Hidden Gems of Horror (Part Two)

by ELINOR EPPERSON
Contributor

A weekly list of horror movie recommendations to celebrate Halloween.

Subtitles May be Needed

If you want to get away from the beaten path of American ghost movies, check out horror movies from other countries. The ones that find their way to American streaming services are usually worth the watch.

Ravenous

2017 | R | Quebec (French)

Taking place over a couple of days in rural Quebec, “Ravenous” follows survivors of a zombie apocalypse as they navigate finding supplies and killing their newly-turned families. There’s nothing unique about the zombies in this film and their origin is never explained. It doesn’t answer all the questions it poses and it doesn’t have a particularly satisfying ending. But this quiet film (punctuated by borderline ridiculous blood spurts) masterfully tells its characters’ stories. This isn’t your mom’s zombie movie.

Content warnings: Violence, blood, gore (including decapitation), unbelievable amounts of arterial spray

Under the Shadow

2016 | PG-13 | Iran (Persian)

This historical horror movie features almost no blood or violence, but plenty of tension and scares. Taking place during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, “Under the Shadow” centers on Shideh, a mom and former medical student living in Tehran while Saddam Hussein tries to turn the city into rubble. Her primary concerns are incoming missiles and nosy neighbors, but her daughter is more scared of djinn stealing her doll. Guess who was right? Everyone.

“Under the Shadow” feels much longer than its 90-minute run time, but in a good way. It’s an excellent slow burn with good jump scares, but very little blood (hence the PG-13 rating). If you’re curious about horror movies but squeamish about blood and guts, this movie is a good choice.

Content warnings: Jump scares, some blood

Sputnik

2020, R | Russia (Russian)

Another historical horror drama, this time set in the Soviet Union in 1983. Tanya finds herself at a clandestine science facility in Kazakhstan after two cosmonauts come crashing back to Earth with a “passenger.” She’s not a biologist, physicist or affiliated with the space program in any way – she’s a psychologist, tasked with talking to the surviving cosmonaut and finding out what he knows about his new friend. 

“Sputnik” has been pitched as the Russian version of “Alien,” and in some respects that is true (if you can’t stomach body horror, avoid this movie). However, “Sputnik” takes an entirely different path, focusing on the relationships between the characters while building tension and anxiety about the passenger, which is clearly a dangerous organism but under control – for now.

Content warnings: Violence, blood, gore, brief nudity

Train to Busan

2016 | R | South Korea (Korean)

This is a zombie movie you might actually get emotionally invested in. Taking place over the course of a day during a fast-moving zombie outbreak in South Korea, “Train to Busan” follows an investment banker father as he accompanies his daughter on a routine trip to visit her mother. Unfortunately for them, the infection has already made its way onto the train. 

Content warnings: Blood, violence, morally corrupt businessmen

Verónica

2017 | R | Spain (Spanish)

Purportedly based on a true story (take that with a grain of salt), this movie follows Verónica, a teenager who basically raises her three younger siblings while her mom works nights to pay the family’s bills. Throw in a ouija board, a mysterious nun and period anxiety and you’ve got a lovely little horror movie. 

This movie got a lot of hype when it first came out. Internet articles raved that it was so scary, a lot of viewers couldn’t finish it. The reality is that “Veronica” isn’t scarier than any other recent horror movies, but it is a compelling story about accidentally summoning demons and teen angst. 

Content warnings: Violence, blood, children in distress, brief nudity 

See “hidden gems:”

• Part 1
• Part 3
• Part 4

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