Mainstream horror too dull? These 5 lesser known CHILLING movies can fix that

Horror movies make for the most cathartic experience in cinema, bar none.

For that reason perhaps, the genre is often saturated with cheap slop which overflows with cheap thrills and tropes, designed to tick every box possible and get its viewers to their desired ends by any means necessary.

While the category of spooks has had an interesting run this year so far — with Weapons, Final Destination Bloodlines, and the upcoming installation of The Conjuring franchise, certainly an anticipated title for any horror fan — it does feel like most run of the mill movies have had their day in the sun.

If you can’t wait until more of some well done horror is out, here are five exisiting original and ambitious entries from around the world which can satisfy you until new ones arrive:

The Wailing (2016)

While some of the more hardcore horror fans would already be aware of this Korean gem, The Wailing may not be on everyone’s radar and it is perhaps time you remedy that.

A wholly original story and sweetly aching slow burn plot from writer and director Na Hong-jin will leave you anticipating what’s to come at every turn, and the best part? No quick and easy jump scares.

Synopsis: Soon after a stranger arrives in a little village, a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman, drawn into the incident, is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter…

Watch out for: Part of a chilling climax, done with a neat old school in-camera trick.

Hour of the Wolf (1968)

Maybe it isn’t fair to suggest that any title among Swedish filmmaking legend Ingmar Bergman’s towering oeuvre is overlooked, it can be argued that Hour of the Wolf makes for a fighting case.

A surrealist horror and riddled with some elements of folklore, this film tackles themes relating to artistic struggles, sexuality, and a lot more — all set against the backdrop of an intimate matrimonial portrait and greatly enhanced by its rich black-and-white visuals.

Synopsis: While vacationing on a remote German island with his younger pregnant wife, an artist has an emotional breakdown while confronting his repressed desires.

Watch out for: Fans of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining may pick up on a few interpretations from the film which the director was inspired by while making his own.

When Evil Lurks (2023)

You would have to go exploring among the treasures of Spanish cinema to unearth this prize.

When Evil Lurks, written and directed by Demián Rugna, is a tale of doom and despair but told at an incredible pace that never seems to lull and concludes with a bleak punch so strong, you are bound to feel it for days after.

Synopsis: In a remote village, two brothers find a demon-infected man just about to “give birth” to evil itself. They decide to get rid of the body, only to end up unintentionally spreading chaos.

Watch out for: At the risk of giving too much away, keep your eyes peeled for a certain scene with a dog and a little girl…

Saint Maud (2019)

While many films among A24’s impressive horror catalogue often make every fan’s list of their favourites from the genre, Saint Maud remains a bit disregarded comparatively.

However, it is well worth visiting as English director and screenwriter Rose Glass pushed the envelope to the maximum with this feature (her directorial debut no less) — a mature psychological horror film with themes of spirituality and isolation, exacerbated by trauma brought on by religious delusions and mental illness.

Synopsis: A pious nurse becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient.

Watch out for: Welsh actress Morfydd Clark’s singularly breathtaking lead performance, sure to leave you speechless by the time the end’s stunning twist drops.

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)

Korean horror is just too good for this list to include just one entry from there, so let’s conclude with another title from one of the best film industries out there.

Directed by Kim Jee-woon, whose films like I Saw the Devil and A Bittersweet Life may be more familiar to fans of K-cinema, A Tale of Two Sisters is a mystifying story of family secrets which reach their revealing conclusion in a terrifying twist ending.

Synopsis: After being institutionalized in a mental hospital, Su-mi reunites with her sister, Su-yeon, and they return to live at their country home. But strange events plague the house, leading to surprising revelations and a shocking conclusion.

Watch out for: The original film which inspired the 2014 Austrian horror film Goodnight Mommy and its American remake of the same name, starring Naomi Watts and released on Amazon Prime Video in 2022.