10 Terrifying War Horror Movies You Need To See

9. The Keep

Jacob's Ladder
Paramount

This atmospheric 1983 Second World War horror movie represents something of a diamond in the rough; flawed but utterly fascinating and well worth seeking out

Directed by Michael Mann, who would go on to make his name with movies like Heat and Ali, The Keep tells the story of a platoon of Nazis who are sent to guard a mysterious fortress in a Romanian pass.

Things take a turn for the sinister, however, when one hapless soldier accidentally unleashes a demonic force trapped within the walls. Death and general mayhem follows as the Nazis attempt to bring the spirt under control.

Based on F. Paul Wilson’s terrifying novel of the same name, studio interference saw Mann’s original 210-minute cut of the movie reduced to 96, with plot and character development suffering as a result.

Despite this it’s still utterly terrifying in places, bolstered by Mann’s tension-filled direction and a spooky synth score from Tangerine Dream.

The Keep also boasts an impressive cast that includes Scott Glenn as a mysterious stranger on a mission to destroy the demon, Ian McKellen as a Jewish historian trying to make sense of it all and Gabriel Byrne as the archetypal sadistic SS officer earmarked for a grisly end.

Contributor

Former Loaded magazine staff writer with additional credits for FourFourTwo, ScreenRant, Planet Football and Den of Geek. A man with an unhealthy interest in the film career of Hulk Hogan.