There’s no translation needed for a scream. And when someone’s being attacked with a ridiculously large knife, their nationality doesn’t make the situation any less terrifying. Not to mention other countries seem to understand that real horror isn’t about the jump-scares or extreme gore (something we’re finally seeing a little less of in recent films like Goodnight Mommy, The Babadook, and It Follows). So we had no trouble curating this list of the best foreign horror films, except maybe in limiting ourselves to only ten. This Halloween, if you thought subtitles might distract from suspense, check out any of these titles and find yourself spookily proven wrong.

10 Must Watch Foreign Horror Films For Halloween

#10. Nosferatu (1922 – Germany)

F.W. Murnau’s silent classic Nosferatu floods the mind with inky, dreamlike visions that never release their grip. The film haunts me to this day because the monster at its center isn’t treated as a movie monster at all, but a demon that lurks and stalks us from the shadows of our world. He’s embodied by German actor Max Schreck, whose performance is freaky as hell, not operatic and sexy (don’t call him Dracula). Our hero, Hutter (Alexander Granach), uncovers pieces of vampire lore via mysterious letters and occult symbols and barely evades the gangly Nosferatu himself as a wave of doom and dread rolls over us. The film’s most famous scene, involving a shocking coffin reveal, is as chilling as ever. Murnau’s film is now nearly 100 years old but is scary in a way that modern films can’t reproduce—with the absence of sound, Nosferatu‘s onscreen horrors appear all the more nightmarish, leaving a sonic vacuum in the air meant to be filled with our blood-curdling screams. [Bernard]

#9. Ringu (1998 – Japan)

Based on a novel by Kôji Suzuki (Japan’s answer to Stephen King), Ringu, from director Hideo Nakata, is a chilling film made effective by its own simplicity, both in construct and in execution. The premise, in the form of an urban legend propagated by teens, is simple: watch a certain VHS tape, die seven days later. That’s it. This simplicity of fate is what makes the tale so effective. Unlike most “something is coming for you” horror films (think everything from classics like Halloween to indie sensations like It Follows), there is no boogeyman to run away from, no executioner to plead to for mercy, no chance of dodging demise—nobody can hide from time. When the reporter (Nanako Matsushima) investigating the legend watches the tape herself, the story shifts from “What will happen next?” to “Something will happen soon,” adding to the film’s already great tension. Then, the story doubles-down in the form of the reporter’s young son happening across the tape, thus starting his own clock, that tension exponentially increases. This is what makes the film work so well. Ringu is more terror than horror, like an old-time ghost story that relies very little on visual scares, instead captivating viewers with great suspense, overwhelming atmosphere, and unsettling anticipation. [Michael]

#8. [REC] (2007 – Spain)

Before Paranormal Activity kicked off a found footage trend that we’re still going through, directors Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza cooked up this fun and chaotic zombie film (or is it?). Plucky reporter Angela Vidal (Manuela Velasco) is following a group of firemen working the night shift for a TV show when there’s a call about a situation at an apartment building. Angela and her cameraman follow the firemen inside, only to discover that some sort of virus is spreading through the building, turning people into crazed cannibals (similar the rage virus from 28 Days Later). By the time they realize something’s wrong the government shows up to quarantine everyone inside the building, and from there it’s a battle for survival as each tenant either gets devoured or succumbs to the disease. Balaguero and Plaza waste no time getting to the good stuff; exposition is minimal, and within 15 minutes the blood starts flowing. The cramped setting of the building, combined with the fact that the protagonists are actually trapped (and it’s worth mentioning that [REC] gets bonus points for providing a legitimate reason why the camera needs to keep rolling), makes [REC] a nail biter, and the film is brilliantly structured in the way it escalates the tension at an exponential rate. And the finale, a shocking sequence that plays out in night vision, wouldn’t feel out of place in a list of the scariest scenes of all-time. [C.J.]

#7. Kwaidan (1964 – Japan)

There’s something to be said about the power of folktales. Unlike the bulk of modern horror that draws on certain influences, but ultimately strives for a wholly new mythology, the act of bringing ancient stories to the big screen carries the potential for a far more affecting experience. It’s about sharing lessons, fears and cautionary narratives that have endured for hundreds of years and if done right, the result can be deeply resonant. Kwaidan is just such a film. Masaki Kobayashi’s three-hour anthology tells four tales from Japanese folklore united by the common thread of ghostly encounters. A poor young swordsman makes an ill-fated bid for higher social status, a woodcutter holds a promise of dubious consequences to a wintry spirit, the ghosts of a royal family request the talents of a blind musician and a writer sees a grinning face in a cup of tea. All four stories unravel at an appropriately deliberate pace set against a background of vibrant artificial scenery and highly expressive sets. Rather than being a horror film fueled by big scares, Kwaidan impresses with its subtly chilling atmosphere and its evocative rendering of a delusive, spiritually rich world. [Byron]

#6. Eyes Without A Face (1960 – France)

If ever there was any doubt that Georges Franju’s 1960 bastion of plastic surgery was a legitimate horror film, just think of the title it premiered with in the States in 1962: The Horror Chamber of Dr. Faustus. Of course, it’s only today’s audience who’d look at a horror cult classic like Eyes Without A Face and question its legitimacy for scares. Never forget how desensitized we’ve become over the years, but even if the film doesn’t scare us today as it surely did audiences back in the ’60s, the creeps it exudes still raise hairs on the back of the neck. Pierre Brasseur plays the mad doctor who attempts to re-create the physical beauty of his once-beautiful daughter, Charlotte (Edith Scob, mostly covered in the iconic white mask but piercing with emotions through eyes you’ll drop into and a voice that’ll break the fall). A sickly atmosphere that festers in the imagination. The triptych of psychological, emotional, and physical terror. Overarching gothic overtones. Alida Valli’s cold-blooded assistant (the Igor to Brasseur’s Dr. Frankenstein), all exterior beauty and interior grotesquerie. All these elements conspire with Franju’s taut direction and Eugen Schüfftan’s vivid cinematography to make for, arguably, the most poetic (but no less haunting) of all horror films. In my opinion, the heterograft scene stands as one of the genre’s defining moments. [Nik]

#5. I Saw The Devil (2010 – South Korea)

One of the greatest serial killer films ever made, Kim Jee-woon’s I Saw the Devil is a bonafide masterpiece. Mirroring what would happen if James Bond set his sights on Hannibal Lector, the film is a fast-paced epic that is filled with emotion and satisfying payoffs. Excellent performances from Choi Min-sik and Lee Byung-hun keep tensions high from start to finish, and some absolutely barbaric sequences of action and suspense raise the stakes in an honest and believable fashion. It’s the revenge element, though, is what truly propels I Saw the Devil to the next level. Soo-hyun (Byung-hun) is so personally invested in avenging the death of his murdered fiancée, who was killed by Kyung-chul (Min-sik), that the vengeance becomes his only motivation in life. Jee-woon and screenwriter Park Hoon-jung study the psyches of both the hero and the villain with equal interest, which makes I Saw the Devil one of the most character-driven tales of revenge ever made. [Blair]

#4. The Devil’s Backbone (2001 – Spain)

Like a little history and a whole lot of atmosphere to go with your horror? There’s no greater director more masterful at combining all of the above than Guillermo del Toro. Set during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, The Devil’s Backbone follows a group of orphaned boys at a home in the country. One new boy, Carlos, starts to see the ghost of a boy in the orphanages dark stone passageways and does his best to uncover what the dead boy’s story is. Like many of del Toro’s best films (Pan’s Labyrinth being another great example), the supernatural elements of this world are almost never as scary as the ill intentions of the living. Carlos and his companions must face the war-torn reality of their world while finding a way to reconcile the last wishes of the dead. Del Toro’s signature attention to eery detail—not to mention his penchant for lingering on his creepy creations allowing each horrifying detail to sink in—and his ability to craft unrelentingly evil characters are what make The Devil’s Backbone a mood-filled and satisfying ghost story. [Ananda]

#3. Diabolique (1955- France)

Diabolique is a classic of the horror genre which deserves its place alongside the likes of Psycho and The Exorcist. Gorgeously shot and incredibly tense throughout, Henri-Georges Clouzot crafts a horror film that is sure to sit with you for days. Following the story of a murder gone wrong, Christina (Vera Clouzot) and her husband’s mistress (Simone Signoret) conspire together to kill an abusive husband (Paul Meurisse), but once they do nothing is as it seems. Saying anything more about the story would spoil some of the most thrilling sequences ever put to film. It’s been said that Alfred Hitchcock lost out on the film rights to Diabolique by just a few hours, still it’s hard to imagine anyone, even the Master of Suspense himself, outdoing Clouzot here. [Ryan]

#2. Audition (1999 – Japan)

Prolific Japanese filmmaker, Takashi Miike, who is known for his transgressive social commentaries and cartoonish violence, released in 1999 what might be the most graphic and frightening film about romantic relationships ever committed to celluloid. The plot of Audition focuses on a widow by the name of Shigeharu Aoyama who, with the help of a fellow film producer, arranges a faux-audition for a non-existent movie in order to find himself a prospective bride. Unfortunately, his gaze falls upon the wrong woman. Asami Yamazaki, the seemingly harmless apple of his eye, is (to say the least) not at all who she appears to be. With Audition, Miike shows more directorial restraint than usual, which might be the film’s most commendable attribute. The majority of the runtime is spent exploring the growing intimacy between Shigeharu and Asami, interspersed with abrupt and very brief sequences hinting at something sinister developing within Asami’s psyche. It isn’t until the latter half of the third act that the film shifts gears completely and erupts into a state of unexpectedly extreme mayhem. But in order to find out the specifics of what transpires, you’ll have to experience the film for yourself—just don’t say you weren’t warned. [Eli]

#1. Let The Right One In (2008 – Sweden)

In the same year that obnoxiously popular teen vampire series kicked off (we won’t even mention its name), came a small film out of Sweden that turned the overplayed genre on its head. Beautifully shot, with a tender story and one hell of a mean streak, Tomas Alfredson’s Let the Right One In is a special film. By creating its monster in the form of a little girl, the film is able to cleverly play with many of the most traditional vampire myths—especially the role of the human servant, which is the most tragic theme of the film. Alfredson is an incredibly patient filmmaker (something that works extraordinarily well in moody horror films), knowing just how much information, thematic and visual, to show the audience. His craft shows particularly well in the breathtaking final scene, one of the best staged horror sequences of all-time. While that mainstream vampire series was capturing young audiences with sparkly skin and sexual repression, Let the Right One In showed that vampires could still be cool while actually having a complex and resonant dramatic story. And it’s actually scary. Let the Right One In also has the distinction of inspiring an above-average American remake (which can’t be said for too many other films on this list), Let Me In from Cloverfield’s Matt Reeves. [Aaron]

Halloween is upon us and there you are stuck in front of TV with a browser window open (shame on you IE users!) with Netflix on it. You’re probably thinking, “Hmmmm, what should we watch tonight? If only I had someone to help me out on this.” Fear not! I am here to help you navigate the plethora of drudgery that populates the popular streaming site’s library of horrific carnage.

It’s the same story every year. You hover your mouse over a few different choices, unsure of which movie to click on. Well, this year you’re in luck. I’ll be up front and admit that some of these are not the greatest films horror has to offer. But what I am willing to bet is that you either haven’t seen, or even heard of, some of these hidden gems. So here are 7 horror films I’ve picked out for you to try on Halloween night (after you’ve put the kids to bed of course). Maybe even sandwich one or two of these picks in between a classic like Halloween or The Shining. Enjoy!

7 Scary Movies To Watch On Netflix This Halloween

The People Under the Stairs

This film, from Horror legend Wes Craven, is an absolutely bizarre tale about a teenager from the ghetto who gets roped into looting a house that supposedly has countless priceless gold coins that liter the basement of the archaic home. What they end up finding out is that the house is owned by a psychotic married couple who keep people locked up without any hope of escape. The film is essentially a fairy-tale masquerading as a nightmarish clash of classes between the wealthy suburbanites of L.A. and the unfortunate souls of the city’s inner quarters. The film is shocking at times and Craven lets the blood flow in a few scenes, but the film is engaging on multiple levels and will appease viewers who not necessarily adore the Horror genre.

Let the Right One In

If you like your Horror with a heavy dose of devastating drama, look no further than this Scandinavian vampire film. While I prefer the American remake (yeah I said it), this Swedish original is heartbreaking in its telling of a lonely young lad who is constantly alone and picked on by kids at his school. Enter Eli; a young vampire who has lived for decades living off the blood of innocent people. Together they form a close bond and must rely on one another to survive their daily plights. Yes, it is bleak (the American remake even more so). And yes, it is sad and hard to watch. But this is one of the best (and overlooked) vampire movies in recent years.

Also streaming on: Amazon Prime, YouTube (paid subscription)

Resolution

Now this is an interesting Horror movie that tries to rise above its genre and for the most part, it succeeds. Michael gets a message from a friend, Chris, who is camped out in an abandoned cabin as he battles a meth addiction. Mike decides to head out there to have one last go at Chris to help him go cold turkey. He gets to the cabin and immediately hand cuffs Chris to the wall. Everything seems to be going fine until the two friends start getting strange messages from the future. In one instance Michael’s laptop turns on by itself and shows the two friends a video from literally a minute into the future and in another they play a CD in a car stereo that involves dialogue from them at a later period. The film naturally builds to a bloody, final conflict that will either have you clapping or throwing the remote at the TV. I personally loved it.

Our review of Resolution

Maniac (2013)

To be completely honest, I’m not necessarily sure this movie is even that good so much as it is something different. Maniac offers up some real treats in terms of visuals and pulsating, vibrant score that oozes dark 80’s synth pop at every corner. The film is primarily told from a first person perspective of a man who is clearly mentally ill. He prowls the city streets for beautiful young women to scalp for his mannequin shop that he inherited from his parents. The movie at times is pretty disgusting and Elijah Wood (as the killer) is pretty unconvincing and non-threatening. But aesthetics and killer (no pun intended) are something to behold.

The Host

About 7 years ago, Asia (particularly South Korea) had a stranglehold on world cinema, churning out all kinds of instant classics. One of those is one of the best monster genre flicks of the past 20 years, The Host. When a shadowy (U.S. based) military outfit dumps a chemical into the drain that leads into Seoul’s main river, it creates a beast that years later comes back to wreak havoc on the city and in particular one family. What The Host does so well is that it focuses on the intimate details of what makes a close knit family tick. In return the viewer is heavily invested in what happens to them. The film runs 20 minutes too long, but there is no denying the insatiable power that director Joon-ho Bong creates along the way.

Also streaming on: Amazon Prime

The Howling III

I will be the first to admit, The Howling III is a terrible movie. But it is so bad that it must be seen to be believed. It takes place in Australia and couldn’t be wackier if it tried. If you are unfamiliar with The Howling series, it’s essentially about werewolves. Most of the films are unrelated with some stories, like this one, taking place in different countries around the world. An odd race of human-like marsupials is discovered in the land down under and things get ugly when they start attacking citizens of the lovely city of Sydney. There are some scary scenes, there are some comedic scenes and then there are scenes that are completely baffling, including one that hilariously breaks the fourth wall.

Also streaming on: YouTube (with ads)

Pontypool

This Canadian Horror film was very much overlooked upon its release more than 4 years ago. Unjust, if you ask me. A former shock jock (the magnificently underrated Stephen McHattie) is sent to the small town of Pontypool to do the morning show of the local radio station. On this particular morning a massive snow storm hits and the residents start going insane. Taking place inside of a basement of a church for literally 99% of the runtime, Pontypool is all claustrophobic horror as everything you hear about the outside world and how its crumbling is experienced through only 2-3 people in a small room. As the walls start to close in on our heroes, we watch, helplessly, as they maneuver the perilous situation and try to figure out how to survive the apocalyptic event. Pontypool is a fun lark away from the usual Horror fodder that populates your usual Halloween viewing.

There’s a famous urban legend concerning a man who accidently trapped himself inside a freezer. Understanding his death to be inevitable, he vowed to document his own death, writing down the experience of freezing to death for the sake of science. Found dead the next morning, an examination of his body concluded it was hypothermia, however, an inspection of the freezer found that it had been broken for some time. The temperature had never dipped below 50 degrees.

Whether it’s true or not, it’s generally agreed the mind is a powerful thing. Now August is upon us and with it that clothes-sticking heat, so we here at Way Too Indie prescribe a little mind control to combat the sun. We present our top ten films guaranteed to chill you right down. And let’s face it – with movie ticket prices being what they are and the electric bill on the rise from constant A/C and fan use – this really is the ideal alternative.

Way Too Indie’s Best Films to Cool You Off

#10 – Frozen River

Frozen River opens with Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo, whose career was launched because of her incredible performance here) finding out her husband took off unannounced, leaving her with no money or way to support her kids. Ray soon learns about a scheme involving immigrants being smuggled across the icy St. Lawrence River that pays more than enough to cover Ray’s bills, and she reluctantly accepts an offer to help drive immigrants into America. Most of the film’s nail-biting tension comes not only from Leo’s Oscar-worthy performance (she lost, but made it up soon after with her role in The Fighter), but the film’s wintery setting. The cold, barren landscape of Frozen River‘s border-town only heightens the characters’ desperation. When driving across thin ice and avoiding the authorities are the only things separating you from trying to survive in the middle of winter, it’s easy to see why Leo’s Ray would take the risk. [CJ Prince]

#9 – Home Alone

Easily the most ridiculous film of the bunch, but nonetheless an entertaining winter film. Penned by the notorious John Hughes (who also wrote The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Vacation), Home Alone was an instant hit in the early nineties as it broke box office numbers for a comedy and ended up receiving two Oscar nominations (thanks to John Williams’ score). The film was so successful that it spawned several follow-ups, though it is best to pretend the third and fourth films in the series never happened. Macaulay Culkin was just ten when he starred as the sassy but lovable Kevin McCallister, the youngest of four siblings, whose family accidently leaves him at home while traveling on a Christmas vacation to France. Kevin utilizes the winter conditions in his favor to hilariously ward off two goofy criminals who intend to rob the house. Home Alone is a staple in my household to watch during winter/Christmas for its sidesplitting humor that appeals to everyone regardless of age. [Dustin Jansick]

#8 – The Last Winter

This science fiction/horror/thriller hybrid went pretty much unnoticed when it was released 7 years ago but honestly, The Last Winter was one of the more refreshing genre pictures to come out that year. Set in the cold and unforgiving frost of the Northern Artic Circle, this film involves members of an American oil company who must figure out what a mysterious entity is before it threatens to destroy humanity. Yes, it’s one of those films and yes, it gets a little preachy near the end. But those who seek this underrated gem out will find a film that has loads of great atmosphere and some pretty good spooks as well. Did I also mention that it stars Ron Perlman? [Blake Ginithan]

#7 – Werckmeister Harmonies

Bela Tarr is one of the few filmmakers whose work could be described as pure cinema. Taking place in a small Hungarian village during an especially cold winter, Werckmeister Harmonies opens with a 9 minute shot of a bar’s drunken patrons acting out a story told by their friend. Tarr’s precise camerawork, combined with Mihaly Vig’s gorgeously melancholic score, turn what starts out as a silly scene into something profoundly beautiful. These kinds of scenes happen throughout Werckmeister Harmonies, as the arrival of a circus into town triggers a panic that feels downright apocalyptic. The harsh winter climate in the village isn’t unusual for Tarr, as he’s known for being quite bleak, but Werckmeister Harmonies may be his most accessible film. Don’t let the drab setting or long shots (39 in 150 minutes, to be exact) turn you off from seeing this movie either, as you’d be missing out on an experience unlike any other film you’ll ever see. [CJ Prince]

#6 – A Simple Plan

Sam Raimi (pre Spiderman) was known as the guy who did the Evil Dead series until he made A Simple Plan, his personal masterpiece. Bill Paxton is a simple man in a small town who stumbles upon a crashed plane one day while out hunting. He finds a bag full of cash and takes it home to his pregnant wife (Bridget Fonda). Then all the trouble starts. It is no long before he has federal agents and even mobsters coming looking for the cash. Things get nasty in a hurry and he soon has to deal with his brother who is mentally handicapped but morally aligned, his wife who slowly becomes a vicious puppeteer pulling the strings behind Paxton’s view, and friends who think they deserve some of the action. Featuring some of the tensest scenes you’re likely to see, top notch acting and directing; a simple plan would be to not skip this film. [Blake Ginithan]

#5 – The Thing

There’s a smorgasbord of sci-fi horror awesomeness to feast on in John Carpenter’s sci-fi horror classic, from shape-shifting aliens, to a group of batshit-crazy scientists, to some of the most gruesome, yak-worthy animatronic work ever, to Kurt Russell’s flamethrower (oh yeah) and his glorious beard (oooh yeahhh.) But seriously, the (ahem) thing that makes The Thing a heavyweight modern horror classic rather than just another light 80’s gore factory is its quiet, crushing sense of isolation. The setting—a remote Antarctic base surrounded by infinite ice and snow—is vital to the story and injects every moment with raw intensity and fear. There’s nowhere for the poor souls to run. It’s just them, a vicious shape-shifting alien, some explosive equipment, and the vast, icy abyss. [Bernard Boo]

#4 – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

If you fancy something a little different than your average heart wrenching Kate Winslet plotline, then catch her in this because it’s a great gem. In addition to Winslet, Jim Carey’s typical typecasting also throws caution to the wind and allows us to catch a glimpse of his well hidden diversity. While not necessarily all about the cold, wintery weather, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is still set in a very chilly climate where most of the more memorable segments of this couple’s relationship take place on an iced lake. You find yourself feeling very cooled down when watching this amazing masterpiece by Michael Gondry. [Amy Priest]

#3 – Let the Right One In

A tender, clever vampire tale with a big ol’ beating heart, Let the Right One In is the prettiest vampire movie you’ll see. The ballad of bully magnet Oskar and his blood-sucker friend/protector, Eli, is one of the best films of last decade and my personal favorite vampire movie. The setting—a snow-dumped Stockholm suburb—is elegant, richly textured and eerily tranquil. Director Tomas Alfredson’s beautifully composed shots exude a sense of stillness and serenity that reverberates throughout the film and makes the intermittent splashes of crimson all the more vivid. The film’s color palette is almost exclusively black and white, but expert utilization of contrast and texture makes every vision of snow and ice interesting and unique. Alfredson’s modern masterpiece is the definition of atmospheric and never fails to give me chills. [Bernard Boo]

#2 – The Shining

Forget heat-induced delirium. The Shining shows us that the bitter winter cold combined with a secluded and possessed mountain hotel can be far worse on one’s mental state. Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 classic, based (loosely) on the Stephen King novel, is a slow build in madness set amid the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson in absolute perfection) brings his wife, Wendy, and son, Danny, to the Overlook hotel to take on the roll of caretaker, write his novel, and patch up his family unit. The Overlook has a history and an intuition for the weakness of men, however, and Jack slowly gets taken over by the influence of the hotel. One of few horror films that can truly also be called a cinematic masterpiece, The Shining offers imagery that is both frightening and beautiful.  A terrifying chase through a snow-filled labyrinth in the film’s final scene is chilling in more ways than one and is guaranteed to leave goose bumps, one way or another. [Ananda Dillon]

#1 – Fargo

Fargo is one of my all-time favourite films, and one that will surely “cool you off”. As the title suggests the film takes place within the snowy city of Fargo, North Dakota and “Yah, you betcha” it’s cold. And I’m not just referencing the weather as the narrative is also just as chilling. The comically-disturbed directorial duo, The Coen Brothers, serve up a story that was based upon real events of an automobile salesman who hires two criminals to kidnap and ransom his wife for $1 million dollars in an attempt to get out of debt. The plan goes haywire and the situation becomes bone-chilling.

I assume (and hope) that many of you have already witnessed the greatness of this film, however, for those who have not seen it or are just looking for a way to cool off from the mad heat waves of the summer of 2013, Fargo is the film for you.
[Amy Priest]