Vanessa Maki with more international horror movies for your watch list…
Recently we dropped a list about international horror and now I’m back with more recommendations of the same thing. Why? Because there’s a never-ending list of international horror films that need to be watched and appreciated out there. Many of us haven’t even cracked the surface of how many international horror films are floating around. In the previous list were some stellar titles like Opera (1987), Audition (1999), Frontier(s) (2007) and more delights that deserve your attention. What’s on this one? You’ll have to keep reading to find out…
Belladonna of Sadness (1973) – Japan
An extremely experimental anime can easily have quite a lot to say. Belladonna of Sadness follows a woman who makes a pact with the devil after being brutally raped by several men. It’s nothing short of horrific and is depicted in a way that might disturb you even further. But there’s a lot to unpack as far as symbolism goes.
Belladonna of Sadness forces its audience to sink deeper and deeper into misery alongside its protagonist. Her entire world has been destroyed and in turn, she seeks to gain back control through magic. Though there are consequences for her and a happy ending isn’t in sight, it’s still a journey worth going on.
Perfect Blue (1997) – Japan
As far as horror anime goes, this is by far one of the most impactful films among them.Perfect Blue follows a former girl group star turned actress, who finds herself being obsessively stalked by someone. There are many sequences throughout the film that are visually unforgettable, and the twists will leave you blinking in surprise. It’s not as unknown as some though, but some folks might not know it!
The film touches on mental health, the ways in which people can interact with celebrities, objectification, and more. Perfect Blue is incredibly psychological and might cause some discomfort because of the way events seem and or are distorted. But that means it’s doing its job as a psychological horror-thriller. If you don’t mind anime, absolutely pull this one up and enjoy.
Dog Soldiers (2002) – United Kingdom
In terms of Neil Marshall’s horror films, this one isn’t discussed as much as The Descent. Dog Soldiers follows a squad who is stuck in an isolated area in the Scottish Highlands, trying to survive against a werewolf attack. The film mostly consists of men, unlike The Descent, and it’s very much on purpose because of the themes of the film. It’s an interesting look into hostility among men in situations where it’s life or death.
Dog Soldiers is very tense, and the werewolves are aggressive enough that they should be scared for their lives. And while it might not do anything too unique in terms of the script, it’s got a very bleak as well gritty atmosphere as the film carries on. Instead of there being a typical triumphant moment for all the characters, people do die in this film. If you’re someone who enjoys early 2000s horror, you might find this film appeals to you because of that.
The Host (2006) – South Korea and Japan
A creature feature with a fair amount of heart is what you’ll find here. The Host follows a father and his family who are relentlessly trying to save his daughter from a creature residing in the sewers. It’s a South Korean (as well as Japanese) monster horror film that has laughs, heart, and taps into environmental issues through the creature’s origins. Without spoiling anything, there is quite a bit of tragedy in this film.
Monster horror isn’t just about aliens or Godzilla, it can just as easily be about scientifically mutated creatures like in The Host. The CGI in the film hasn’t aged particularly well, so it’s best not to go into this expecting spectacular CGI effects. However, don’t let that take away from the experience in terms of the performances, the violence, and the uniqueness of the creature. Just try not to expect a happy ending for anyone because again, tragedy isn’t far behind.
Paprika (2006) – Japan
It might not be as top-notch as Perfect Blue, but it’s certainly not without its charms. Paprika follows a psychologist who, alongside her dream personality, tasks herself with finding the person who has stolen a dream device that allows people to enter dreams. This film is trippy, weird, and bizarre in a way that’s interesting.
Paprika does have a scene that might be triggering for some (I heavily advise looking up the trigger warnings), but otherwise it’s a relatively smooth watch because of its intriguing premise. The concept of entering dreams and helping people psychologically through that is fascinating. And the film really transports you into this particular reality. Also, who wouldn’t want to battle people with an alternate version of themselves?
I Saw the Devil (2010) – South Korea
If you are seeking out a brutal horror thriller with enjoyable action sequences, you’ll be extremely satisfied with this. I Saw the Devil follows a man who goes on a bloody quest for revenge against a serial killer who murdered his fiancee. Instead of it being a boring quest and a constant questioning of morality the entire runtime, this film has more nuance to it. Lee Byung-hun’s performance as the protagonist is spectacular, and all praise is absolutely earned here.
I Saw the Devil isn’t for the faint of heart, though, as there’s more than a few content warnings. The film does have sexual violence (implied and onscreen), extreme violence, and other content that might be hard for some people to stomach. Therefore, enter at your own risk, so to speak. But if you can handle all of that, this is by far one of the best revenge horror-thrillers out there.
Wolf Creek 2 (2013) – Australia
Yes, it’s a sequel, but if you’ve not seen the first film then you can still watch this one with no problem. Wolf Creek 2 follows a British tourist who becomes a target for Mick Taylor’s (John Jarratt) murderous rampage. It’s not quite like the first film, which takes its time getting to the violence, Wolf Creek 2 immediately kicks off with the blood and gore. There’s no shortage of cat-and-mouse antics, either.
Instead of following a group of friends, we’re left dealing with one particular character who is desperately trying to escape Mick. Does he succeed in doing so and live to tell the tale? You’ll have to watch the film to see how everything shakes out, but you might be surprised by the events of the film either way. Just be prepared for some problematic aspects, which is to be expected from a film like this
A Record of Sweet Murder (2014) – South Korea and Japan
It’s not your typical found footage film, that’s for sure. A Record of Sweet Murder follows an unstable man who holds his childhood friend and her cameraman hostage to film him finishing a ritual to bring back their deceased friend. At first, it comes across as a film solely about a man who has turned himself into a serial killer for an unbelievable purpose. And then it descends into further chaos as the film goes along.
A Record of Sweet Murder isn’t what you might be expecting, and it’s best to go into without spoiling anything for yourself. There’s a lot of violence, a lot of stressful situations, and it’s not a great time for anyone involved. One thing that can be said is that the ending will leave you shocked, one way or another.
Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital (2024) – Philippines
If you notice that it’s quite similar to Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, that’s because it’s based on it. Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital follows Filipino influencers celebrities who decide to film a paranormal show in a haunted hospital. Only for their live-stream to go horribly wrong when things start happening. The characters are meant to be making poor decisions and with it being part of found footage, it makes it all the more stressful to watch.
Despite how it’s not doing anything original, the performances and the scares help distract from any cons that someone might have with this. The characters all range from skeptics to those who truly believe what’s happening to them. And that’ll either drive you batty or you’ll find it entertaining. Overall, if you love found footage and don’t mind its similarities to Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, you’ll like this.
The Demon Disorder (2024) – Australia
Gnarly body horror and familial problems are aplenty in this Aussie horror film. The Demon Disorder follows a family who is grappling with secrets that unearth something menacing. It’s another example of a film that isn’t shy about delivering on gnarly imagery, body horror, and a chaotic turn of events. It’s not perfect in execution, but it makes up for it with grotesque practical effects.
At the end of the day, The Demon Disorder is a horror movie that you go into without expecting too much in terms of the plot. Again, it’s not perfect, but if you’re wanting an Australian horror that delights in its practical effects, it might be satisfying enough, surely. Overall, come for the possession and stay for how it unfolds.
Vanessa Maki
