2019 was one of thebest years for movie history in recent times, and arguably the best year forhorrorin a decade. That year, both Jordan Peele and Ari Aster made brillianthorror movies where the heroes are the villains. While this trend was more common in the early 2000s and 2010s, the subversive use by these two most promising horror directors of recent years demonstrates an increase in highbrow horror. The late 2010s have witnessed some memorable imaginative, contemplative, and powerful horror filmmaking, and the trend seems set to continue.
The use of conventions more common to horror has seen an uptick in recent years, with a significant number ofdrama films that verge on becoming horror. So, this is a promising time for horror cinema, and even though it’s too early to say if this era will be as influential as the 1920s or the 1980s, it is exciting to be alive right now as a fan of horror. Formulaic sequels and reboots rule the box office for the most part now. However, indie horror is as fresh as ever, and innovations can be found all around the world.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
Cast
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person follows Sasha, a sensitive young vampire who struggles with killing for sustenance. When her parents halt her blood supply, she forms a unique bond with Paul, a suicidal teenager. Together, they embark on a journey to address Paul’s final wishes overnight.
While they’ve been in movies for almost as long as movies have been a thing, vampires were rarely as humanized as they are today, before the 2000s. AfterInterview With A Vampirein 1994, which was recently adapted into a miniseries, the late ’90s started seeing a mainstream shift whenBuffy the Vampire Slayerstarted airing in 1997, which didn’t take very long to start portraying vampires as sympathetic. Then came the romance franchiseTwilight, which gave Kristen Stewart herbreakout role that she’s most known for, and ensured vampires would no longer exclusively be linked to horror.
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Horror-comedies use the two genres to catch viewers unaware and create an entertaining experience, but most lean on one genre more than the other.
Ariana Louis-Seize’s vampire film similarly has significant rom-com traits, although it’s still partly a horror movie as well. The protagonist isn’t just humanized like the Cullens fromTwilight, she refuses to kill a human for sustenance.The wicked humor and the memorable character interactionsmake this a unique horror-comedy that already is and will continue to be a cult classic among fans of vampires and experimental horror filmmaking. Set in a world that feels lived-in and filled to the brim with quirky details, it’s also partly a coming-of-age story.
Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil is a psychological horror film directed by Christian Tafdrup. Released in 2022, the movie follows a Danish family who accepts an invitation to visit a Dutch family they met on vacation. As their stay progresses, the Danish couple starts to uncover the unsettling reality behind their hosts' hospitality, leading to a tense and disturbing climax. The film explores themes of social awkwardness and the dark undercurrents of human interaction.
One of the most diabolical horror villains in recent times can be found in Christian Tafdrup’sSpeak No Evil. Following a family who takes an invitation to go live with a couple they met during a vacation, it is a slow boil of mind games. Theescalation of the discomfort into panic and ultimately into an unforgettably scarring gorefestmakesSpeak No Evilrather rewarding to watch.
While Watkins and the cast of the American remake decided a different ending would suit the story better, Christian Tafdrup has said he doesn’t like the new ending, admitting that the cultural divide may be responsible for which audience will prefer which ending.
The Tafdrup brothers have written a deliberately paced screenplay that lulls viewers into a sense of comfort and safety before introducing unshakable despair. It features someshocking moments that will make viewers audibly gaspas they helplessly watch the terror unfold. The film was such a hit with audiences that there was a Hollywood remake in 2024, directed by James Watkins, which, to the contention of many viewers, changes the ending. The original ending is intense and memorable, and earnsSpeak No Evilthe reputation of being one of the best horror movies in a decade.
When Evil Lurks
In rural Argentina, brothers Pedro and Jimmy discover a mutilated corpse, leading them to confront a malevolent demonic force threatening their community. Demián Rugna’s “When Evil Lurks” delivers a relentless and brutal horror experience, eschewing genre norms to craft a uniquely terrifying narrative.
Argentine filmmaker Demián Rugna has made impressively terrifying films in the last 10 years. While his 2017 filmTerrifiedwas one of the scariest movies to come out in the 2010s, the follow-up,When Evil Lurks, is even more horrifying. Featuring ahorror movie monster that’s nightmare fuel, the movie tells the story of a village haunted by a spirit that possesses people and influences those around them to kill them.
The utter chaos caused by the characters' erratic behavior and the extremely violent action willkeep you glued to your seats even when you’ll want to look away. The gore isn’t sensational either – it’s often very slowly built up and has depressing implications – there’s a poignant exploration of social dynamics through the premise of mass paranoia. While there’s a compelling mystery at the heart of the story, the anxious buildup towards shocking moments of violence is the most compelling aspect of this brilliant supernatural horror movie.
November
November is an Estonian fantasy drama film directed by Rainer Sarnet. Set in a pagan village, the film blends folklore and surrealism to depict the lives of villagers who navigate love, death, and magic. Featuring a monochromatic visual style, November explores themes of superstition and human desire amidst a harsh, rural landscape.
Horror is an interestingly strong medium for sociopolitical commentary as it allows a writer to explore people’s various attitudes to conflict and fear. Rainer Sarnet’sNovemberis set in a mythical village in Estonia which is inhabited by spirits and werewolves. Mythological beings like the Devil and the Plague are also in the village, and people attempt to dupe them as they do whatever it takes to survive the harsh winter.
The fantasy premise and setting provide context for exploring the societal customs and the inherent greed in humans.
A corrupt society, scorned supernatural beings, shocking moments, detailed world-building, sensory immersion, and a doomed love story with a werewolf in the mix – there are simply too many things to love aboutNovemberif you’re a horror aficionado. The fantasy premise and setting provide context for exploring the societal customs and the inherent greed in humans. It plays out like a fable in monochrome that tells a story of extremes.
6Despite The Night (2015)
Directed by Philippe Grandrieux
An experimental horror film that plays out like a fever dream from the mind of the late David Lynch,Despite The Nightoften doesn’t seem to be narrative cinema. What feels like scraps and remnants of incomplete ruminations about lust and sexuality have been stitched together for a frenzied exploration of pornography. A grief-stricken woman and a heartbroken man bond together in the dark underbelly of sex work in Paris.
With such a premise and a vision that feels obscure and yet entirely lacking in subtlety, Phillippe Grandrieux takes viewers on a journey of sexual expression that is horrifying, and yet not entirely in the same sense as a horror movie. The human bodybecomes both canvas and painting for the viewerto scrutinize, observe, project onto and become one with, as they allow their senses to be taken over by dream-like editing. While it can feel too abstract at times, the joy of watchingDespite the Nightisn’t in comprehension, or even in titillation, it’s in surrender.
Climax
Climax is a 2018 film directed by Gaspar Noé, featuring a dance troupe whose rehearsal descends into chaos and horror after they unwittingly consume drug-laced sangria. As tensions rise, the group struggles to survive the night and uncover the person responsible for the spiked drink in an isolated setting.
Gaspar Noé’s last full-length horror feature film was his only A24 movie. While the studio is famous for its impactful movies in all genres, its horror movies are some of the best, andClimaxis no exception. The typical twisted and cynical exploration of the human psyche and a descent into chaotic self-destruction – the Noé signature – drives this film’s narrative, which can roughly be divided into two conflicting halves.
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Opening with a dance troupe’s jubilant afterparty, the first half of the film is a dreamy and titillating series of interpretive dancing, with the same energy as a sex-romp. At about the halfway point, when the cinematography shifts with the use of a hand-held camera, everyone starts behaving erratically. What follows isa drug-fueled rampage of humans turning on each other, killing each other, and resorting to all sorts of violent debauchery. The shift is so sudden, it’ll catch you unaware, and the cynicism that drives the story will definitely drain some viewers.
Train to Busan
Train to Busan is a South Korean action-horror film released in 2016. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, it centers on passengers aboard an express train from Seoul to Busan during a sudden zombie outbreak. As the virus spreads, the survivors must navigate the chaotic and dangerous environment to reach safety.
If demonic possession and spiritual haunting can be premises for sociopolitical commentary, then why not zombies? Snakes on a plane may be funny, but zombies on a train definitely aren’t.Class-conscious storytelling introduces an extra layer of contemplationto what is otherwise an emotionally heavy horror movie. Between scary zombies and unbelievably cool stunts, however, it’s just as much an action movie at times.
Train to Busanis arguably the most influential horror movie sinceThe Evil Dead.
While zombie movies have been around since the birth of horror cinema, few movies have been as influential as theclassic horror movie that will always be scary, Sam Raimi’sThe Evil Dead. Since its release in the 1980s, the genre blew up, and during the 2000s especially, there was a growth in the number of formulaic zombie movies being made.Train to Busanis arguably the most influential horror movie sinceThe Evil Dead, as its energetic pace and claustrophobic action along with the horrifying visuals and gore has reinvigorated the genre.
The Wailing
The arrival of a mysterious stranger in a quiet village coincides with a wave of vicious murders, causing panic and distrust among the residents. While investigating the suspect, a policeman realizes that his daughter may have been a victim of the attack.
A common trait of sensational horror movies is a limited runtime. Brief, intense, gory, and shocking – this seems to be considered a winning blueprint in the industry, and for good reason. If a horror movie doesn’t have much to say apart from spooking its viewers or leaving a nagging thought,then brevity is its strongest weapon to hit the audience with. However, a meditative approach to storytelling can incorporate layers that feel rewarding when the long runtime is over and even adds rewatch value beyond the wish to relive a thrill.
Na Hong-jin’sThe Wailing, one of themost terrifying Korean ghost horror movies, understands this better than few other horror movies made in recent times. Yes, it meanders at time, and can even feel repetitive, but there’s a method to the madness. The nearly mechanical reiteration of the horror impresses on the mind just how systemic and fearful the circumstance can be. A strange man’s arrival in a town is followed by the spreading of an illness that no one can seemingly treat, and the meditative pace helps the film explore how tensions flare and create a lived-in world.
One Cut of the Dead
One Cut of the Dead is a Japanese indie film directed by Shinichirou Ueda. The story follows a film crew shooting a low-budget zombie movie, only to be interrupted by real zombies. The film showcases an innovative take on the horror-comedy genre, with surprising narrative twists that defy the typical conventions of zombie cinema.
With films likeShaun of the Dead,Zombieland, which has one of thebest surprise movie cameos, and more recently,Evil Dead Rise, zombies have been similarly demystified like vampires since the early 2000s. Rom-coms likeWarm Bodies, and Christmas musicals likeAnna & the Apocalypse, uniquely imaginative takes on zombies, can be found today. However, unlike with vampires, this isn’t nearly as all-encompassing, because zombies are still inadvertently associated almost exclusively with horror.
So, even if a film takes a comical approach to zombies, it is commonly a horror-comedy and not an out-and-out comedy. Shin’ichirô Ueda’sOne Cut of the Deadis such a movie. It understandsthe inherent humor one can find in the absurdity of the human body, but also never forgets how terrifying zombie mutilation can be. A love letter to cinema, it is a wild movie that follows a film crew that gets attacked by zombies. The high-octane action, frenzied editing choices, and hilarious antics keep viewers guessing what’s going to happen next right until the end.
The Wolf House
The Wolf House, directed by Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña, follows María, who escapes from a sectarian community in Chile. She seeks refuge in an abandoned house in the forest, as she flees the oppressive regime of Colonia Dignidad, led by the tyrannical Paul Schäfer.
Supernatural or fictional scenarios provide horror directors with a stage or setting to explore gritty truths about humanity. However, no premise can be more powerful in this endeavor than an imaginative exploration of human behavior during an actual crisis. Using poignant stop-motion animation, anda reimagined version of the classic fable ofThe Three Little Pigs,The Wolf Housetells a horrifying real-life story.
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Based on an actual cult that was active in Chile during the Second World War, it follows a terrified protagonist as she discovers the underlying horrors behind the false sense of harmony that the cult maintained. The fluid animation style reflects the frantic state of mind of the little girl as she runs around in hope of refuge. There are manyanimated horror movies perfect for a family watch, butThe Wolf Houseis too dark and inappropriate for a younger audience, much like another famous animated war movie, the Studio Ghibli filmGrave of the Fireflies.
