10 Chilling Austrian Horror Movies To Keep You Up At Night – Ranked

Welcome to Ranking Horror. We have been running with a bit of a European horror theme this week as we checked out some German horror gems and unsettling UK horror. Today, I am taking a look at 10 Chilling Austrian Horror Movies To Keep You Up At Night – Ranked.

It’s almost impossible to put together a list of great German horror movies without seeing Austria come up at least a few times. After all, the two countries share more than just a border; they both use the German language and frequently collaborate on filmmaking ventures. So it’s no surprise plenty of horror fans mix up the two countries when it comes to their favourite German-language scare-fests.

As it stands, however, Austria has been punching way above its weight in the horror world for a very long time. And this list will prove that beyond a shadow of a doubt. I should add, before we begin, that I won’t be including Taxidermia as that was attributed more to Hungary than anywhere else. Let’s take a look at some awesome Austrian horror.

10. Razzennest (2022) – Satirical Faux-Documentary Horror

Why it Ranked: This satirical horror movie is super meta in its awareness of the horror critic industry, even using a supposed Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic as a main character. It’s a genuinely fascinating and hugely innovative approach to horror. While I really enjoyed the satirical finger poking at arthouse cinema, it’s pretty difficult to fully invest in the horror thanks to the atypical presentation. It is definitely worth watching for something incredibly unique, though.

Synopsis: A controversial South African filmmaker meets with an indie film critic to record an audio commentary track for his latest documentary. As the recording session plays out, the crew realise that the session is about to go horribly wrong, all while the audience only hears their voices over the footage of the film they are discussing.

Where to Watch: Tubi, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

9. The Scary House (2020) – Netflix Haunted House Tale

Why it Ranked: This is a teen mystery-horror movie with paranormal leanings. When it comes to horror that is suitable for teens it is hard to find a good balance between being scary and being too childish. The Scary House falls somewhere in the middle. The acting is pretty mid but, as a family-friendly horror, it has enough going for it to recommend if you want to drag your children face first into the world of Austrian horror cinema.

Synopsis: A 16-year-old boy is less than thrilled to learn his mum is moving the family from the big city into a small village. He soon discovers that the move is the least of his problems when he finds out their new home is rumoured to be haunted by a dark past.

Where to Watch: Netflix

8. Hotel (2004) – Spooky Alpine Isolation

Why it Ranked: Hotel is a movie that is steeped in tension and atmosphere but not exactly what I would call scary. Hausner helps viewers buy into her protagonist’s isolation and loneliness by placing her as a complete outsider in her new workplace, allowing us to walk side by side with her as she uncovers the mystery behind the location. The ending is woefully unsatisfying, but for those who enjoy slow burn horror with a minimalist approach, it may just tick the boxes.

Synopsis: A woman takes a job as a hotel maid at a remote mountain hotel. As she becomes acquainted with her new role, she begins to uncover a strange mystery linked to the hotel that may help explain the disappearance of the girl who held the position before her.

Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Apple TV

7. Masking Threshold (2021) – Experimental Sonic Horror

Why it Ranked: Masking Threshold is incredibly experimental and truly unique. The entire movie is made up of various sequences filmed in ultra-closeup shots, with our protagonist narrating an unflinching monologue over them. It might try your patience a bit, the minimalist approach and closeup shooting style are legitimately frustrating in a way that reminded me of the vagueness of Skinamarink. If you are looking for a psychological horror movie that is truly different though, give it a try.

Synopsis: An IT worker conducts a series of increasingly obsessive experiments in his home-lab in an attempt to cure his debilitating hearing impairment. As his research progresses, his mental state begins to rapidly decline into something far more dangerous.

Where to Watch: Tubi, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

6. Family Dinner (2023) – Slow-Burn Easter Horror

Why it Ranked: Family Dinner is arguably the only genuinely decent Easter themed holiday horror movie ever made. The psychological elements are key here with the scares being far from the traditional jump variety. The visuals are fantastic and there are some minor body-horror elements to enjoy, but this is, at its heart, more of a slow-burn tale of mental torment. The ending’s a little predictable which undermines the build up quite a lot, but it is still worth checking out.

Synopsis: An overweight teenage girl heads to her nutrition coach aunt’s farm over the Easter holidays in order to lose some weight. What starts as an exercise in self-improvement quickly becomes an investigation into strange occurrences as she realises her family is hiding something dark.

Where to Watch: Tubi, Hulu

5. Solvent (2024) – Found Footage Bunker Obsession

Why it Ranked: Solvent is perfect for those looking for great horror movie that might have flown under their radar. It is presented, predominantly, in a found footage style as recorded by the group themselves, which I personally love. The cool thing about Solvent is how the changes the characters experience manifest in some fantastic visual moments of body-horror nastiness. This is definitely a movie to check out if you missed its release earlier this year.

Synopsis: An American expat leads a group of experts into an Austrian farmhouse to search for Nazi-era documents. They soon stumble upon a hidden bunker that leads the man down a path of obsession and physical transformation as he uncovers the secrets buried beneath the soil.

Where to Watch: Rare Horror Imports, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

4. The Devil’s Bath (2024) – Disturbing Period Folk Horror

Why it Ranked: The Devil’s Bath is beautifully filmed, incredibly slow burning, and rather disturbing watch that I promise will stay with you. Think Hagazussa and you are on the right path. The truly shocking thing about the story behind this film is that it was based on real life cases that actually happened. The sheer fact that the events portrayed here are actually true adds a whole new layer of haunting terror to the film. It is not an entertaining film but is a powerful and moving folk horror that deserves attention.

Synopsis: In 18th-century Upper Austria, a woman who is horribly depressed and wants to end it all finds herself trapped by religious dogma. Desperately craving a solution that won’t result in eternal damnation, she comes up with a horrifying plan to end her own misery.

Where to Watch: Shudder, AMC+

3. Funny Games (1997) – Sadistic Meta Torture

Why it Ranked: Michael Haneke’s original version of this movie is a true masterpiece of discomfort. Much of the violence takes place off screen, but that makes the subject matter of Funny Games no less shocking. It focuses on its brutal portrayal of sadistic killers making life hell for innocent people purely for their own amusement, all while pointing an accusatory finger at the viewer for even daring to watch. It’s not a fun time but it is a compelling one.

Synopsis: Two young men take a family hostage in their holiday home and force them to participate in a series of sadistic games for their own amusement. Over the course of a night, the family is subjected to psychological and physical torture with no apparent motive.

Where to Watch: Max, Criterion Channel

2. Angst (1983) – Ruthless Serial Killer Realism

Why it Ranked: Angst is one of those films that is just impossible not to mention when putting together a list of Austrian horror. It’s the oldest movie on this list but may be the most important. It’s an incredibly well-made film that has gone on to inspire dozens of horror directors and remains one of the most significant serial killer flicks of all time. It’s still quite disturbing to this day, and its realism stands out in a world of overly glossy, maniacal-killer films. It deserves a watch for any serious horror fan.

Synopsis: A deeply disturbed murderer is released from prison and immediately feels the urge to kill again. He discovers a secluded home where he finds a young woman, her sick mother, and her disabled brother, and proceeds to subject them to a night of terror.

Where to Watch: Tubi, Shudder

1. Goodnight Mommy (2014) – Psychosocial Horror Perfection

Why it Ranked: Goodnight Mommy is arguably the most well-known Austrian movie of the last decade. It was recently remade and for good reason; if you are looking for powerful psychological horror with a great twist, this is it. Franz and Fiala’s slow-burn story is captivating throughout, which deserves huge praise given the limited locations and cast. Many viewers claimed the film’s twist was predictable, but even if it was, that didn’t make it any less satisfying. It’s hard not to rate this as one of the greatest Austrian horror movie of all time.

Synopsis: A pair of twin boys move into a new house with their mother, who has recently undergone facial reconstructive surgery. As she remains wrapped in bandages and begins to act strangely, the boys begin to believe that she has been replaced by an impostor.

Where to Watch: Tubi, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

Cold as Alpine Ice

There we have it – 10 films that prove Austria is a powerhouse of clinical, psychological horror. From the innovative meta-horror of Razzennest to the legendary cruelty of Funny Games, these movies capture a very specific brand of Austrian dread that is hard to find elsewhere.

Hopefully, these entries have made you think twice before staying in a remote mountain hotel anytime soon. I’ll be back soon with more deep-dives into the horrors of our modern age. Stay spooky.

🇦🇹 Quick Picks: Austrian Horror for Your Vibe

• 🏆 The Must-Watch: Goodnight Mommy (2014)
• 🔪 The Gritty Classic: Angst (1983)
• 🌑 The Meta Experiment: Razzennest (2022)
• 🕯️ The Period Nightmare: The Devil’s Bath (2024)
• 🏚️ The Family Fright: The Scary House (2020)