I grew up pretty much eating, drinking, and breathing horror movies. It was a natural move from horror literature. I’ve watched hundreds of horror movies from American to Italian, French, and Asian.
Today, I will give you a single best horror recommendation from seven different countries. These will also explore many subgenres of horror.
Disclaimer for animal lovers: I never watch movies that have animal abuse or explicit animal death. That said, one movie on this list does feature an off-screen, implied death without significant distress from the dog actor.
Let’s creep into it:
1. Reincarnation (2005)
Our first pick is a Japanese horror movie, as Asian horror movies have a special place in my heart.
“Reincarnation” is about a movie titled “Melody” being filmed at a hotel by director Ikuo Matsumura (Kippei Shiina). It covers a killing spree that took place there, and things get strange right away. This is not a slow-building movie. It features supernatural and body horror with some elements of mystery.
What’s more, this movie features stunning videography. The angles and shadows create intense suspense as the film follows the main protagonist, actress Nagisa Sugiura (portrayed by Hiroko Okabe).
The acting is well done, too. Overall, J-horror has remained my favorite. The rest of the director’s (Takashi Shimizu) filmography is also top-notch. You might recognize him if you liked Ju-on.
2. Old People (2022)
German horror kicked off the genre with “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.” If you’re interested in the history of the genre, check it out. Jump ahead to the 2022 movie “Old People,” a mix of body horror and supernatural horror. The directing, acting, and cinematography in “Old People” are all excellent.
The message of this film is that older people are often abandoned, abused, and lonely. Most countries also face an aging population crisis, with not enough younger generations to love, care for, and support older individuals.
The horror lies in doing what the genre has always done: providing a cathartic release from fears. It’s not about the fear of aging, but rather the fear of abandonment and the painful reality of nursing homes.
We’re very aware of how awful mental institutions used to be, but care facilities and neighborhoods for older people are still terrible. It’s happening now, not in the past. Also, be ready to cry.
3. The Binding (2020)
“The Binding” is a 2020 Italian horror film directed by Domenico Emanuele de Feudis.
The mom, Emma (Mia Maestro), must save her daughter, Sofia (Giulia Patrigani), from supernatural forces. This horror relies on a superstition common in Mediterranean beliefs. It’s also in this film that we have an implied animal death.
The videography and cinematography use angles effectively and are quite smooth with varying pacing. It also employs wide, distant shots to heighten the sense that the characters are being watched. The cast is phenomenal, and the jump scares are also well-executed.
4. #Alive (2020)
“#Alive” is one of those really well-done zombie movies. I was honestly getting burnt out on this horror subgenre until I watched “#Alive.”
The film is a K-horror with some sadness and then some romance, as no Korean movie would ever be complete without it. It follows Oh Joon-woo (Yoo Ah-in) and his isolation in his and his family’s apartment. Soon, he realizes there is another survivor, Kim Yoo-bin (Park Shin-hye). The acting is phenomenal.
The suspense and tension are high-stakes, and the actors’ choreography, both living and zombies, is truly entertaining.
There were many nail-biting moments, tear-jerking plot points, and character backstories to watch, along with some rough flashbacks.
5. La Llorona (2019)
This 2019 modernization of the “weeping woman” folktale in Guatemala focuses on political and war crimes. I don’t want to give too much away, but this one is really good. It’s a slow burn, so if you don’t have the attention span or tend to fall asleep during slow movies, this might not be for you. That said, the film is well-made and very crushing, thanks to its plot and themes.
Overall, this movie is relevant and impactful, no matter where you are, given what is happening all over the world right now.
6. Caveat (2020)
This film has supernatural elements, but its real strength lies in psychological horror. It heavily relies on paranoia, gaslighting, and claustrophobia, and the main character, Isaac (Johnny French), is often strong-armed into situations, including being restrained.
The setting also qualifies this horror as Gothic, especially given its supernatural themes. It takes place on a remote island; once Isaac arrives, he has almost no contact with the outside world and becomes stranded.
He is stuck with Olga (Leila Sykes), the niece of Moe (Ben Caplan), the guy who basically strong-arms him. The movie highlights the historical tensions between the British and the Irish, with a British actor playing Moe and an Irish actor playing Isaac.
7. Immaculate (2024)
Choosing an American horror movie is the hardest because there are tons more from the US. I want to avoid vampires since the Nosferatu remake is still fresh and widely praised.
I picked “Immaculate” because it’s a fantastic recent American supernatural spiritual movie. The main character is Cecilia (Sydney Sweeney), a novice nun who joins a convent in Italy. The acting, cinematography, and pacing are also spot on.
The convent has dark secrets, and the spooks start pretty quickly after her arrival. It is listed as a psychological horror, and I do want to say that the movie is in no way realistic in terms of Catholic theology. So, do not go in expecting it to be.
There, you have it, horror fans: seven horrors from seven origins. While I wanted to list more creature features, there just haven’t been enough recently since “Wolf Man” and “The Shape of Water” (not really a horror).
I also wanted to highlight films that more prominent ones may have overshadowed the ones I ultimately picked.
I hope you enjoy these films when you give them a chance, and as always, have a happy Halloween!
Featured image via Toni Cuenca on Pexels
I recently came across South Beach Casino in Canada, and it seems like a great spot for casino fun. They offer a wide range of slot machines, table games, and daily promotions. With on-site dining and comfortable accommodations, it’s a convenient choice for anyone in Canada looking for a complete casino experience.
I’m always keeping an eye on RTP myself. I’ve found that Black Diamond Casino has a really good filter for it, so you can easily sort games by their return percentage. I’m based in Sydney and I’ve had some decent sessions on their higher RTP pokies. It doesn’t guarantee a win, of course, but it does help your balance last longer, which means more entertainment for your dollar after a long shift. It’s a smart feature that I really appreciate.
An incredibly well-written article.