Hailing from all corners of the globe, here are my top 4 favorite foreign horror films, in all their glory!
When most people hear the name Peter Jackson they probably think of such major block-buster films as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and King King. However over a decade previous to these releases Jackson was directing another film, quite different from theses. Welcome to Dead Alive (also known as Braindead), possibly one of the most gory movies ever created. The main protagonist is the timid Lionel, who is faced with quite a dilemma when his mother is turned into a brain-hungry zombie. Lionel's solution? Keep her locked up in the basement with a few other unfortunate people who have been turned into zombies (two of which later get it on and produce a zombie baby, who proceeds to wreak much havoc, especially when Lionel decides to take it for a day in the park). This movie is incredibly hilarious and incredibly gory and is a refreshing change from today's predictable zombie films.
High Tension is a gripping suspenseful horror film that involves a girl isolated on a farmhouse in the countryside, trying to escape from a maniacal killer who is never actually shown. What makes this film unique? The heroine isn't your stereotypical "help I'm a girl in a horror movie". She fights back. This film had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, with a twist ending that was like WOAH!!
The second film in the "Coffin Joe" trilogy (the first is At Midnight I will Steal Your Soul), this is also one of my favorite films. Twisted, hilarious, and just plain weird, this black and white film came out in the 1960's and because no actor was willing to play the main character, the director/writer took on the role himself. It's basically about a psycho madman trying to find a wife to bear him the "perfect" child. He also has a hunchbacked sidekick named Bruno. Halfway through the film changes to color when Coffin Joe is dragged down to hell for an interesting visit with the devil. This film is probably hard to find but it is well worth the search because, believe me, you have never seen anything like this before.
Whenever our country produces anything vaguely interesting you should probably assume that Japan did it first. Suicide Club opens at a train station where a large group of school girls, chatting and laughing, line up and link arms. There is the sound of the train approaching and the next thing you now all the girls have jumped in front of it. The movie continues with many people committing suicide for no apparent reason. Sound familiar? This year's The Happening by M.Night Shyamalan follows basically the exact same plot. The Japanese are known for producing great horror movies and this film is no exception; creepy, suspenseful, and thrilling.
Dead Alive (Australia)
When most people hear the name Peter Jackson they probably think of such major block-buster films as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and King King. However over a decade previous to these releases Jackson was directing another film, quite different from theses. Welcome to Dead Alive (also known as Braindead), possibly one of the most gory movies ever created. The main protagonist is the timid Lionel, who is faced with quite a dilemma when his mother is turned into a brain-hungry zombie. Lionel's solution? Keep her locked up in the basement with a few other unfortunate people who have been turned into zombies (two of which later get it on and produce a zombie baby, who proceeds to wreak much havoc, especially when Lionel decides to take it for a day in the park). This movie is incredibly hilarious and incredibly gory and is a refreshing change from today's predictable zombie films.
High Tension (France)
High Tension is a gripping suspenseful horror film that involves a girl isolated on a farmhouse in the countryside, trying to escape from a maniacal killer who is never actually shown. What makes this film unique? The heroine isn't your stereotypical "help I'm a girl in a horror movie". She fights back. This film had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, with a twist ending that was like WOAH!!
Tonight I Will Possess Your Corpse (Brazil)
The second film in the "Coffin Joe" trilogy (the first is At Midnight I will Steal Your Soul), this is also one of my favorite films. Twisted, hilarious, and just plain weird, this black and white film came out in the 1960's and because no actor was willing to play the main character, the director/writer took on the role himself. It's basically about a psycho madman trying to find a wife to bear him the "perfect" child. He also has a hunchbacked sidekick named Bruno. Halfway through the film changes to color when Coffin Joe is dragged down to hell for an interesting visit with the devil. This film is probably hard to find but it is well worth the search because, believe me, you have never seen anything like this before.Suicide Club (Japan)
Whenever our country produces anything vaguely interesting you should probably assume that Japan did it first. Suicide Club opens at a train station where a large group of school girls, chatting and laughing, line up and link arms. There is the sound of the train approaching and the next thing you now all the girls have jumped in front of it. The movie continues with many people committing suicide for no apparent reason. Sound familiar? This year's The Happening by M.Night Shyamalan follows basically the exact same plot. The Japanese are known for producing great horror movies and this film is no exception; creepy, suspenseful, and thrilling.