Fantasy Films Exploring Experimental Medicine

Description: A psychologist uses experimental technology to enter the mind of a comatose serial killer to find his latest victim, blending psychological horror with elements of fantasy.

Fact: The film's visual effects were groundbreaking at the time, and it was one of the first to use virtual reality as a plot device in a horror context.

Description: A hospice nurse discovers hoodoo magic in a Louisiana plantation, where experimental medicine takes on a supernatural twist as she tries to save her patient.

Fact: The film was shot in New Orleans, and the house used for the plantation setting was actually a mansion built in 1840, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Description: In a dystopian future, clones are raised to be used for organ harvesting, exploring themes of experimental medicine and the ethics of human cloning.

Fact: The film's concept was inspired by the 1979 film "Parts: The Clonus Horror," which had a similar premise.

Description: While primarily about rival magicians, the film delves into the realm of experimental science when one magician uses Tesla's technology to achieve the ultimate trick, blending magic with science.

Fact: The film was adapted from a novel by Christopher Priest, and the character of Nikola Tesla was portrayed by David Bowie.

Description: This film involves a mysterious organization that controls human destiny, using experimental methods to adjust people's lives, blending fantasy with elements of science fiction.

Fact: The film is based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, and the hats worn by the agents are a nod to the story's original setting in the 1950s.

Description: This film follows a young man in the 11th century who travels to Persia to study medicine under the legendary physician Avicenna, blending historical drama with elements of fantasy through its depiction of ancient medical practices.

Fact: The film was shot in Morocco, which provided an authentic backdrop for the medieval setting. It also features a cameo by Stellan Skarsgård, who plays a wise old doctor.

Description: This film, while primarily a romance, involves a mute janitor who falls in love with an amphibious creature, leading to a unique form of experimental medicine when she tries to save his life.

Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the creature was designed by the legendary creature designer, Doug Jones, who also portrayed him.

Description: An alien arrives on Earth to find water for his dying planet but becomes entangled in human society, exploring themes of experimental medicine through his advanced technology.

Fact: David Bowie, who played the alien, was cast after director Nicolas Roeg saw him in concert and was struck by his otherworldly presence.

Description: A trippy blend of science fiction, fantasy, and romance, this film explores the quest for eternal life through three intertwined stories, one of which involves a futuristic doctor experimenting with a tree of life.

Fact: The film was originally conceived as a much larger project, with director Darren Aronofsky planning a trilogy. Also, the tree in the film was inspired by the Tree of Life in Mayan mythology.

Description: While not strictly about medicine, this film features a fantastical doctor who can transport people into their own imaginations, where they can explore and potentially heal their inner selves.

Fact: After Heath Ledger's untimely death, his role was completed by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell, each playing different versions of his character in the Imaginarium.