The new wave of international horror movies: how filmmakers from Korea, Japan, France, and Spain are bringing fresh perspectives and scares

Horror movies are not just a product of Hollywood. Around the world, filmmakers from different cultures and backgrounds are exploring the genre with their own unique visions and styles. In this blog post, we will look at some of the best international horror movies from Korea, Japan, France, and Spain that have been released in recent years. These films offer a diverse range of themes, aesthetics, and techniques that challenge and expand our understanding of horror.

Korea: Train to Busan (2016)
One of the most successful Korean films of all time, Train to Busan is a thrilling zombie apocalypse movie that takes place mostly on a high-speed train. The film follows a group of passengers who must survive and cooperate as they face an outbreak of infected people who turn into rabid creatures. Train to Busan combines intense action sequences with emotional drama and social commentary on class divisions, selfishness, and sacrifice. The film also showcases the impressive skills of Korean actors such as Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-seok, Jung Yu-mi, and Kim Su-an.

Japan: Audition (1999)
A classic example of Japanese horror cinema, Audition is a disturbing psychological thriller directed by Takashi Miike. The film tells the story of a widowed man who holds an audition for a new wife under the guise of casting for a movie. He becomes obsessed with a young woman who seems perfect for him but hides a dark secret. Audition is notorious for its graphic scenes of torture and mutilation that shock even the most hardened viewers. The film also explores themes such as loneliness, obsession, misogyny, and trauma.

 France: Martyrs (2008)
Martyrs is one of the most controversial and extreme French horror films ever made. Directed by Pascal Laugier, the film follows two women who seek revenge against a mysterious cult that tortured them as children. The film does not shy away from showing brutal violence and gore but also raises philosophical questions about suffering, transcendence, and martyrdom. Martyrs is part of the so-called New French Extremity movement that emerged in the 2000s with films such as Inside (2007), High Tension (2003), and Irreversible (2002) that pushed the boundaries of horror cinema.

 Spain: Piggy (2021)
Piggy is one of the most recent examples of Spanish horror cinema that has gained critical acclaim. Directed by Carlota Pereda in her feature debut, Piggy is about an overweight girl who is bullied by her classmates until she meets a mysterious stranger who kidnaps them for revenge. Piggy is not only a tense and thrilling horror movie but also a powerful statement on body image, social media pressure, and female empowerment. Piggy joins other Spanish horror films such as REC (2007), The Orphanage (2007), Pan's Labyrinth (2006), or The Platform (2019) that have impressed audiences worldwide.

These are just some examples of the new wave of international horror movies that are bringing fresh perspectives and scares to the genre. There are many more films from other countries that deserve attention and appreciation. If you are looking for something different and exciting, check out these films and discover how horror can be diverse, innovative, and meaningful.