10 More Great Horror Movies Under 90 Minutes

3. Sauna - 83 Minutes

The Beyond 1981
Bronson Club

Before you ask, yes, Sauna is a film that centres around a haunted sauna. And no, it's not a parody. As laughable as this premise sounds, this Finnish flick is a must-watch for horror fanatics.

Taking place at the end of the Russo-Swedish War, two brothers, Eerik and Knut, are tasked with marking the area, which is now under Swedish rule.

On their travels, they discover a sauna in the middle of a swamp. Guilty of the lives they took in battle, the siblings agree to use the sauna, believing it will wash away their sins. Shortly after entering the sudatory, Eerik and Knut discover it's occupied by a spectre, who's eager to remind them of the evil they committed.

Like The Lighthouse and Donnie Darko, Sauna explains very little, leaving many scenes up to interpretation. Due to the non-linear structure, some viewers might struggle to follow the story.

But because the plot is told in such a haphazardous manner, you can never tell what's going to happen next, so you're never ready when things go nuts. If you enjoy films that don't spell everything out for you, Sauna will be right up your alley.

Contributor

James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows