Horror has always been a vehicle for cultural exploration. Using genre as awarped mirror to our own society, the masked killers and giant monsters of horror films often capture a zeitgeist better than any drama would dare. To explore horror is to explore culture, and it stretches far past the haunted houses and dingy basements of Hollywood. Continuing beyond Elm Street, Haddonfield, and Woodsboro reveals a global horror community rife with unique national aesthetics and cultural traditions. Here are 8 great horror films from around the world.
Sweden: Hour of the Wolf (1986) dir. Ingmar Bergman
Swedish winters are among the most grueling in the world. Sunlight lasts only a few hours, and the stretches of long, cold darkness leads to feelings of isolation, depression, and paranoia. And who better to explore such bleak themes than Sweden’s own Ingmar Bergman. Bergman’s one and only horror film, The Hour of the Wolf, recounts the days leading up to the disappearance of a painter living in isolation on an island with his wife. The film dives into the murky dark of twilight and uncovers hideous visions and monstrous shadows that live in between dusk and dawn. Bergman is an undisputable master of the craft, and Hour of the Wolf presents all of Bergman’s consistent strengths in a uniquely eerie package.
Japan: Kwaidan (1964) dir. Masaki Kobayashi
Clocking in at just over 3 hours, Kwaidan is a mammoth anthology film chronicling 4 horrifying tales of Japanese folklore. From dead wives to ghostly samurai, Masaki Kobayashi’s landmark film explores a rich history of classic Japanese horror myth. The film is dripping with style and applies a unique and inventive atmosphere to each of the 4 stories. The disorienting cinematography combined with meticulous and vibrant soundstage sets create a horror experience like no other. Simultaneously exhibiting a reverence for Japanese theatrical past and wildly innovative cinematic storytelling, Kwaidan is unquestionably one of the finest horrors of all time.
France: Eyes Without a Face (1960) dir. Georges Franju
Eyes Without a Face is a classic 60s horror film so poetic and violent that it could only be made by the French. A moody and gothic film that deals with the frayed relationship with a guilt-ridden mad scientist and the daughter who he disfigured, Eyes Without a Face uses horror as a vehicle for serious drama. Yet the film isn’t all artistic musings on morality. The film plays a delicate balancing act of beautiful gothic imagery and boundary-pushing gore effects. Acting as a precursor to the later film movement of French extremism, director Georges Franju treats extreme violence as meaning, revolutionizing the horror medium. While certainly not for the faint of heart, Eyes Without a Face is an essential and genre defining horror film.
Italy: Blood and Black Lace (1964) dir. Mario Bava
Italy’s greatest contribution to the horror canon is the Giallo film. Giallo films are characterized by twisting murder mysteries, hyper stylized cinematography, and extreme violence. These gruesome detective mysteries eventually expanded to include stories of the occult and supernatural while also making their way into the textual DNA of American horror, especially slashers. However, it all started with the 1964 film Blood and Black Lace. Directed by the Godfather of the slasher Mario Bava, Black Lace is an essential film to anyone trying to understand the history of horror. From deciphering the identity of a masked killer to the stark colors and creeping shadows, it’s a slasher seen through a funhouse mirror. Despite its discernible impact on the current horror landscape, Blood and Black Lace still feels fresh.
South Korea: The Host (2006) dir. Bong Joon-ho
As far as international cinemas go, few have been as illustrious in the 21st century as South Korea, large in part due to their unique horror/thriller output. Bong Joon-ho is one of the directors headlining this movement, and throughout his eclectic career, The Host stands as his finest achievement in the horror genre. Found at the crossroads of intersecting anxieties concerning pollution and American imperialism, The Host is the quintessential monster movie for the current generation. Displaying Bong Joon-Ho’s wry humor and penchant for blockbuster set piece filmmaking, The Host is a menagerie of different genres convening to tell a horror story about a massive fish monster terrorizing South Korea’s Han River. The film does a phenomenal job of balancing the spinning plates of comedy, socio-politics, national identity, action, and drama, rendering each one beautifully potent under the guise of a still terrifying monster flick.
Spain: [REC] (2007) dir. Paco Plaza
The Spanish found footage staple [REC] is a pure nightmare from beginning to end. Directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, the 78-minute descent into mayhem pulls no punches in its zombie story with a twist. Nearly the entire film takes place in the claustrophobic confines of an apartment building on Rambla de Catalunya, a major street in Barcelona. The film’s small cast and found footage cinematography utilize the on-location shooting for an experience that constantly ramps up the anxiety. The film’s location is one of its strongest attributes, with the directors staying true to their Spanish geography and making the film all more horrifyingly authentic. [REC] is a found footage staple and a breath of fresh air in a genre with a sore lack of diversity.
Germany: Nosferatu (1922) dir. F. W. Marnau
Nosferatu is the stuff of horror legend and 102 years after it was released, it remains just as mystic and impactful. Directed by the cinematic giant, F.W. Murnau, Nosferatu is a key example of the German expressionist style. German expressionism warps our reality and presents a nightmarish vision steeped in death and decay. Emphasis is placed on shadows and exaggerated performances, rejecting the idea of representation of reality and instead bringing inner conflict and turmoil to the surface. Nosferatu is a gothic vampire tale that serves as a cornerstone for silent horror and the groundwork for all horror to come. Despite its age, the mysterious shadows and corners of darkness still manage to feel scarily real.
Chile: The Wolf House (2018) dir. Cristobal León, Joaquín Cociña
Chilean horror film The Wolf House is one of the most creative horror films of all time. An animated film that takes place in one house, directors Cristobal León & Joaquín Cociña, utilize various animated techniques to bring their warped fairytale to life. Stop motion, paper mâché, paintings, and more are ingeniously utilized to create a completely unique and horrifying atmosphere. The film’s story of a woman and her family hiding from a wolf appears as a macabre fable, but in fact speaks to a dark tragedy in Chilean history. The film acts as a fictional propaganda film for Colonia Dignidad, a Nazi cult established in Chile that was complicit in various disturbing activities behind closed doors. The Wolf House is a disturbing and effective reminder of horror’s ability to deconstruct and explore real world issues.
Great horror can be found in every corner of the world. All over the globe there is creative brilliance, waiting for its moment in the spotlight. Hopefully this list has convinced you to look outside of your own nation next time you're looking for a good scare!
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