Horns

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Alexandre Aja directs. Frederick Elmes behind the camera. Robin Coudert scores. Baxter cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 13 years ago.
• 2Directed by Alexandre Aja, shot by Frederick Elmes. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Robin Coudert. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor Baxter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Daniel Radcliffe and Juno Temple and Max Minghella carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "He will bring out the Devil in you.".
• 7IMDB entry: tt1528071 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Frederick Elmes

Original score

Robin Coudert

Editing

Baxter

Production design

Allan Cameron

Costume design

Carol Beadle

Makeup / hair

Maiko 'Mo' Gomyo

VFX supervisor

Derek Wentworth

Sound

Mike Woroniuk

Runtime

120 min · 2h 0m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Box office

$3,900,000

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

R

IMDB

Horns (2013) ↗

Also by

Alexandre Aja

• 
  Campfire Creepers: The Skull of Sam

  2017 · ★ 7.0
• 
  High Tension

  2003 · ★ 6.8
• 
  Oxygen

  2021 · ★ 6.6
• 
  The Hills Have Eyes

  2006 · ★ 6.5
• 
  The 9th Life of Louis Drax

  2016 · ★ 6.4
• 
  Mirrors

  2008 · ★ 6.3

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

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Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Official Trailer

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Reno2016-03-14
  ★ 7/10

  Expected a very little, but delivered very hugely. The first word I said after the watch was 'unbelievable'. That means the movie is not bad, but how come I missed it for this long. This is the best dark-fantasy movie I have seen recently. But earlier, I thought it would be like the movie 'Tusk' which made me a little uncomfortable to watch. So in the end, what's the difference between the tusk and/or the horn. Both come in a pair and animals have it to defend themselves from the threat. When I watched that movie, I lost interest in this. Yep, it is a silly reason and now I feel bad for that. This movie dominated by the British cast, especially for having Daniel Radcliffe and Juno Temple I thought it was British film, actually it was not. It was a Canadian-US jointly produced, adapted from a book of the same name and directed by 'Mirror' director. The story was so good, not genuine, though explored the theme very well. For every few minutes later, the narration was taking a turn and that made the plot to get lot tighter before heading for the concluding part. Maybe this the best movie of Radcliffe that I've seen after his goodbye to 'Harry Potter' movie series. I don't think he's a chocolate boy type, but this kind of movie suits him well. I think he should get muscles for more movie like this, but his height is another negative factor. The film was entirely shot in Canada, the photography was great, music as well as performances. Even those settings like woods, tree house feels kind of wet English and Scottish atmosphere that fits for a devilish mythical charactered movie like this. I regret for reviewing it so delayedly, but anyway I did it and over it, so I hope you watch it very soon as well if you haven't seen it yet. 7/10

  Read full review ↓
• furious_iz2019-08-12
  ★ 6/10

  I was looking forward to this film going into it, based on a highly entertaining book, but ultimately it was just okay. Well shot and directed, Daniel Radcliffe is the best thing about it, but it lacked the punch and dark humour of the novel. Juno Temple's character feels painfully underwritten, as do most of the 2nd tier characters. The worst part is it takes itself way too seriously for such a silly premise. There is some destructive chaotic fun, but not enough of it. The creature design for the finale is very cool, then the film just sort of stops rather than giving a satisfying wrap up. Could have, should have been much better, maybe that's my fault because I was expecting more. Still watchable, even if not memorable.

  Read full review ↓
• Kamurai2020-08-03
  ★ 7/10

  Really good watch, would watch again, and can recommend. Trigger warning: rape and murder. It's in the premise, but certain information sources hide some things more than others. Some movies are hurt by trying to be too many things, but this finds a wonderful balance between a murder mystery and religiously mythical. I think it is that they compliment each other. Regardless of why Daniel Radcliffe's character has been imbued with horns, the powers he gains serve toward revealing the mystery. I never felt like there was a dead spot where the story wasn't moving forward or we were re-hashing all the details: they do a good job of keeping the relevant information at the fore front and refreshing the information on pace. Why it is a great premise, it is awfully sad one, but I do feel it helps humanize Daniel Radcliffe almost immediately, and he retains his like-ability throughout the film just for the shear insanity of his situation. It is also a lot of fun to see how the power of the horns affect the different townsfolk.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Mandalay Pictures

  US

• 

  Red Granite Pictures

  US

Key crew

• Stunt DoubleJanene Carleton
• Stunt DoubleKrista Bell
• Original StoryJoe Hill
• ProducerCathy Schulman
• CastingTricia Wood
• CastingJennifer L. Smith
• ProducerAlexandre Aja
• ProducerRiza Aziz
• ProducerJoey McFarland
• EditorBaxter
• CastingDeborah Aquila
• Sound Re-Recording MixerMike Woroniuk
• Special Effects CoordinatorJak Osmond
• Costume DesignCarol Beadle
• Makeup EffectsMaiko 'Mo' Gomyo
• Assistant Art DirectorTyler Bishop Harron
• Production DesignAllan Cameron
• Art DirectionJeremy Stanbridge
• FoleyGoro Koyama
• Makeup ArtistFay von Schroeder
• Sound Re-Recording MixerOrest Sushko
• Makeup Department HeadRita Ciccozzi
• FoleySandra Fox
• Dolby ConsultantPaul Capuano

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• death of girlfriend

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical2014-10-31R
• Digital2014-10-03R

Also known as

International titles

• 神奇犄角CN
• El DemonioBO
• Horns - Für sie geht er durch die HölleDE
• CornesCA
• Horns Fuer sie geht er durch die HoelleDE