explaining the solution, which is then enacted.
In thinking about this I reflected, not for the first time and I’m sure I’ve seen reference to the idea on this forum, that the slasher-killer horror story is also a good example of a dark faerie story; a monster with a story manifests with a link to some mortal, performs ritual horrors (I don’t mean in the ceremonial sense; the killings follow a pattern), and ultimately a small number of survivors escape to tell the tale.
These seem to follow the faerie pattern, but of course there are doubtless other movies that follow other Realm patterns. Dragonslayer and Ladyhawke are often cited. What else?
So, for the newer people who haven’t seen these movies or haven’t thought about them as ArM examples:
Dragonslayer: A dragon demands sacrifices of a small medieval kingdom. Villagers travel to gain the aid of the last known magician, against the king’s wishes, to deal with the dragon. The magician, Ulric, is killed by the king’s men, and his apprentice tries to take his place with the help of a grog and a clever village lad. Contains lots of examples, including use of Latin as a magic language.
Ladyhawke: A thief, Mouse, escapes the dungeons of the local authorities and falls in with a mysterious knight who keeps company with a striking hawk. At nightfall, the knight vanishes and a beautiful woman appears; she is guarded by a wolf. The knight seeks vengeance against the corrupt bishop who cursed him and the lady. Examples of shapeshifting, an Infernal (or possibly dark faerie) curse, and adventure of companions without aid of a mage.
She’s a possessing faerie in “Tales of Power”, in the Eustace the Monk chapter. Basically the more people die the more powerful the Final Girl becomes.
As Christmas movies, I consider this up there with “Die Hard”. Trying to describe Rare Exports in Ars terms:
In the back story a Seeker mage or Wealthy Companion has a team of workers excavating a distant northern mountain he believes is an ancient burial mound built by the Sámi and plans to plunder it. They don’t get to survive to the end.
Local peasant children partly overhear, and through poor translation come to believe that Santa Claus is real, tortures bad children, and is watching them.
The young protagonist tries to defend himself by researching the original myths of Santa and trying to make himself “good”.
The local villagers depend on the wild reindeer harvest, and are shocked when the herd is all but destroyed.More strange things happen, including all the children disappearing, bar the young protagonist who took precautions and may have captured Santa.
The young protagonist has to save himself, rescue the stolen children, and find a way to bring his village back to prosperity.
A quest, cunning plans, mistaken identity, ridiculous bravery, self-sacrifice and the importance of gingerbread cookies.
And the title of the film is explained in the last few minutes as the proven wise beyond his years protagonist returns prosperity to the community.
Black Death, (2010) with Sean Bean and Eddie Redmayne, is also a mage free adventure but as a companion knight plus grogs who end up going against a hedgie, totally works.
Labyrinth is one of the examples I gave to people for RoP:F.
“I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave.”
or
”Sarah: Generous? What have you done that's generous?
Jareth: Everything! Everything you've wanted, I've done. You asked that child be taken; I took him. You cowered before me; I was frightening. I have reordered time, I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for you! I am exhausted from living up to your expectations of me!”