Sign in to your Collider account
Image via Nordisk Film
International horror films are an essential canon for genre fans to explore. Made outside the US film industry, many of these films explore themes unique to their cultures and some can even push boundaries beyond what is considered palatable to American audiences.
Although films such as Japan's Ringu and Italy's Suspiria have garnered more mainstream attention and acclaim in the US, many international horror gems remain criminally underrated due to factors like distribution, cultural differences, and language barriers. Exploring films from different countries, these are wildly underrated international horror films.
23 'Angst' (1983) - Austria
Directed by Gerald Kargl
Angst is a 1983 Austrian home invasion horror film inspired by a disturbing true story, directed by Gerald Kargl and co-written by Kargl and Zbigniew Rybczyńsk. The film follows a highly mentally unwell murderer (Erwin Leder) who is released from prison and immediately embarks on a killing spree, breaking into the house of an innocent family. Told from the killer's perspective, the film makes use of narration that illuminates the killer's warped mental state and motives as he attacks his victims.
Far from an easy watch, Angst is a terrifying and relentless horror film that never shies away from the pure evil of its protagonist's actions. The film's score is excellent, its camerawork is dynamic and experimental and Erwin Leder's lead performance is an absolute revelation, making the film worthwhile for far more than simple shock value. Angst is a spectacular international horror film that despite being highly influential on many filmmakers due to its masterful stylistic presentation, does not recive the mainstream attention it deserves.
22 'The Call' (2020) - South Korea
Directed by Lee Chung-hyun
Image via Netflix The Call is a 2020 South Korean science fiction horror film directed by Lee Chung-hyun. The film focuses on Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye), a young woman whose life is turned upside down when she discovers a phone from the 1990s that connects her with Young-sook (Jeon Jong-seo), the inhabitant of her house decades ago. Although their relationship begins in a friendly and beneficial manner, the discovery that their connection can completely change history starts to ruin Seo-yeon's life in increasingly traumatic ways
From beginning to end, The Call is highly engaging and entertaining, executing a perfect blend of genres that sets it apart from its horror contemporaries. Park Shin-hye and Jeon Jong-seo are both excellent in their lead roles, maintaining great chemistry throughout the changing dynamics between their characters and encouraging audience identification with Seo-yeon. Receiving critical praise due to its compelling sci-fi premise, great acting, and intense scenes of threat, The Call is an underrated gem of South Korean horror.
Release Date November 27, 2020
Director Chung-Hyun Lee
Cast Park Shin-Hye , Jeon Jong-seo , Kim Sung-ryung , Lee El , Park Ho-san , Moon Chang-gil , Lee Dong-hwi , Oh Jung-se
Runtime 112 Minutes
21 'Pin' (1988) - Canada
Directed by Sandor Stern
Image via New World Pictures. Pin is a 1988 Canadian psychological horror film directed by Sandor Stern and based on Andrew Neiderman's 1981 novel. The film follows two siblings, Leon (David Hewlett) and Ursula (Cynthia Preston), whose father (Terry O'Quinn) performs ventriloquism with an anatomical dummy, Pin, in order to teach them about the world. However, when the siblings become adults, Leon maintains an obsession with Pin and believes him to truly be alive and capable of communicating, causing great concern to Ursula.
With such a bizarre premise, it would have been easy for Pin to simply be a campy oddity, but the film's surprisingly melancholic tone and careful directing make it a compelling and atmospheric tale of psychological unraveling. Leon and Ursula are both sympathetic characters, and Leon's increasingly worrying behavior surrounding his delusion creates an effective sense of tension and dread in the audience. One of Canada's best and strangest hidden gems, Pin is a creepy underrated horror film.
Your changes have been saved
Pin
Release Date November 25, 1988
Director Sandor Stern
Runtime 103 minutes
Pin is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase in the U.S.
20 'Climax' (2018) - France
Directed by Gaspar Noé
Image via A24. Climax is a French 2018 experimental horror film written and directed by Gaspar Noé. Set in the 1990s, the film centers on a group of dancers whose rehearsal afterparty descends into horror and chaos when an unknown perpetrator spikes their sangria with huge quantities of LSD. Contending with hallucinations, preexisting tensions, and extreme paranoia, the dancers find themselves collectively trapped in a waking nightmare.
Gaspar Noé is notorious for making challenging, controversial, and often psychedelic films, and Climax maintains his bold filmmaking style while also being one of his most accessible works. The film features striking and immaculately choreographed dance sequences that are complemented beautifully by its dynamic camerawork and energetic electronic music. Intense, anxiety-inducing, and utterly unique, Climax is a masterpiece of bad-trip horror cinema and a standout of modern French Extremity horror.
Your changes have been saved
Climax
Release Date May 13, 2018
Director Gaspar Noé
19 'Door' (1988) - Japan
Directed by Banmei Takahashi
Directed by Banmei Takahashi, Door is a 1988 Japanese home invasion horror film. The film follows Yasuko (Keiko Takahashi), a housewife with a young son and frequently absent husband, who begins being plagued by lewd phonecalls after an unpleasant encounter with Yamakawa (Daijirō Tsutsumi), a door-to-door salesman, finally culminating in a violent and confrontation between the two when he forces his way into her house.
The film is visually striking, making prominent and memorable use of the color green in its set design in a way that gives the film a distinct visual flair. Beginning as a gradually progressing and unsettling psychological thriller, the film eventually devolves into a delightfully over-the-top bloodbath at its climax, providing something for fans of many different forms of horror. One of Japan's greatest underrated horror films, Door makes for an unpredictable, bizarre, and thoroughly wild viewing experience.
18 'I Like Bats' (1985) - Poland
Directed by Grzegorz Warchol
Image via Zespół Filmowy Perspektywa. I Like Bats is a 1985 Polish vampire film directed by Grzegorz Warchol. The film follows a young vampire named Izabela (Katarzyna Walter), whose daily routine involves working at a curio store and preying on local men for blood. Izabela's life changes dramatically, however, when she develops feelings for a psychiatrist (Marek Barbasiewicz) and decides to seek treatment from him to cure her vampirism.
The film is darkly comedic and is notable due to its unique premise of a vampire undergoing psychiatric rehabilitation, which is explored to its fullest potential. Izabela is one of film's best female vampires, being stylish, funny, and deeply sympathetic, and Katarzyna Walter gives a highly charming performance in the role. Blending the romantic comedy genre with horror in a seamless tightrope walk, I Like Bats is an underrated cult classic.
Release Date July 14, 1986
Director Grzegorz Warchoł
Cast Katarzyna Walter , Marek Barbasiewicz , Małgorzata Lorentowicz , Jonasz Kofta , Edwin Petrykat , Jan Prochyra , Andrzej Grabarczyk , Wiktor Grotowicz , Elżbieta Panas , Slawomir Kozlowski , Tadeusz Skorulski , Andrzej Mrozek , Eliasz Kuziemski , Zygmunt Bielawski
Runtime 79 Minutes
17 'Sissy' (2022) - Australia
Directed by Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes
Image Via Shudder Written and directed by Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes, Sissy is a 2022 Australian darkly comedic horror film. The film centers on a young influencer named Cecilia (Aisha Dee), who reconnects with her childhood best friend Emma (Hannah Barlow) and is invited to her bachelorette party. However, upon arrival, Cecilia is reintroduced to Alex (Emily De Margheriti), with whom she has a dark and twisted secret past that threatens to resurface and destroy Cecilia's idyllic friendship with Emma.
Aisha Dee is fantastic in her role as Cecilia, perfectly nailing the film's comedic and dramatic beats and portraying her character's fragile mental state excellently. The film contains a sharply satirical screenplay that focuses on themes of female friendship and the phoniness of social media, and also features gruesome and impactful special effects that create shocking moments of violence once the film devolves into horror and chaos. Stylish, energetic, and delightfully gory, Sissy is one of Australia's best underrated horror films.
Your changes have been saved
Sissy
Release Date September 29, 2022
Director Hannah Barlow , Kane Senes
Cast Aisha Dee , Yerin Ha , Lucy Barrett , Daniel Monk , Hannah Barlow , Emily De Margheriti
Runtime 102 minutes
16 'The White Reindeer' (1952) - Finland
Directed by Erik Blomberg
Directed and co-written by Erik Blomberg, The White Reindeer is a 1952 Finnish supernatural horror film inspired by Sámi folklore. The film follows Pirita (Mirjami Kuosmanen), a young woman who consults a shaman in order to reignite her husband's interest in her, and has to perform an animal sacrifice in order for their ritual to work. However, after killing a white reindeer, Pirita is cursed to turn into one herself every full moon.
The White Reindeer received highly positive reviews upon release and has continued to be renowned as one of the most unique and interesting European classic horror films, despite its lack of mainstream recognition. The film's use of Indigenous Nordic mythology is one of its strongest elements, and the film's snowy locations are stunning. Strikingly original, surprisingly accessible for modern viewers, and visually beautiful, The White Reindeer is a classic of Nordic horror.
The White Reindeer is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase in the U.S.
15 'Cronos' (1993) - Mexico
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Image via October FIlms Before he exploded in the mainstream and became the modern King of the Monsters, Oscar-winning director Gullermo del Toro directed one of horror's most underrated triumphs, 1993's Cronos. Del Toro mainstays Ron Perlman and Federico Luppi star in a story about an antique dealer who finds the mysterious and immortality-granting scarab Cronos.
Like many of del Toro's movies, the underappreciated Cronos is a study of obsession and humanity's inherent flaws disguised as a horror picture. The film tells a remarkably humane and often quaint story, wrapping around some of the master's most arresting, visceral, and grotesque visuals. Despite being his feature debut, Cronos features an assured del Toro, delving head-first into a pool of ambitious lore and gore, resulting in a terrific horror film. And while Cronos has somewhat been overshadowed by the high peaks his career would eventually reach, it remains among del Toro's most singular and fascinating efforts.
Your changes have been saved
Cronos
Release Date May 17, 1993
Runtime 94 Minutes
14 'Let the Right One In' (2008) - Sweden
Directed by Tomas Alfredson
Image via Sandrew Metronome An unsung entry into the "creepy child" department of horror, Let the Right One In is as intriguing as it's disturbing. The film follows Oskar, a meek and bullied 12-year-old boy living in Blackeberg, a Stockholm suburb, in the early 1980s. His life changes when he meets and befriends Eli, a mysterious young girl hiding a dangerous secret.
Let the Right One In is a unique blend of horror, romance, and coming-of-age that results in a powerful, eerie, and unforgettable picture. Subverting conventions of the vampire genre while still embracing some of its most recognizable features, Let the Right One In is refreshing and insightful, a riveting, disturbing look at a pivotal time in human development that offers enough chills and thrills to excel within its genre. Many vampire movies come out yearly, but few are as profound, gory, or unnerving as this underappreciated gem.
Release Date January 26, 2008
Cast Kåre Hedebrant , Lina Leandersson , Per Ragnar , Henrik Dahl , Karin Bergquist , Peter Carlberg
Runtime 114 minutes
13 'The Innocents' (2021) - Norway
Directed by Eskil Vogt
Image via 20th Century Studios Not to be confused with another horror movie with the same title, 2021's The Innocents is a supernatural horror movie that more people should know about. The plot centers on a group of Norgewian children with powerful abilities who begin experimenting with their gifts in increasingly dangerous ways.
Like most horror movies centering on children, The Innocents is deeply disturbing and layered, offering insights into childhood and the loss of innocence that occurs while growing up. The film's performances are top-notch, with every young member of the cast delivering suitably chilling performances. Coupled with Eskil Vogt's assured direction, The Innocents is an atmospheric, dark, and harrowing picture that will stay with audiences long after the screen fades to black.
Release Date September 3, 2021
Director Eskil Vogt
Cast Rakel Lenora Fløttum , Alva Brynsmo Ramstad , Sam Ashraf , Ellen Dorrit Petersen
Runtime 117 Minutes
12 'Magic Magic' (2013) - Chile
Directed by Sebastián Silva
Written and directed by Sebastián Silva, Magic Magic is a 2013 Chilean psychological horror film. The film follows Alicia (Juno Temple), a fragile and introverted American woman who travels to Chile with her cousin Sara (Emily Browning) but soon finds herself alone with three strangers, Agustín (Agustín Silva), Bárbara (Catalina Sandino Moreno), and Brink (Michael Cera). Alicia quickly begins to psychologically unravel from stress and isolation, becoming a danger to herself and those around her.
The film explores themes of isolation and mental illness, using anxiety-inducing filmmaking to place the audience in Alicia's head - especially in one particularly nauseating sequence involving cliff diving. Framing its story from the point of view of an outsider, Magic Magic explores themes of Chilean culture, portraying Alicia's culture shock as well as the contrast between Agustín and Bárbara's modernity and the ancient folk religions of rural communities. The film is tightly directed, well-acted, and undeniably underrated.
11 'At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul' (1964) - Brazil
Directed by José Mojica Marins
Image via N.T.M. Written, directed by and starring José Mojica Marins, At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul is a 1964 horror film. The film was a landmark in the horror genre, being the first horror film produced in Brazil and launching the character of Zé do Caixão, known as Coffin Joe to English speakers. The film follows Joe (Marins) as he embarks upon a murder and maiming spree in a small and heavily Catholic town, in the pursuit of securing a male heir to continue his bloodline.
In the film's native Brazil, the character of Coffin Joe is considered a cultural icon of the horror genre, but he is relatively obscure on an international level, with this film in particular being an underrated gem. At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul is wonderfully over-the-top and surprisingly violent for its era, and the blasphemy portrayed in the film was considered legitimately transgressive for the religiously conservative culture of 1960s Brazil.
Release Date November 9, 1964
Director José Mojica Marins
Cast José Mojica Marins , Magda Mei , Nivaldo Lima , Valéria Vasquez , Ilídio Martins Simões , Eucaris Moraes , Mario Lima , Arildo Iruam
Runtime 83 Minutes
10 'Hatching' (2022) - Finland
Directed by Hanna Bergholm
Image via Nordisk Films. Directed by Hanna Bergholm, Hatching is a 2022 supernatural body horror film from Finland. The film follows Tinja (Siiri Solalinna), a pre-teen girl who is routinely placed under immense pressure by her mother (Sophia Heikkilä), an uptight social media influencer. Tinja's life is made all the more complicated when she begins taking care of an egg from which an unexplainable creature hatches and begins to slowly develop into a doppelgänger of Tinja.
Hatching is a story about teenage angst and mother-daughter relationships, brought to life by a phenomenal central performance by Siri Solalinna as both Tinja and the creature. Featuring great visual effects and an unpredictable plot, the film is consistently extremely engaging and at times utterly grotesque. Finnish horror as a whole is underrated, with the country's films receiving fairly little attention on an international scale, and Hatching is one of its best works.
Release Date March 4, 2022
Director Hanna Bergholm
Cast Siiri Solalinna , Sophia Heikkilä , Jani Volanen , Reino Nordin
Runtime 91 minutes
9 'Terrified' (2017) - Argentina
Directed by Demián Rugna
Image via Aura Films Written and directed by Demián Rugna, Terrified is a 2017 supernatural horror film from Argentina. The film takes place in a Buenos Aires neighborhood that finds itself plagued by supernatural events ranging from poltergeist activity to sightings of physical monsters. Eventually, these events led to an official paranormal investigation being conducted in the affected street, resulting in horrific outcomes for all involved.
Full of both disturbing visuals and extremely well-timed jumpscares, Terrified is just as scary as its name implies. Prior to his successful 2023 follow-up When Evil Lurks, Terrified put writer-director Demián Rugna's name on the radar of horror fans with its shocking scares and Rugna's obvious love of and respect for the horror genre. Underrated and incredibly effective, Terrified is a great example of Latin American horror.
Your changes have been saved
Terrified
Release Date May 3, 2018
Director James Merendino
Cast Maxi Ghione , Norberto Gonzalo , Elvira Onetto , George Lewis , Julieta Vallina , Demián Salomón , Agustín Rittano , Natalia Señorales , Matias Rascovschi , Lorenzo Langer , Bruno Giacobbe , Laura Manzaneda , Ariel Chavarría , Hugo Halbrich , Fernando Díaz , Fabián Forte
Runtime 88 minutes
8 'The Lure' (2015) - Poland
Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska
Image via Kino Swiat Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska, The Lure is a 2015 Polish horror musical film with feminist themes. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, the film follows two mermaid sisters, Silver (Marta Mazurek) and Golden (Michalina Olszańska), who venture onto land to work as singers. While Golden lusts after human blood, Silver becomes infatuated with a human man (Jakub Gierszał) and both women must contend with their place in the world as both women and non-human creatures.
The film strikes a perfect balance between its gory horror and its musical numbers, creating a strikingly unique tone. Mermaid body horror is an underutilized subject in horror cinema, with The Lure and Lisa Brühlmann's Swiss coming-of-age body horror film Blue My Mind being two notable exceptions. Disturbing and oddly fun, The Lure is a compelling and underrated international horror film.
Release Date December 25, 2015
Director Agnieszka Smoczynska
Cast Marta Mazurek , Michalina Olszanska , Kinga Preis , Andrzej Konopka , Jakub Gierszal , Zygmunt Malanowicz , Magdalena Cielecka , Katarzyna Herman
Runtime 92 Minutes
7 'Demons 2' (1986) - Italy
Directed by Lamberto Bava
Demons 2 is a 1986 Italian horror film directed by Lamberto Bava. Continuing the story of 1985's Demons, the film follows the residents of an apartment building as they are terrorized by a horde of demons that aim to kill or convert everyone they encounter. The film follows the stories of an ensemble cast of characters including a gang of bodybuilders, a vulnerable pregnant woman (Nancy Brilli) and even a demonic dog.
Produced by master of giallo Dario Argento, who also co-wrote the screenplay, Demons 2 is a fast-paced and delightfully goofy splatter-fest. The film's primary selling point is its incredibly gruesome and creative practical effects created by Sergio Stivaletti, one of the most celebrated makeup and special effects artists in Italian horror history. Superior to its predecessor due to its gloriously chaotic visuals and story, Demons 2 is an underrated Italian horror classic.
6 'Impetigore' (2019) - Indonesia
Directed by Joko Anwar
Written and directed by prolific Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar, Impetigore is a 2019 Indonesian folk horror film. The film follows Maya (Tara Basro), a young woman who travels to her childhood home accompanied by her friend Dini (Marissa Anita) in the hopes of securing inheritance money. However, upon arrival, Maya discovers a horrific curse that afflicts the village's children, and it is up to Maya to heal the village.
International folk horror, more so than other horror subgenres, has the potential to explore the nuances and history of other cultures - a quality that is used to great effect in Impetigore. From its horrific and intense opening scene, the film grabs its audience's attention and never loosens its grip. Featuring striking visuals, fascinating folklore, and a haunting performance from Christine Hakim as the film's antagonist, Impetigore is a fantastic and underrated international horror film.
5 'Thirst' (2009) - South Korea
Directed by Park Chan-wook
Image via Focus Features Written and directed by prolific filmmaker Park Chan-wook, Thirst is a 2009 South Korean gothic romantic vampire film. The film centers on the twisted relationship between Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho), a kind and selfless priest, and Tae-ju (Kim Ok-bin), a young woman in an unhappy marriage. Their relationship is complicated by more than just their life circumstances, however, as Sang-hyun has a vampiric need for human blood caused by a medical experiment gone wrong.
At its core, Thirst is a deliciously dark romance between two highly broken people who are forced to find a way to deal with their destructive urges without attracting suspicion. Both Kim and Song are excellent in their roles, with her imbuing her character with a mischievous and playful villainy and him emphasizing Sang-hyun’s internal conflict and despair, making them fantastic foils for one another. Overshadowed by Park’s 2003 neo-noir masterpiece Oldboy, Thirst is an international horror film that deserves far more attention than it received.
Your changes have been saved
Thirst
Release Date April 30, 2009
Director Park Chan-wook
Cast Song Kang-ho , Kim Ok-bin , Kim Hae-sook , Shin Ha-kyun
Runtime 134 Minutes
4 'Calvaire' (2004) - France/Belgium
Directed by Fabrice Du Welz
Calvaire is a 2004 French-Belgian horror film directed and co-written by Fabrice Du Welz. The film centers on a traveling performer, Marc (Laurent Lucas), who finds himself stranded in a bizarre and remote village comprised solely of men. While a local innkeeper, Bartel (Jackie Berroyer), initially presents himself as a friendly and helpful figure, he soon forces Marc into a twisted and violent dynamic in order to replace his ex-wife Gloria.
Calvaire is a notable entry into the canon of the New French Extremity, a selection of boundary-pushing and graphic films from around the turn of the 21st century. The film contains compelling and intelligent themes of religion, gender, and dehumanization that are explored through its horror, but it also contains its fair share of dark humor. Thoroughly uncomfortable and tense throughout, Calvaire is a standout of underrated international horror.
English (US) ·