When you think of horror movies, you might think of big blockbusters like The Conjuring and its cinematic universe, The Exorcist, Insidious, and other similar movies. As someone who loves all things creepy, haunted, gothic (a subgenre of horror that emphasizes dark, gloomy atmospheres over jumpscares), and strange, I’m always looking for a new horror movie to watch on a rainy night.
There are many untapped gems in the horror genre from around the world, here are some of my favourite lesser known horror films, away from Northern Turtle Island (Canada).
Macabre (2009) (Indonesia) by Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto
Macabre follows a group of six friends who pick up a woman who claimed to have been robbed, and her mother. They are then invited to the mother’s house for dinner, where they later find out that the menu features . . . them. This film is the definition of “stranger danger.” Though the story is a little bit predictable, Macabre is full of grungy cinematography, through the use of dingy yellow lighting through the parts of the movie where the main characters are inside the mother’s home. With a side of guts and gore, the movie will satisfy you if slashers are your go-to horror subgenre.
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) (Mexico/Spain) by Guillermo Del Toro
Set in Spain in 1944, during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, amidst the brutality of war a young girl discovers a hidden labyrinth and meets a faun (a mythical creature with a human body and goat legs) who claims she is a lost princess. She is told to reclaim her throne, she must complete three dangerous tasks inside the labyrinth. Pan’s Labyrinth is absolutely terrifying exactly because we’re anxious for our main character. Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro’s signature touch of finding beauty in the grotesque and bizarre, combined with gothicism, and the central theme of celebrating imperfection, is seen throughout the film. These collectively make the film a must watch for any horror lover.
Suspiria (1977) (Italy) by Dario Argento
Suspiria follows Suzy, an American ballet student, who arrives at a German dance academy only to realize that the academy is a front for something more disturbing. As a series of gruesome murders occur, she uncovers the true dark history of the academy. Argento makes a point through masterful use of lighting (created through velvet and gauze filtering) and music throughout the film, Suspiria is a surreal piece of ‘70s weirdness with a bit of charm.
The Wailing (2016) (South Korea) by Na Hong-jin
A police officer is drawn to investigate a small village where a mysterious sickness is spreading amongst its villagers, followed later by a series of strange, almost supernatural murders. After the sickness spreads to his daughter, the stakes rise. The Wailing is a long and topsy-turvy descent into absolute chaos. Despite such a long runtime, Na Hong-jin does a good job of keeping you on the edge of your seat, without using cheesy jumpscares.
