Let’s face it, not every horror movie is a straight forward slasher or found footage that smacks us in the face with its obviousness. Sometimes the writers like to leave us perplexed by making the ending ambiguous or throwing in so many curve balls we don’t know what’s going on. Then there’s the occasional (usually slightly older) movie that doesn’t seem to follow a traditional narrative structure and mainly serves as purely an experimental or visual piece of cinema. Some are more subtle and subliminal with hidden themes that you have to decipher yourself. Here are some of those. Well, the ones I’ve seen, anyway. These will be in chronological order.
I will include the links for each movie on justwatch, on which you can change the country to suit your location, so you can find out where to watch it.
Daughter of Horror (Dementia) (1955)
Well, what can I say about this movie? It’s definitely a way to start the list. Daughter of Horror, or Dementia as it’s also known, doesn’t exactly have a plot. It’s an experimental piece of insanity cinema that follows a woman through some kind of nightmarish journey, I guess. There are weird flashbacks about her abusive father, two scenes in nightclubs, a scene where a man is eating chicken, and no dialogue whatsoever. It’s possibly the weirdest and most confusing movie I’ve ever watched, and that’s saying something. I’ve sat though Santa Claus Conquers the Martians three times! Never again, and I mean it this time. Warning, there is a chance you may get irritated by this woman’s annoying smirky face by the end. Especially when she’s brandishing a switchblade or laughing at something inappropriate. The woman who played her wasn’t even an actor, she was the director’s secretary. So weird.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/dementia-1955
Spoiler, highlight to see: This was the first horror movie to use the “they were dead all along” ending that people hate now. At the time it was new and unheard of. Today, it’s thought of as cheap, unoriginal, and a total cop out. The dreamlike visuals and haunting score are what make this movie so memorable, as well as the abandoned fairground set piece. These tend to be the best parts of the movie, while the rest concerns our protagonist searching for answers with not a lot of fanfare. There isn’t much in the way of explanation as to where the setting comes from or the people she sees, not that I’m aware of anyway.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/corridors-of-evil
This is more of a subtle story with great visuals and disturbing implications. There are plenty of dreamlike qualities that you might question if this is reality or if the main character is just an unreliable narrator. The film covers topics of sexuality and abuse, which isn’t completely spelled out for you. Catherine Deneuve has such a look of innocence and vulnerability that really shines through in her performance. There are some particularly triggering scenes which play out both aggressively and subdued that add even more dream elements where things play out in a surreal manner that you have no control over and cannot escape. It’s like running through quicksand or trying to hit someone but missing repeatedly. You can’t seem to control your own body, and that can be both frustrating and scary.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/repulsion
From the mind of the woman responsible for writing The Birds (1963), Rebecca (1940), and Jamaica Inn (1939), and directed by the man who also scared 80s/90s kids with his adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches (1990) comes the even more disturbing story of grief, and possibly time travel…? Parts of the story are non linear, there are some premonitions, and an elderly blind psychic lady, all of which are the perfect tools for crafting a confusing story. Also, 70s Donald Sutherland is best Donald Sutherland. Someday I will get that on a T-shirt.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/dont-look-now
This movie is such a gem that it’s no wonder that it became a cult classic. It’s more than just a horror movie. It’s a comedy and an experimental film with a twisted Japanese sense of humour and style. It’s bright, cheerful, and quirky with a massive helping of WTF.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/house-1977
This is one of the few Asian horror movies that I’ve watched twice. Because I struggle with subtitles, I have to be in the right mindset to watch them without any outside distractions. This is the very definition of a psychological horror, although in my experience it may be viewed as normal Japanese cinema (see Tokyo Gore Police, Ichi the Killer, Tetsuo: The Iron Man, and anything else by Takashi Miike to understand my point). It’s almost like a cautionary tale of what will happen if you abuse your children. They’ll grow up to be twisted and controlling psychopaths. I think it’s the Japanese horror movie I’m most likely to recommend to people. Like how Oldboy is the South Korean movie I would recommend.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/audition
I’m still not quite sure what this movie is even about. All I know is that I watched it and enjoyed it. Jeff Daniels is there, his wife hasn’t come home, and there seems to be a need for people to be taking some kind of unknown pills. I’ll leave the rest of the movie ambiguous, just like the writers did. All I can say is, if you get the chance to watch this, take it. It’s something different.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/chasing-sleep
Part serial killer interview and part Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, Identity appears to be telling two separate stories that may or may not be connected. I didn’t really think about it at the time, so I was surprised by the ending. As good of a movie as it is, I’m not sure if it was necessary for it to connect the way that it did. Spoiler, highlight to see: The serial killer’s involvement could have been incorporated as a “maybe he didn’t do it” to subvert the audience, instead of relying on a tired multiple personality trope that negatively stereotypes real people who suffer from the disorder. Aside from that, the performances are great as well as the isolated motel setting. The clues are laid out for you, and the psychology that explains the different characters is there, it just takes a lot of looking and perhaps some research. That’s what makes the movie confusing as a whole. They failed to provide what seems to be a character study with a more in depth look at said character.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/identity
I needed the Ending Explained for this one, so thanks for that Chris. The movie is a weird and trippy one that doesn’t necessarily scream witchcraft, at least not to me anyway. All I took from watching the movie was how brutal the modelling world is. It’s a visual spectacle with plenty of unusual and graphic moments that might make you uncomfortable. Also, Keanu Reeves shows up out of nowhere. Not sure what to make of that. Matt Damon would have been less of a surprise. Trigger warning for a scene involving dead body “interfering”. I would advise checking out the Doesthedogdie site for this one if you have boundaries when it comes to horror content.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/the-neon-demon
This movie went a completely different way than I thought it was going. What I thought was happening; a girl was going through some horrific reality (like a war) so she has created a new reality for herself to escape, but her real environment soon starts to seep through. What was really happening; the whole story is a big bible allegory. I had to watch the Found Flix Ending Explained for this one as well to get this.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/mother-2017
This movie was not only confusing, but unexpectedly graphic and disturbing. Coming from the son of David Cronenberg, Brandon, I guess I was expecting something along the lines of his father’s previous works, but with an updated look. Oh, boy, we certainly got that and then some. Props for not shying away from the nudity and sex scenes, though. Hollywood isn’t always that brave.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/possessor-uncut
I know as soon as I start making my way through my list of J-horror that most of these entries will become completely redundant and more comparable to Disney movies in contrast to what I have coming. Really looking forward to catching up on my Miike. I did just get Ichi the Killer on DVD.
Linsey Loves Horror 