10 International Horror Movies Better Than Hollywood

Welcome to Ranking Horror. Yesterday we checked out 10 Recent Folk Horror Movies From Around The World. Today, we are keeping that international theme going as we take a look at 10 International Horror Movies Better Than Hollywood.

There is one undeniable fact when it comes to the horror genre. If you restrict yourself purely to Hollywood horror, you will be missing out on some of the best entries the genre has to offer. After all, some of the greatest horror films of all time aren’t Hollywood movies at all. They are lower budget affairs from all over the world.

With that in mind, today we are checking out 10 International Horror Movies Better Than Hollywood. None of these movies come from the USA. They are from all around the world. Some are English language, others are not. Veteran horror fans will probably be familiar with most of these titles but this list is for the more casual horror viewer who just fancies something different. Let’s take a look.

10. Eden Lake (2008) – A Very British Nightmare

Why it Ranked: Hollywood Horror has churned out its fair share of brutal movies but none of them seem to be quite as nasty, sad, and mean spirited as James Watkins’s Eden Lake. Eden Lake is one of those movies that leaves you with an empty feeling in the pit of your stomach. Whether that is a good thing or not is up to you. Keying in on the popularity of hoody horror from the mid-2000s, a UK phenomenon focusing on teen antagonists from working class backgrounds, it was a bit controversial when it released thanks to accusations of classism. That doesn’t change how realistic and scary the movie can be.

Synopsis: The story follows a couple heading out to the countryside to spend a weekend by the lake. Only to find their relaxation ruined by a group of youths who are clearly up to no good.

Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy)

9. Veronica (2017) – Don’t Play with Ouija Boards

Why it Ranked: We are off to Spain for the next entry in our list with Veronica by REC director Paco Plaza. Veronica brings together a few different, very familiar, horror tropes in the forms of ghostly hauntings, Ouija boards, and possession. The crazy thing is, the movie is supposedly based on the real life, tragic story of Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro. A fact which makes this movie all the more creepy. Veronica is a far superior possession movie to a comparable Hollywood horror like The Exorcism of Emily Rose and far more compelling.

Synopsis: The story follows a group of girls who use a Ouija board to contact deceased relatives. Only for one of them to cut her finger and, inadvertently, offer her blood as a sacrifice. Resulting in her suddenly becoming haunted by spirits.

Where to Watch: Netflix

8. When Evil Lurks (2023) – A New Breed of Possession

Why it Ranked: Demián Rugna took the horror world by storm in late 2023 with the release of When Evil Lurks. Although it sounds like an infection or viral horror movie, When Evil Lurks is far more of a supernatural story of possession and the birth of evil. It’s tough to explain without spoiling it but, suffice to say, it’s pretty fascinating stuff. The movie takes chances that it feels like Hollywood never would and succeeds frequently when it comes to harrowing visuals and decent scares. One scene, in particular, remains one of the most shocking in recent horror history.

Synopsis: The story follows a pair of brothers who find a man with a mysterious, curse-like infection. Deciding to get rid of the man to avoid spreading the disease, the brothers find themselves in a world of trouble when they unleash something truly horrifying.

Where to Watch: Shudder, Hulu, AMC+

7. The Call (2020) – Past and Present Collide

Why it Ranked: Chung-Hyun Lee’s The Call is a South Korean remake of a 2011 British horror film called The Caller. Much like the movie’s inspiration, The Call‘s story feels wonderfully original. Like many South Korean horror movies, the twisty plot requires careful attention to stay on track but the element of suspense is fantastic and the tension doesn’t let up from the start. Utterly compelling and definitely a step above most mainstream Hollywood horror. I would suggest you just ignore the very end of the movie, lest it ruin your enjoyment.

Synopsis: The story follows a young woman who moves into an old home to care for her ailing mother. After finding a cordless phone, she begins receiving calls from a woman in distress. The strange thing is, the woman also lives in the house but is calling from 1999. Leading to a strange interconnecting of the two women’s fates.

Where to Watch: Netflix

6. Saint Maud (2019) – Religious Ecstasy and Madness

Why it Ranked: Saint Maud is an utterly compelling and rather sad psychological horror movie from the UK. Starring the fantastic Morfydd Clark. It’s probably worth pointing out that Saint Maud is not a horror in the traditional sense. It is far deeper than that and, ultimately, tells a complex story about the human condition. It’s genuinely unsettling in parts, however, and the story stays compelling throughout. The final scenes definitely stay with you long after watching.

Synopsis: The story follows a devoutly religious care assistant who begins looking after a terminally ill former dancer. After fearing for the fate of her patient’s soul, the woman becomes dangerously obsessed with doing anything she can to convert her.

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, MGM+

5. Them (2006) – They’re Watching You

Why it Ranked: Them (Ils), from 2006, is a fairly simple, cat and mouse horror movie but I find it massively enjoyable. If you enjoy mainstream Hollywood horror movies like The Strangers, Them should be right up your street. It is fantastically scary, utterly compelling, and the cat and mouse shenanigans feel far more satisfying than most similar efforts from out of Hollywood. The thing that makes this movie so much better, as well, is that it is so believable and realistic. Awesome stuff.

Synopsis: The story follows a couple who live in a remote house. One night, they are awoken by a noise. Heading down to investigate, the pair realise that their house is surrounded by strange people who aren’t there simply to take in the scenery.

Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy)

4. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) – A Family Secret

Why it Ranked: A Tale of Two Sisters was the first South Korean horror movie to see a US theatre release which is rather impressive. The story is immensely complex and, being perfectly honest, it needs a few watches to truly appreciate. It is haunting and affecting in a way that few Hollywood horror movies even come close to, though. The atmosphere and story telling are fantastic and this movie acts as a great introduction to South Korean horror cinema.

Synopsis: A pair of sisters reunite and return to their father’s home after being parted due to spending time in a mental institution in 2003’s A Tale of Two Sisters. The only problem is that their stepmother is abusive and there now appears to be a spirit haunting them, preventing them from focusing on getting better.

Where to Watch: Shudder, Kanopy, AMC+

3. One Cut of the Dead (2017) – Zombie Chaos Unleashed

Why it Ranked: One Cut of the Dead is probably one of my favourite horror comedy movies ever and might be my favourite zombie movie ever. One word of advice, however. Skip the trailer; it gives the entire game away. The opening half an hour sets the tone for the movie so stick with it. Something utterly brilliant is waiting for you later on and it’s going to blow your mind in the most meta-horror way possible. An amazing movie and, simply, a ton of fun.

Synopsis: It’s a zombie horror comedy movie that follows a film crew who head to an abandoned WW2 facility to make a zombie film, only to find themselves attacked by actual zombies.

Where to Watch: Shudder, AMC+

2. The Loved Ones (2009) – Prom Night From Hell

Why it Ranked: The Loved Ones is one of those movies that almost has no point to it besides violence and torture but is just so damn entertaining. Sean Byrne has crafted a splatter horror that is far and away better than the vast majority of mainstream Hollywood horror alternatives with The Loved Ones. Lola, played brilliantly by Robin McLeavy, is a horror villain for the ages. Sharing the same maniacal enjoyment of cruelty as Audition‘s Asami but with a biting sense of wit. Her character makes The Loved Ones such a weirdly funny and enjoyable movie that you will almost feel guilty for how much you are laughing. Absolutely fantastic stuff and one of my all time favourite horror movies.

Synopsis: Coming by way of Australia, the story follows a teenage boy who, after refusing a prom invite by a fellow classmate called Lola, finds himself being forced to accept an invitation of a very different kind when the girl, and her father, kidnap him and bring him home.

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Pluto TV

1. I Saw The Devil (2010) – Revenge Has No Limits

Why it Ranked: We have more from South Korea next and more from A Tale of Two Sisters‘ director Kim Jee-woon in the form of 2010’s I Saw The Devil. The thing that makes I Saw The Devil so damn compelling is the fact that our protagonist isn’t content with simply killing the person who murdered his wife. He wants to drag the revenge out. Tormenting him, releasing him, and then recapturing him again later. It’s utterly fascinating and gripping from start to finish. Honestly, I Saw The Devil is my favourite movie on the list by quite a way.

Synopsis: The story follows a highly trained special agent who, after his wife is murdered by a serial killer, goes on the hunt for revenge.

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

Hollywood Isn’t Everything

And there you have it, 10 more reasons to look beyond the big Hollywood studios for your horror fix. From the relentless brutality of South Korean cinema to the psychological depths of European horror, the world is full of incredible scary movies waiting to be discovered. If you’ve been stuck in a loop of mainstream jump scares, these titles are the perfect antidote.

We’ll be back soon with more global scares, so stick around. If you enjoyed this trip around the horror world, why not check out some more of our international horror rankings? I’ll be back soon with more lists. Stay spooky.

🌍 Quick Picks: International Horror Essentials

• 🏆 The Masterpiece: I Saw The Devil (2010)
• 🩸 The Splatter Fest: The Loved Ones (2009)
• 🧟 The Creative Zombie Flick: One Cut of the Dead (2017)
• 🧠 The Psychological Mind-Bender: A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
• 🇬🇧 The Gritty British Horror: Eden Lake (2008)