The 6 Best Foreign Horror Movies You Can Watch Right Now

It should go without saying, but there is quite literally a world of horror at our disposal. Despite language and cultural barriers, one thing that exists no matter where you go is fear. Another thing that exists, and goes hand in hand with fear, is creativity.

What happens when you mix fear and creativity? Horror movies happen and they know no barriers.

The US, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other English speaking countries have been pretty consistent in releasing decent horror movies, but there are also a lot of horror movies with the same amount of deserved attention from Europe and Asia - even Mexico.

Let's explore 6 of the best foreign horror movies you could watch right now. They're all fairly recent and, yes, none of them are in English so get used to reading those subtitles. Trust me, it's all worth it.

6. 'Haute Tension' (France, 2005)

Perhaps this one is a given, but there was no way you could leave out Haute Tension. Otherwise known as High Tension, the film follows two best friends, Marie and Alex, as they venture off to Alex's family cabin in the French countryside. Soon after, they're encountered by a relentless killer.

This movie not only has one of the most unexpected twists I have ever seen in the horror genre, but it also helped showcase inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community with the main character, Marie. After all, us gays do love our horror movies!

5. 'Audition' (Japan, 1999)

Audition is one of those slow burn horror movies that is often overlooked, in my opinion. The story of a Japanese man who uses a fake audition process to find a new bride seems like a recipe for disaster from the start, but you don't really get an overly exciting climax like you'd expect. His final candidate definitely brings the terror, but it comes at a very slow, steady pace. If you're patient enough to stick with this one, you won't be disappointed.

4. '[REC]' (Spain, 2007)

Aside from the ground breaking found footage movie, The Blair Witch Project, [REC] is easily one of the most successful movies in the subgenre. Taking place in an apartment building where the fire department was called, a local news reporter and her camera crew enter the situation without any knowledge or expectation of the chaos that's about to happen. Soon after, the residents become homicidal and it is all captured with her cameraman's lens. This movie managed to spawn three sequels and an American remake, Quarantine.

In my opinion, it's one of the best foreign horror movies to ever exist, with moments so tense you feel like you realize you haven't even blinked.

3. 'Train to Busan' (South Korea, 2016)

That's right, the zombie genre isn't completely owned by The Walking Dead. In fact, I think Train to Busan gives The Walking Dead a run for its money. With this Korean horror offering, the zombie apocalypse is set on a high-speed train and centers itself around a banker and his daughter.

One thing The Walking Dead set up was the look at the humanity that still exists in a zombie apocalypse - an event where humanity seems to be completely lost forever. Train to Busan not only gives a very graphic, high energy look at zombies, but it also touches on the aspect of humanity. It's a breath of fresh air in a very saturated subgenre.

2. 'Suspiria' (Italy, 1977)

Directed by Italian director, Dario Argento, Suspiria left its mark on the horror genre and it never really went away. The coven-themed film about a woman attending an Italian dance school terrified audiences back in the 70s with the introduction of more supernatural themed horror. The slasher film wasn't the only horror offering on the table anymore and in this case, it came with stylized cinematography that leaves you wanting more.

It also managed to get an American remake starring Tilda Swinton, Dakota Johnson, and Chloë Grace Moretz in 2017.

1. 'Martyrs' (France, 2008)

While the French were a little behind on horror offerings, the country definitely didn't disappoint with Martyrs. Not only is this movie considered to be one of the best foreign films ever made, but it's highly celebrated by American horror fans as one of the best horror movies of all time. The film focuses on the theme of transcendence as a group try to make individuals a martyr to achieve insight into the afterlife.

Martyrs is ruthless, thought provoking, and cruel, but you are captivated for every single second of it. It was criticized by some for trying to be too profound for a horror movie, but I always thought it offered an angle we don't often get to think about.

Honorable Mentions:

• 'The Orphanage' (Spain, 2007)
• 'A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night' (Iran, 2014)
• 'Let the Right One In' (Sweden, 2008)

What is your favorite foreign horror movie? Let's hear it!