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There is nothing like stumbling upon a little-known horror film from the other side of the world and telling all your friends about your find. Like discovering a diamond in the rough, these delights expand our imaginations of what defines the genre, yet too often they don’t make it into the mainstream until years down the line as sleeper hits. This list highlights some of the best features making waves outside of the UK and US film market.
Streaming Online
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Whether they have been recently released on local streaming platforms, enjoying a successful cinematic release in their home countries, or generating buzz in film festivals, these are the international films to see for this year.
The Forbidden Play (Japan)
The latest film directed by Hideo Nakata, an icon in j-horror as the game-changing creator of the Ringu franchise, lives up to the high expectations audiences understandably have for the filmmaker’s work.
The Forbidden Play had its European premiere at the Sitges International Festival late last year, the same festival that first brought Ringu to a Western audience. This is symbolic of Nakata’s return to great horror films after a bumpy few releases since his first megahit.
Featuring a stellar cast adept at comedy and wit that soon morphs into mind-bending fear, Nakato has secured his comeback as a frontrunner in Japanese horror.
Infested (France)
Scaring film buffs worldwide, including those at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, this film about venomous spiders running loose in a block of flats is hotly-anticipated viewing ahead of its April streaming release.
It has already been pinned as worthy to sit amongst the greats of its genre, with reviewer Dread Central declaring it “the best spider horror film in recent memory”.
When Evil Lurks (Argentina)
A film to stun even the most hardy of horror fans, this is a must-see. After an exorcism goes wrong in a rural farmhouse, two brothers unwittingly unlock a mass possession that takes hold of the local community.
Holding back nothing whatsoever, this film does the absolute most to stir the guts of (and traumatise) anyone who dares watch.
T-Blockers (Australia)
For those that trawl through channels like HorrorRealm looking to uncover the next best independent feature, T-Blockers may be this year’s golden ticket, drawing playfully from the tropes of B-horror and the daring aesthetics of queer indie cinema.
Not so different to When Evil Lurks, the plot revolves around an entity thriving on hatred and negative thoughts, cleverly twisting it into a stance on toxic masculinity in society. But not without some punk rock fighting and gore on the way…
Sleep (South Korea)
Lying somewhere between Oscar-winning Parasite’s thrilling suspense and the frights of mainstream horror, Sleep garnered praise for its tension-building and seamless execution.
Tapping into our most vulnerable state, the space of our dreams and nightmares, Sleep will no doubt keep you up at night with its take on insomnia and nail-biting paranoia.
Conclusion
Great films have no borders. Yes, you can get your kicks from a great selection of mainstream horror films on Tubi, but searching for new territory can also have its rewards. This past year’s international offering pushes the boundaries of the genre, making us jump and scream in ways we never thought we could before
