America led the charge into the now booming fear market, making history with early classics such as Universal’s Frankenstein and Dracula in 1931 as well as with Paramount’s releases of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) and Island of Lost Souls (1932). Up until recently, it was no contest as to who was considered the global powerhouse of horror. However, international horror movies have seen massive growth in recent decades. Most notably, Japanese Horror has had an immense impact on the genre and has inspired many American remakes while also influencing American filmmakers with its style and subject matter.
The advent of online streaming opened up an absolute treasure trove for us horror lovers across the globe. Now with an entire world of film at our fingertips, we are truly spoiled with choice when it comes to finding our next movie night watch. Although I struggled at first to adjust to subtitles, ignoring the genre contributions of international filmmakers due to simple language barriers would be criminal. Many of these films offer dubbed versions as well for those with sight difficulties.
So, if you’re just starting on your foreign horror movie journey or are a hardened veteran of the genre, allow me to share my recommendations. Here are a few of my Must-See International Horror Movies. The following films are listed in no particular order. Beware of potential spoilers ahead.
Trigger Warning: Brief mentions of Sexual Abuse, Drug Use, Gore, and Violence.
Climax
Released in 2018 | Directed by Gaspar Noé | Country of Origin: Belgium, France
Audiences are quite divided over this psychedelic slice of French horror cinema. Not for the faint of heart, Climax takes you on the worst trip imaginable and there’s no coming down until it has had its fun with you. I am particularly fond of this film’s play with color, clever use of point-of-view shifts, and the long-takes director Gaspar Noé executes masterfully. (One long take even spans 42 minutes of this film!)
Loosely inspired by a true story about a French dance troupe in the 1990s, this is one you do not want to miss. If you revel in the horrors of manmade self-destruction and don’t shy away from a claustrophobic atmosphere, I definitely recommend this entry. With themes of youth and motherhood, there is a lot to unpack under the surface of this hell ride.
Suspiria
Released in 1977 | Directed by Dario Argento | Country of Origin: Italy
Suspiria (1977) is another mind-bending pick, one which Vulture calls a “hallucinatory trip into hell.” Not much else needs to be said that hasn’t already been about this legendary film. Dario Argento’s colorful use of lighting, sex, and blood has made this movie an all-time favorite among horror fans. Argento chooses style over substance and assaults the viewer with fantastical images of beautiful violence. I would consider this an early entry into the new trend of elevated or “prestige” horror, terms oft disputed within the film community.
Further, it is Suspiria’s shocking images of death and the artful presentation of such subject matter that are of most interest to me. The juxtaposition of the brutal violence against the vivid, dream-like atmosphere, in a way, gives the viewer permission to look.
Action that could have been considered too depraved for the average 70s cinema-goer is now made palatable. This again is attributed to Argento’s inventive shaping of the world and how he presents it to his audience. Watching Suspiria is like peering into a demented dollhouse. From the glass-shattering opening to the dream-inspired ending, this international horror movie is a relentless marvel.
Audition
Released in 1999 | Directed by Takashi Miike | Country of Origin: Japan
As the new “Good for Her” sub-genre of film gains more attention, Audition (1999) stands as a pillar of the vengeful femme protagonist. Not only that, but Asami becomes an EveryWoman, someone most women will be able to identify and empathize with throughout the sad reality of this movie.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away but I will say that the torture mechanics this film employs are inventive and truly hair-raising. This entry is for those gore enthusiasts out there. Though much more grounded than your average splatterfest, some scenes of this film are juicy in all the best ways. Audition addresses the exploitative nature of the film industry and society’s tendency to overlook sexual abuse. This throughline is the true horror behind this tale.
I was pleasantly surprised by the strong feminist messaging this movie had to offer as a 1990s horror flick. It’s not perfect by any means and clunky at times, but, it makes its mark by the end. And just wait for the piano wire scene, it’s my favorite.
Revenge
Released in 2017 | Directed by Coralie Fargeat | Country of Origin: France
Look, my thoughts on rape-revenge stories are strongly negative. I typically try to avoid films that feature sexual assault as a key focus of the film’s action. Sexual assault and exploitation of the female body pervade the horror genre. And Revenge gives a big fuck you to that nonsense. Fargeat does a spectacular job turning this sub-genre on its head.
Instead of relishing in the initial rape, which propels the story forward, Fargeat saves the peak brutality for the revenge sequences. The sexual objectification is shifted to the male antagonists as our hero stalks them like animals. This film’s final scene sees the focal male in his most vulnerable state, naked and alone in the desert. This is indicative of the film’s overall messaging. Revenge is a testament to the resilience of female power and strength. A definite must-watch in my book.
Terrified
Released in 2017 | Directed by Demian Rugna | Country of Origin: Argentina
Terrified won best horror feature at 2018’s Fantastic Fest and continues to be well received by critics and audiences alike. This movie centers around a neighborhood in Buenos Aires plagued by supernatural terror. Multiple homes are afflicted by dark, violent entities, sending this quiet street into a tailspin. We meet a ragtag team consisting of a doctor and a former coroner, conveniently, both of whom are paranormal investigators, as well as a police commissioner. Our group of reluctant heroes is set with the task of unraveling this mystery and aiding the victims.
This film accomplishes a great many things in its 87-minute runtime. Most effectively, it explores grief from different perspectives as multiple characters face personal tragedy. The utilization of simple effects makes the mayhem seem all the more plausible. Paired with a great story that dedicates well-deserved time to character building, Terrified is shocking and effective as a horror movie. This paranormal feature is perfect for fans of ghost stories.
The Wailing
Released in 2016 | Directed by Na Hong-jin | Country of Origin: South Korea
The Wailing found success at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in 2016 and has been gripping audiences ever since. Its seamless genre-blending and the unwavering sense of dread its atmosphere evokes are what make this entry so special. As a small South Koren mountain village grapples with the spread of an unknown infection, a police officer investigates a trail of mysterious familial murders committed by the infected. This journey leads him time and time again to the Japanese Man, a stranger who arrived in town just before the outbreak.
The Wailing is subtle in the details it allows its audience to have, making sure you don’t know which way is up until the jaw-dropping conclusion. Throughout, we are met with ghosts, demons, zombies, and human monstrosities in a would-be depiction of cultural bigotry and racial injustice. I will say the slow pacing may be too much for some casual viewers, but this movie has it all according to me.
The Hallow
Released in 2015 | Directed by Corin Hardy | Country of Origin: Ireland
A beautiful Irish film I regularly revisit, The Hallow balances magic and terror with a steady hand. It’s a truly scary imagining of the Irish changeling folk legend. This movie starts simple enough. A couple and their baby move into a new home, a quaint cottage by the Irish woodlands. They do not heed the locals’ warnings of the Fae that reside there, disrespecting them and their traditions. Thus, the fun begins.
This movie can certainly be viewed through the lens of the transculturation Ireland has undergone as society moves further away from traditional folklore and Faery beliefs. The Hallow is a warning against modernization and a mourning of the loss of culture, magic, and centuries-old stories. The nighttime scenes are full of impressive shadow play and the “monsters” are fabulously scary. Your sympathies are nearly split between the humans just trying to survive and the Fae protecting their home and asserting their dominance over the land. We need more fairytale horror.
La Llorona
Released in 2019 | Directed by Jayro Bustamante | Country of Origin: Guatemala
La Llorona is not to be mistaken with The Curse of La Llorona which was released the very same year. (Linda Cardellini, I still adore you).
La Llorona (or The Weeping Woman) is a magnificent supernatural thrill. Now, of all the films on this list, this entry is the most highly politicized. It is less about the ghostly apparitions and more about Guatemala’s history of genocide and violence. La Llorona implements horror genre tropes and style to its benefit. Horror is the perfect medium for the telling of such a deeply traumatic moment in history. The horror framework gives intangible emotions a means for deep visual impact.
You will have a sinking feeling in your stomach as the film lurches forward. The atmosphere alone is as claustrophobic as it gets, you being trapped in the house just as much as the family within it. I love this one for its genuinely spooky ghost story, its roots in folklore, and its strong political message.
Verónica
Released in 2017 | Directed by Paco Plaza | Country of Origin: Spain
If you’re anywhere near the horror-sphere, you might roll your eyes every time you hear the name Verónica mentioned now. This movie had so much hype backing it with many lauding it as too scary to finish. It was even dubbed Netflix’s Scariest Film Ever. The scariest thing about this movie, however, is the true story behind it. There remains to this day an unsolved case in Madrid concerning a young girl dying after using an Ouija board in 1992.
So, the exaggerated accolades may have poisoned the water a bit. But, if you can look past the misplaced hype, there is a great film underneath. Even though this movie is not in any way too scary to finish, if you’re anything like me, you’ll greatly enjoy this simple yet fun possession piece.
The Loved Ones
Released in 2009 | Directed by Sean Byrne | Country of Origin: Australia
You’re going to see me mention this entry quite a bit on this blog. The Loved Ones is one of my all-time favorites and I rewatch this film annually at the very least. From pink dresses and paper crowns to razor blades and power drills, it checks all my boxes.
The Loved Ones has a basic premise: another prom night fiasco. It centers around a strange girl and the object of her affection, a gentle and well-liked boy, colliding in violent ways. I think what strikes me most about the movie is the female antagonist and how feminine she remains throughout. Lola revels in girly things and prances about in a pink dress and crown. She proves you should beware of the feminine just as much as the masculine in horror.
I admire the way this film depicts different levels of grief and how teens attempt to manage these big and new emotions. Tormenting throughout and overall a brilliant movie. I hope you enjoy the truly deranged yet persistent killer as much as I do.
Global Scream Gems
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the international horror movies that have found a place in my heart. But, this is a great place to start if you want to delve deeper into what foreign filmmakers have to offer. What international horror movies made your favorites list? Leave a comment below and let me know! If you want more horror movie recommendations check out my list of horror movies perfect for date night.
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