a list of the best foreign horror-thriller movies

by ilias_tzaz created 12 Feb 2012 | last updated - 3 weeks ago

best of asian,scandinavic,british,spanish and french horror films

Showing all 47 Titles
Sort by:
List order

View:
Log in to copy items to your own lists.

1.

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)

7.3/10

A family is haunted by the tragedies of deaths within the family. (115 mins.)
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Stars: Kap-su Kim, Jung-ah Yum, Su-jeong Lim, Geun-Young Moon

Add to Watchlist

2.

Martyrs (2008)
7.1/10

A young woman's quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tormented
her as a child leads her and a friend, who is also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying
journey into a living hell of depravity. (99 mins.)

Director: Pascal Laugier

Stars: Morjana Alaoui, Mylne Jampano, Catherine Bgin, Robert Toupin

Add to Watchlist

3.

Inside (2007)
6.9/10

Four months after the death of her husband, a woman on the brink of motherhood is
tormented in her home by a strange woman who wants her unborn baby. (82 mins.)
Director: Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury
Stars: Alysson Paradis, Jean-Baptiste Tabourin, Claude Lul, Dominique Frot

Add to Watchlist

4.

Frontier(s) (2007)
6.3/10

A gang of young thieves flee Paris during the violent aftermath of a political election,
only to hole up at an Inn run by neo-Nazis. (108 mins.)
Director: Xavier Gens
Stars: Karina Testa, Aurlien Wiik, Patrick Ligardes, Samuel Le Bihan

Add to Watchlist

5.

High Tension (2003)

6.9/10

Two college friends, Marie and Alexa, encounter loads of trouble (and blood) while on
vacation at Alexa's parents' country home when a mysterious killer invades their quiet
getaway. (91 mins.)
Director: Alexandre Aja
Stars: Ccile De France, Mawenn, Philippe Nahon, Franck Khalfoun

Add to Watchlist

6.

Audition (1999)
7.3/10

A widower takes an offer to screen girls at a special audition, arranged for him by a
friend to find him a new wife. The one he fancies is not who she appears to be after
all. (115 mins.)
Director: Takashi Miike
Stars: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura

Add to Watchlist

7.

I Saw the Devil (2010)

7.8/10

When his pregnant fiancee becomes the latest victim of a serial killer, a secret agent
blurs the line between good and evil in his pursuit of revenge. (141 mins.)
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Stars: Byung-hun Lee, Min-sik Choi, In-seo Kim, Chun Ho-jin

Add to Watchlist

8.

Confessions (2010)
7.9/10

A psychological thriller of a grieving mother turned cold-blooded avenger with a twisty

master plan to pay back those who were responsible for her daughter's death. (106
mins.)
Director: Tetsuya Nakashima
Stars: Takako Matsu, Yoshino Kimura, Masaki Okada, Yukito Nishii

Add to Watchlist

9.

The Orphanage (2007)

7.5/10

A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, which used to be an orphanage
for handicapped children. Before long, her son starts to communicate with an invisible
new friend.(105 mins.)
Director: J.A. Bayona
Stars: Beln Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Prncep, Mabel Rivera

Add to Watchlist

10.

[Rec] (2007)
7.5/10

A television reporter and cameraman follow emergency workers into a dark apartment
building and are quickly locked inside with something terrifying. (78 mins.)
Director: Jaume Balaguer, Paco Plaza
Stars: Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano, Pablo Rosso

Add to Watchlist

11.

The Devil's Backbone (2001)

7.5/10

After Carlos, a 12-year-old whose father has died in the Spanish Civil War, arrives at an
ominous boy's orphanage he discovers the school is haunted and has many dark secrets
that he must uncover. (106 mins.)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Stars: Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Fernando Tielve

Add to Watchlist

12.

Cronos (1993)
6.8/10

A mysterious device designed to provide its owner with eternal life resurfaces after four
hundred years, leaving a trail of destruction in its path. (94 mins.)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Stars: Federico Luppi, Ron Perlman, Claudio Brook, Margarita Isabel

Add to Watchlist

13.

The Eye (2002)

6.8/10

A blind girl gets a cornea transplant so that she would be able to see again. However,
she got more... (99 mins.)
Director: Pang Brothers, Pang Brothers
Stars: Angelica Lee, Chutcha Rujinanon, Lawrence Chou, Jinda Duangtoy

Add to Watchlist

14.

Timecrimes (2007)
7.2/10

A man accidentally gets into a time machine and travels back in time nearly an hour.
Finding himself will be the first of a series of disasters of unforeseeable
consequences. (92 mins.)
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
Stars: Karra Elejalde, Candela Fernndez, Brbara Goenaga, Nacho Vigalondo

Add to Watchlist

15.

Tesis (1996)
7.5/10

While doing a thesis about violence, ngela finds a snuff video where a girl is tortured
until death. Soon she discovers that the girl was a former student in her faculty... (125
mins.)
Director: Alejandro Amenbar
Stars: Ana Torrent, Fele Martnez, Eduardo Noriega, Xabier Elorriaga

Add to Watchlist

16.

Funny Games (1997)

7.6/10

Two psychotic young men take a mother, father, and son hostage in their vacation cabin
and force them to play sadistic "games" with one another for their own
amusement. (108 mins.)
Director: Michael Haneke
Stars: Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Mhe, Arno Frisch, Frank Giering

Add to Watchlist

17.

Shutter (2004)
7.2/10

A young photographer and his girlfriend discover mysterious shadows in their

photographs after a tragic accident. They soon learn that you can not escape your
past. (97 mins.)
Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom
Stars: Ananda Everingham, Natthaweeranuch Thongmee, Achita Sikamana, Unnop Chanpaibool

Add to Watchlist

18.

Alone (2007)
6.6/10

Deceased Siamese twin returns to haunt surviving sister (90 mins.)

Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom
Stars: Marsha Wattanapanich, Vittaya Wasukraipaisan, Rachanu Boonchuduang, Hatairat Egereff

Add to Watchlist

19.

Left Bank (2008)

6.1/10

When Marie moves into her boyfriend's apartment, she uncovers a disturbing
mystery. (102 mins.)
Director: Pieter Van Hees
Stars: Eline Kuppens, Matthias Schoenaerts, Sien Eggers, Marilou Mermans

Add to Watchlist

20.

Phobia 2 (2009)
7/10

Phobia 2 is composed of five short movie segments directed by five of the best directors
of Thai horror films... (125 mins.)
Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun, Visute Poolvoralaks
Stars: Jirayu La-ongmanee, Ray MacDonald, Chumphorn Thepphithak,Apasiri Nitibhon

Add to Watchlist

21.

4bia (2008)
6.9/10

4BIA is a Horror Anthology. The first segment, "Happiness" is about a lonely girl who
corresponded with... (120 mins.)
Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun, Paween Purikitpanya
Stars: Maneerat Kham-uan, Witawat Singlampong, Apinya Sakuljaroensuk, Chon Wachananon

Add to Watchlist

22.

Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)

6.7/10

A mysterious and vengeful spirit marks and pursues anybody who dares enter the house
in which it resides. (92 mins.)
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Stars: Megumi Okina, Misaki It, Misa Uehara, Yui Ichikawa

Add to Watchlist

23.

Cold Prey (2006)

6.4/10

Jannicke, Morten Tobias, Eirik, Mikael and Ingunn are on a snowboarding vacation in
Jotunheimen. They... (97 mins.)
Director: Roar Uthaug
Stars: Ingrid Bols Berdal, Rolf Kristian Larsen, Tomas Alf Larsen, Endre Martin Midtstigen

Add to Watchlist

24.

Cold Prey 2 (2008)

6.2/10

Jannicke wakes up in the hospital. All of her friends are dead. As she walks through the
dark corridors, she thinks she is left alone. But the nightmare isn't over yet. (86 mins.)
Director: Mats Stenberg
Stars: Ingrid Bols Berdal, Marthe Snorresdotter Rovik, Kim Wifladt,Johanna Mrck

Add to Watchlist

25.

The Uninvited Guest (2004)

7.0/10

What if ... you let a stranger into your house to use your phone, but while you've been
patiently waiting in the kitchen, he just disappears ... (90 mins.)
Director: Guillem Morales
Stars: Andoni Gracia, Mnica Lpez, Francesc Garrido, Agust Villaronga

Add to Watchlist

26.

Them (2006)
6.5/10

Lucas and Clementine live peacefully in their isolated country house, but one night they
wake up to strange noise... they're not alone... and a group of hooded assailants begin
to terrorize them throughout the night. (77 mins.)
Director: David Moreau, Xavier Palud
Stars: Olivia Bonamy, Michal Cohen, Adriana Mocca, Maria Roman

Add to Watchlist

27.

Julia's Eyes (2010)

6.6/10

The story of a woman who is slowly losing her sight whilst trying to investigate the
mysterious death of her twin sister.(118 mins.)
Director: Guillem Morales
Stars: Beln Rueda, Llus Homar, Pablo Derqui, Francesc Orella

Add to Watchlist

28.

Three... Extremes (2004)

7.1/10

An Asian cross-cultural trilogy of horror films from accomplished indie directors. (118
mins.)
Director: Fruit Chan, Takashi Miike
Stars: Bai Ling, Byung-hun Lee, Kyoko Hasegawa, Pauline Lau

Add to Watchlist

29.

Wolf Creek (2005)

6.3/10

Stranded backpackers in remote Australia fall prey to a murderous bushman who offers
to fix their car, then takes them captive. (99 mins.)
Director: Greg Mclean
Stars: Nathan Phillips, Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morassi, John Jarratt

Add to Watchlist

30.

Malfique (2002)
6.5/10

In a penitentiary, four prisoners occupy a cell: Carrre, who used his company to commit
a fraud and... (90 mins.)
Director: Eric Valette
Stars: Grald Laroche, Philippe Laudenbach, Clovis Cornillac, Dimitri Rataud

Add to Watchlist

31.

Dead Snow (2009)

6.4/10

A ski vacation turns horrific for a group of medical students, as they find themselves
confronted by an unimaginable menace: Nazi zombies. (90 mins.)
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Stars: Jeppe Beck Laursen, Charlotte Frogner, Jenny Skavlan, Vegar Hoel

Add to Watchlist

32.

Saint (2010)
5.6/10

A horror film that depicts St. Nicholas as a murderous bishop who kidnaps and murders
children when there is a full moon on December 5. (85 mins.)
Director: Dick Maas
Stars: Egbert Jan Weeber, Bert Luppes, Caro Lenssen, Huub Stapel

Add to Watchlist

33.

The Horde (2009)

5.9/10

An end of the world battle between gangsters, cops and zombies. (90 mins.)
Director: Yannick Dahan, Benjamin Rocher
Stars: Claude Perron, Jean-Pierre Martins, Eriq Ebouaney, Aurlien Recoing

Add to Watchlist

34.

Doghouse (2009)
6.1/10

A group of men head to a remote village to help one of their friends get over his divorce;
when they get there, though, they discover that all the women have been infected with a
virus that makes them man-hating cannibals. (89 mins.)
Director: Jake West
Stars: Danny Dyer, Noel Clarke, Emil Marwa, Lee Ingleby

Add to Watchlist

35.

The Silent House (2010)

5.4/10

The plot is based on a true story that happened in the late '40s in a small village in
Uruguay. The film focuses on Laura... (86 mins.)
Director: Gustavo Hernndez
Stars: Florencia Colucci, Abel Tripaldi, Gustavo Alonso, Mara Salazar

Add to Watchlist

36.

Calvaire (2004)
6.2/10

A singer's car breaks down deep in the woods. (88 mins.)

Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Stars: Laurent Lucas, Brigitte Lahaie, Gigi Coursigny, Jean-Luc Couchard

Add to Watchlist

37.

Manhunt (2008)
5.0/10

The summer of 1974. Four young friends have planned a relaxing weekend out in the
woods. At a remote truck stop they pick up a hitchhiker... (78 mins.)
Director: Patrik Syversen
Stars: Henriette Bruusgaard, Jrn Bjrn Fuller Gee, Lasse Valdal, Nini Bull Robsahm

Add to Watchlist

38.

Hidden (2009)
5.8/10

Painful memories arise when Kai Koss goes back to his childhood home after 19 years
and inherits his dead mother's house. (95 mins.)
Director: Pl ie
Stars: Kristoffer Joner, Cecilie A. Mosli, Bjarte Hjelmeland, Marko Iversen Kanic

Add to Watchlist

39.

Next Door (2005)

6.6/10

John has just been left by his girlfriend Ingrid. That day he allows himself to be seduced
into a mystical and scary world, where it is impossible to separate truth from the lies (75
mins.)
Director: Pl Sletaune
Stars: Kristoffer Joner, Cecilie A. Mosli, Julia Schacht, Anna Bache-Wiig

Add to Watchlist

40.

Dark Woods (2003)

6.5/10

The crew of the TV show "Real TV" with controlling boss Gunnar on the front line will
soon begin production... (85 mins.)
Director: Pl ie
Stars: Bjrn Floberg, Kristoffer Joner, Eva Rse, Sampda Sharma

Add to Watchlist

41.

Eden Lake (2008)

6.9/10

Refusing to let anything spoil their romantic weekend break, a young couple confront a
gang of loutish youths with terrifyingly brutal consequences. (91 mins.)
Director: James Watkins
Stars: Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Tara Ellis, Jack O'Connell

Add to Watchlist

42.

Sleep Tight (2011)

7.2/10

You wake day after day to the comfort and security of your home. But how safe is it
really? (102 mins.)
Director: Jaume Balaguer
Stars: Luis Tosar, Marta Etura, Alberto San Juan, Petra Martnez

Add to Watchlist

43.

The Hidden Face (2011)

7.3/10

A Spanish orchestra conductor deals with the mysterious disappearance of his

girlfriend. (97 mins.)
Director: Andi Baiz
Stars: Quim Gutirrez, Martina Garca, Mara Soledad Rodrguez, Jose Luis Garcia

Add to Watchlist

44.

Hell (2011)
5.9/10

In the not too distant future, people struggle to survive their greatest enemy, the
sun. (89 mins.)
Director: Tim Fehlbaum
Stars: Hannah Herzsprung, Lars Eidinger, Stipe Erceg, Lisa Vicari

Add to Watchlist

45.

Sennentuntschi: Curse of the Alps (2010)

6.7/10

(110 mins.)
Director: Michael Steiner
Stars: Roxane Mesquida, Nicholas Ofczarek, Andrea Zogg, Carlos Leal

Add to Watchlist

46.

Hansel & Gretel (2007)

6.9/10

After meeting an mysterious girl on an dark stretch of road, a young salesman is invited
to a beautiful house with bizarre secrets and no way to escape. (117 mins.)
Director: Pil-Sung Yim
Stars: Jeong-myeong Cheon, Young-nam Jang, Ji-hee Jin, Kyeong-ik Kim

Add to Watchlist

47.

The House of the End Times (2013)

7.0/10
Director: Alejandro Hidalgo
Stars: Rosmel Bustamante, Adriana Calzadilla, Gonzalo Cubero, Alexander Da Silva

Add to Watchlist

Psychological Horror
Jacobs Ladder is a tough one to beat, because so many films have imitated it. Here are some that
should satisfy in a similar way though:
'The Nameless' (1999) a VERY bleak Spanish film. Takes itself seriously. Still bothers me to think
about it.
'Paperhouse' (1988) Eerie, eerie flick about a little girl that can enter her drawings.
'In Dreams' (1999) Lots of weird surreal/creepy sequences.
'In the Mouth of Madness' (1994) Really interesting ideas in this one, creepy things abound.
'Spoorloos' (1988) Psychological thriller. The antagonist and the journey is creepy.
'The Last Wave' (1977) Really cool, little known film. One of my favorites.
'Chasing Sleep' (2000) Good flick that went under the radar.
'Sauna' (2008) This one is rather slow throughout but, the ending is creepy.
'Hour of the Wolf' (1968) This one gets weird and creepy as is goes along.
'Audition' (1999) Really slow burning and eerie. Things get pretty intense towards the end though.

'Irreversible' (2002) Pretty violent at parts, but the mystery is unique in this one. Not scary though.
'The Pledge' (2001) was pretty interesting and contains some creepy stuff.
'Dread' (2009) Really good flick but a bit disturbing. Based on a Clive Barker short story.
'Book of Blood' (2009) Another Clive barker movie.
'The Jacket' (2005) This one had the most exposure out of any on this list I think...