10 Scariest Foreign Language Horror Films

Some of the most terrifying horror films from around the world.

By Tilly Owen /

Some of the best horror films ever made are English language - The Exorcist, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Babadook and The Shining just to name a few.

Advertisement

Obviously these aren’t everyone’s favourite horror films, but they’re all undeniably great movies nonetheless.

It’s easy to forget, then, that plenty of absolutely terrifying spine-chillers aren’t English languange pictures. From classic J-Horror films, to New French Extremity, the rest of the world has delivered horror in spades.

Let’s have a look at the most frightening, the most terrifying and, in some cases, the most bizarre horror offerings from around the world.

10. The Eyes Of My Mother

Now some of you may nit-pick this and say, “You’re a fool! This was produced in America and the characters speak English!”

Advertisement

To that I respond, “Calm down, my dear friend. Much of the film’s sparse dialogue is actually Portuguese, the majority of the few characters are Portuguese, and Portuguese music and culture is the beating heart of this monstrous tale".

Francisca’s mother was an eye surgeon in Portugal before coming to America, and likes to do odd bits and bobs of eye surgery with her daughter. When a serial killer tears the family apart, Francisca transforms into a truly evil individual.

The film is very gory, dripping in chilling atmosphere and has an almost Lynchian feel to it. Oddly beautiful whilst being absolutely horrendous at times, The Eyes of My Mother tells a deeply distressing story whilst also maintaining a dreamlike quality to it.

Premiering at the 2016 Sundance Festival, this film has subsequently fallen under the radar a little, which is a huge shame given it’s quality – and scare factor.

Advertisement