During a panel at San Diego Comic Con recently, long-time horror film producer Sandy King Carpenter (wife of legendary director John Carpenter) was asked what her main go-to source is for gritty, terrifying material. To this, the horror comics publisher simply replied, “Foreign films—they take more risks… and go there.”
Whether you’re a horror writer/filmmaker searching for fresh ideas or just a junkie of dark cinema seeking new thrills, foreign independent horror films offer vaults of wonderful “scare gems” in which to jostle your fear bone. From spaghetti zombie films, to Filipino vampire flicks, to Mexican boogeymen, there’s just something about horror lore from abroad that crawls up our spine one vertebrae at a time, reaches the back of our necks, and stays there!
We’ve picked out a few low-budgeted, independent, foreign horror films popular amongst genre fans that offer a buffet of assorted cultures and styles. Also, these movies better colorize better the significance and impact of those outside our crypt.
Rec (2007) – Spain
A found footage film written and directed by Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza, Rec follows Barcelona reporter Angela Vidal and her cameraman Pablo on their visit with a local fire department to explore the day and life of a firefighter. Things quickly heat up when they accompany a team of firemen to an apartment building, responding to a call about a deranged, unstable screaming woman who, unbeknownst to them, is infected with a
powerful virus. Angela and Pablo soon find themselves locked in the building by outside authorities with no means of escape—from the apartment and from all those infected!
By now, we can probably build a skyscraper with the amount of zombie films made throughout the decades—not to mention vampire, werewolf, Indigenous American, and witch stories. However, the concept of a vicious, unknown viral outbreak happening within closed, tight quarters under quarantine and being captured on camera is still pretty cool and disturbing (in a post-pandemic world especially), whether we’re turned into mindless man-eaters or simply getting our lungs sifted from us. And considering that Rec is amongst the first of the found footage zombie flicks, made during the Paranormal Activity craze and spawning several sequels (including the American remake Quarantine in 2008), it is one wild roller coaster that every zombie/found footage fan must ride.
Censor (2021) – England
A carefully sculpted slasher-in-disguise film by debut director Prano Bailey-Bond, Censor is a throwback to old school 80s horror movies viewed on late night cable TV: different, yet dreadful. Though a bit on the abstract side and sometimes difficult to grasp, it carries a certain uniqueness that fans of more avant-garde material would appreciate.
Censor takes place in 1985 at the start of the British Board of Film Classification. It follows Enid Baines, a British film censor in charge of cutting out excessive violence in low-budget exploitation horror movies in efforts to protect the public from what was referred to as “video nasties”. However, after countless hours of watching victims getting decapitated, skinned, and maimed, Enid finds herself being subconsciously lulled by an inner crave to explore. A brave film that makes its viewers think and revisit that age-old question: Just how much of our consumption of graphic violence can influence us?
Train to Busan (2016) – South Korea
Just as Godzilla Minus One isn’t just another kaiju film, Train to Busan isn’t just another zombie apocalypse movie. It introduces characters we care about and a heart-felt story within a story at its gore core.
Workaholic businessman and divorced single dad Seok-woo sets out to Busan with his estranged young daughter, Su-an, boarding a bullet train to visit her mother. Yet just before they depart, a rather frightened and sickened woman frantically jumps on board. It isn’t long before the train’s staff and passengers find that this stowaway carries something a little more than a common illness.
Aside from having a clever spin on the zombie thing via transit terror (a la Snakes On A Train/Howl/Under Siege 2), this movie is skillfully crafted by director Yeon Sang-ho. The emphasis is on the importance of parents being present for their children and the need for human beings—regardless of differences—working together for a greater good. Another excellent example at how an exhausted sub-genre can still be awesome if given to the right cast and crew, no matter how many times it’s been repeated.
Black Sabbath (1963) – Italy
Although Black Sabbath may be a low-budget spaghetti scare flick mounted with plenty o’ monster-rella cheese, it nevertheless stands as a classic jewel amongst horror fans. It was originally released during the periods of the Eastwood/Italian westerns that brought a certain flavor and grit to American audiences. A three-part anthology hosted by the late great Boris Karloff, the movie begins with “The Drop of Water,” a cryptic and creepy tale about a nurse who steals a priceless ring from an elderly medium’s corpse, soon finding just how much her little travesty will cost her. Segment two, “The Telephone,” centers on a call girl being stalked by a prank caller. Part three is “Wurdulak” and introduces a vampire played by Karloff who preys upon his offspring—a what-if-Dracula-had-kids sort of outing.
Despite its over-simplistic storylines and campy dialogue, director Mario Bava creates a classroom for filmmakers of contemporary horror. Bava’s influence can also be seen in other Italian horror film directors, including Dario Argento.
The Tokoloshe (2018) – South Africa
Busi (Petronella Tshuma) is a young, lonely impoverished woman who takes on a cleaning job at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, to escape her past. Working the night shift within the large, semi-operating building, Busi is not only stalked by her overbearing boss who demands certain favors from her, but is also haunted by a mysterious presence lurking within the dark corners of the hospital. The unseen abomination seeks the life of an abandoned little girl who stays within the building, adding Busi to its list as well.
The Tokoloshe delves into a popular Zulu myth about a spirit that preys on those who are most vulnerable—namely abused/abandoned children and women. Like a lion singling out the slowest and weakest in a herd of caribou, this beast is relentless as it seeks to devour Busi and the child. Although the film has a slow build up and can be overly ambiguous at times, first-time director Jerome Pikwane does an excellent job at imagery and well-placed cuts, together with a strong musical score that contributes greatly to the story’s tension and terror.
Mike Lera is a Los Angeles-based author, screenwriter and journalist whose horror fiction can be found in over a dozen anthologies, including Dark and Evil II, All Dark Places 2, Horror USA: California and Rod Serling Books’ Submitted For Your Approval. He currently writes for Horror Nation. Lera has found equal success in both the film festival and streaming service circuit with his screen work.
When not scaring people, Lera scavenges comic/martial art/horror cons for anything to wear, hang, tac, shelf and add to his geek shrine.
Visit Mike at his website: MikeLera.com, Facebook: @MikeLera.Author.Screenwriter, Instagram: @MikeLera.Author.Screenwriter, Twitter: @MikeLeraWriter, Blog: @mikelerasbogblog.blogspot.com