Vanessa Maki with ten international horror films for your watch list…
Being a horror fan means a lot of things and occasionally that means expanding our palettes by watching something different. Expanding your viewing experience by checking out international horror is something people should try more often. There are countless countries that have released stellar horror across all subgenres, and they don’t always get mainstream praise. But who cares about whether a horror films is mainstream or not, right?
Yes, international horror occasionally means subtitles, but there’s nothing wrong with that. And there are so many options to choose from that go beyond the fantastic international horror you might already know like Hausu (1977), Wolf Creek (2005), The Descent (2005), Martyrs (2008), Inside (2007), Revenge (2017), The Sadness (2022) etc. Of course those are all great, but this list is aiming for films that maybe you haven’t watched quite yet. Whether it’s due to limited release, very little word of mouth, or otherwise. You’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy below.
Opera (1987) – Italy
Opera is one of those horror films that you either enjoy to some level, or you aren’t a fan of it. The film follows a soprano singer named Betty (Cristina Marsillach) who is forcefully privy to several murders committed by a deranged masked killer. All the slasher components of this film are very ’80s, the soundtrack is great, and the practical effects earn a big thumbs up. Considering it’s a giallo film, it’s either going to connect with people or it won’t because giallo is certainly not for everyone.
In terms of the writing of the film, there are quite a few moments of tension and the bloody moments aren’t absent whatsoever. Unfortunately (*spoiler alert*) some crows do die at the hands of the killer, but they do get their revenge on them. And the very human behavior from Betty could be seen as stupid, however she’s not perfect, and it takes a while into Opera for her to reach fight mode. Ultimately, this is a worthy giallo film to throw on and potentially enjoy on a random evening.
Funny Games (1997) – Austria
It’s miserable, satirical, and it’s not meant to be a feel-good horror film. Funny Gamesfollows a family whose vacation turns horrific when a sadistic duo holds them hostage and makes them play unsettling games. There is a shot-by-shot American remake out there, and it’s more likely that many horror fans have seen it versus the original. But the feeling of the original is a tad bit different in comparison, and it shows even in how it’s not sleek looking.
Funny Games deliberately breaks the fourth wall throughout the film and explores expectations in genre films as well as violence in media. And the film is directly meant to make you question your complicity in the tragedy that the family is experiencing. Of course that can be confronting and potentially bothersome, but Funny Games is worth watching for the experience of the film if nothing else. Just don’t go in expecting to feel great by the end of it.
Audition (1999) – Japan
Slow burn horror can be occasionally be rewarding enough if the climax is memorable. Auditionf0llows Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) who meets Asami (Asami Yamazaki) during a girlfriend audition disguised as TV show auditions. When the woman ends up being more than she seems, Shigeharu ends up getting more than he bargained for. The film plays with your mind and has some perfectly grotesque imagery that’ll have you squirming in your seat.
The film isn’t heavy on gore throughout and is meant to make you uncomfortable as Shigeharu ignores the red flags in front of his face. It’ll make you question why you’re rooting for him when he’s being careless with his and his son’s life as Audition progresses. The performances in Audition are great, the exploration of expectations on women are on display, and you won’t regret watching this for the first time.
SEE ALSO: Asian Shock Horror Movies You Have To See
Noroi: The Curse (2005) – Japan
The climax will leave you wide-eyed, and you might very well enjoy it if you like found footage. Noroi: The Curse follows a man looking into increasingly disturbing events to put together a paranormal investigation documentary. Throughout the film everything becomes incredibly bizarre for the characters and the documentary is clearly a big mistake to be filming. But like in many found footage films, people continue to investigate a situation even when they shouldn’t.
Noroi: The Curse‘s ending is truly one of the best parts of the film, and the event is mentioned earlier in the film, but we as the audience don’t know precisely what happened. But what’s revealed makes Noroi: The Curse all the more terrifying because it’s not what you might expect. The film does leave viewers with some questions. Though as far as international found footage goes, it’s great and captures the exact atmosphere that it needs to.
Frontier(s) (2007) – France and Switzerland
In terms of 2000s New French Extremity, Frontier(s) isn’t mentioned as much in comparison to High Tension, Martyrs, or Inside. Frontier(s) follows a group of criminals who escape Paris and end up staying at an inn run by neo-Nazis. And what unfolds is pure terror for the victims. The film is deliberately focusing on the rise of the far right in France at the time and considering horror is political at its core, the commentary isn’t hard to pick out.
Frontier(s) is one of the lesser discussed entries in the New French Extremity movement, but it certainly delivers on its gore and disturbing imagery. It’s not a perfect film, and it’s not necessarily pretending to be because it’s very gritty and messy. The primary character we’re forced to follow is likable and the suffering she endures is awful. But the ending allows for her to release all of her rage, and it’s quite the moment for her. If you love New French Extremity and haven’t seen this, check out if you also happen to be a gorehound.
SEE ALSO: The Essential New French Extremity Movies
The Lure (2015) – Poland
Contrary to what people might think, the original story of The Little Mermaid is actually quite tragic. The Lure is an adaptation of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen and follows two sirens whose lives are turned upside down when they start working at a nightclub. It’s an outright horror musical and is very weird and gritty throughout. There’s no sense of ease for the characters, and one siren loses her voice as a result of desperately seeking love.
The Lure might be a bit too quirky for general horror viewers, and it certainly falls into a niche category because of its visuals and musical numbers. But it’s worth at least a single viewing if you’re seeking to expand what you consume horror wise. The film is also quite queer, has a lot of themes surrounding identity, sexuality and more.
Terrified (2017) – Argentina
A genuinely creepy experience is what this movie offers. Terrified follows a man who is looking into unsettling events that are plaguing a Buenos Aires neighborhood and what he discovers is nothing short of horrifying. There’s quite a bit to spoil in terms of what plays out in the film, and it’s one of those that you need to experience the events yourself.
Just like other supernatural horror films, you are left with some questions as to why everything is happening. But the gruesome deaths will distract from any issues you might have with the plot. There’s nothing perfect about Terrified in terms of the writing, it’s primarily in the visuals and the established atmosphere that makes this enjoyable for people.
A Classic Horror Story (2021) – Italy
Everything is really not as it seems and sometimes that makes for some wild twists. A Classic Horror Story follows young people who end up trapped in what ends up being their own personal horror movie. It’s quite meta and does follow a lot of tropes on purpose that you’re supposed to spot if you’re a horror fan. Not to mention the film has a great lead in Matilda Lutz (who is known for Revenge) and she absolutely delivers in her final girl role.
A Classic Horror Story plays around with the tropes we know all too well and while it might not satisfy every viewer, Lutz’ performance is a huge highlight of the film. There are twists that people might not expect upon first watch and they’ll either take away from or add to the film. Overall it’s a good time if only for Lutz and what she brings to the table in this meta horror film.
MadS (2024) – France
French horror is truly something else a lot of the time. MadS follows a partying teenager who finds himself in a whirlwind involving drugs, people becoming infected with a virus and getting out of control, and everything falling apart around him. It’s a chaotic watch that doesn’t let you take a breath as it was filmed in a long take. Therefore the entire film feels like continual madness for the characters we’re following.
Just like in many French horror films, there’s an air of tragedy and hopelessness for these young people. Nobody can actually stop the madness, nor do they know what to do about it. It makes it so the dread builds and builds until it reaches an ambiguous ending that doesn’t leave room for anything hopeful. MadS is essentially a nightmare that you’ll be willingly immersing yourself in once you press play.
Infested (2024) – France
The idea of making spiders this terrifying isn’t so easily done, but Infested achieves at that. The film follows a group of friends who end up trapped in an apartment complex that becomes infested by spiders. It’s no secret that Infested’s social commentary regarding xenophobia, classism, racism, and police brutality was intended by the co-writer and director of the film, Sébastien Vaniček. The spiders are meant to be an allegory and given the infestation happens in a building that houses a lot of marginalized people, it’s right there to read into.
Infested not only benefits from solid performances, but 200 real huntsman spiders were used in the film and were digitally edited to appear larger. This certainly isn’t a film to watch if you are deathly afraid of spiders because they are huge in Infested. If you can handle it, then it’s certainly a film you should watch if you’re into creature features.
What international horror movies deserve a spot on this list? Let us know your recommendations on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Vanessa Maki
