10 Psychedelic Horror Movies That Mess With Your Brain

There are plenty of nasty things in horror films that's sole purpose is to scare us. Whether it's unrelenting and unstoppable serial killers, supernatural beings, or extraterrestrial terrors, there's no shortage of grizzly goings on in this genre - that's why it's called "horror", after all.

Sometimes, though, the horror in these films doesn't derive from a tangible, hockey mask-wearing psychopath. Instead, the terror is rooted in a more abstract place in which viewers' senses are bombarded to distort the film's sense of reality. The result of which can make for a mind-bending and wholly unnerving cinematic experience.

Fuelling their warped realities with dazzling, neon-drenched colour palettes and ethereal synth soundtracks, these psychedelic shockers are just as outlandish and bizarre as you'd expect. But it's because of this very reason why they've proven to be so effective; with some earning plenty of praise from critics while others find a special place in the hearts of many cult horror fans.

Although these films might not be to everyone's taste, being just too weird for some mainstream movie-goers, these mind-melting horrors are perfect for cinephiles looking for something completely different.

Whenever we think of J-horror, it tends to be the likes of Ringu, Ju-On, and Dark Water that springs to mind first - the dead, wet girls that have become the mascots of the genre. One film that's perhaps went under your radar is that of House (Hausu).

Directed and co-produced by Nobuhiko Obayashi, this utterly bonkers film follows high school student Gorgeous (Kimiko Ikegami) visit her aunt's house with a group of friends. Unfortunately for the girls, though, there's an evil presence within this house that devours them one-by-one in increasingly strange ways that range from being swallowed by a piano to being entombed within a grandfather clock.

Likewise, the film's presentation is just as appropriately off-the-wall. Through combining horror, comedy, fantasy, stop-motion, animation, and a bubblegum pop aesthetic all in the relatively short runtime just shy of 90 minutes, this film is contained within its own uniquely strange world that hasn't been rivalled since.

Originally designed to be Toho's answer to Jaws, Obayashi was given the opportunity to develop the script. Basing it on the childlike fears of his young daughter, it would take a further two years before Obayashi was allowed to direct, creating an under-seen cult gem.