Well guys - I think it may be that time of the week again, where we roam about the globe
- and take a look at some of the most terrifying visual onslaughts that horror cinema has to
offer us.
So far we’ve zoned in on Korean horror, as well as Australian - and most recently,
the terrifying revenge thrillers and folk horror of the British Isles.
Well - as it’s in close vicinity to the latter, it’s probably high time to pop over
to the continent - and take a look at what horror cinema has to offer over in that vibrant
tapestry of cultures and character - or as I like to call it, Europe.
Hello horror fans - what’s going on, and once again, welcome back to the scariest channel
on YouTube - Top 5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host, as today - we curiously take a look at the
Top 5 Scariest European Horror Movies.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was from the stomach-churning 2008 film, Martyrs,
written and directed by Pascal Laugier - and if I’m being honest, it definitely deserves
to be on this list - but I’m redacting it because really, it’s an incredibly acquired
taste - and it’s definitely not for everyone.
So, consider it’s place as today’s clip as an honorable mention.
That also segques us neatly, because Europe is an incredibly diverse continent, and there
are far too many great horror movies for them to all make this list.
So, honorable mentions go to Let The Right One In, In My Skin, Funny Games - yeah, you
get the picture.
Kicking off at Number 5 - High Tension, 2003
Phew.
Well, what a way to kick this list off - because this film - for sure - isn’t for the faint
hearted.
It’s important to note that at the turn of the millenium, a cinematic movement emerged
out of France - known as the New French Extremity - which formed a group of transgressive filmmakers,
such as Gaspar Noe and Bruno Dumont, that sought to push the boundaries of taste in
French cinema, particularly horror.
Their new cinematic style exemplified violence in film - and purposefully stripped away any
sense of on-screen humanity.
Now, the vast majority of the New French Extremity isn’t for everyone - but in my opinion,
the best of the best - and the most palatable - is 2003’s High Tension - released in the
UK as Switchblade Romance.
High Tension, written and directed by Alexandre Aja - has a pretty cut and shut plot, and
I mean that literally.
It tells the tale of Marie and her friend Alex, who find themselves on the run from
a serial killer who breaks into Alex’s parents house.
Start to finish, High Tension is a complete and utter bloodbath - and it lives up to its
namesake in full through its 90 minutes of screen time.
There’s not much more to it, and this film really needs to be seen to be believed - but
the closing act of 2003’s High Tension may leave you a little more wide eyed than you’d
ever have expected.
Coming in next at Number 4 - Goodnight Mommy, 2014
Oh man.
This one is creepy.
And if, like me - you have a fear of the uncanny elements of humanity - and are spooked at
the thought of your closest friends or family may or may not being replaced by a doppelganger
- then you’ll absolutely love this film.
Or be completely terrified by it.
Either way, it’s a winner.
Like many Austrian horror films that predate it, the beauty of 2014’s Goodnight Mommy
lies in its simplicity.
Two twin boys, Elias and Lukas, are concerned that their mother isn’t their mother, as
she returns home covered in bandages after undergoing cosmetic facial surgery.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Well, thankfully for us - there are so many levels of fear in this film that it can’t
be taken for granted.
Written and directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala in their debut feature film,
Goodnight Mommy falls within the same vein as 1973’s The Other - a nostalgic thriller
like no other, as well as the absolutely insane 2003 Korean psychological horror - A Tale
of Two Sisters.
Again, I don’t want to spoil anything - but what sets Goodnight Mommy apart, aside from
it’s absolutely stunning cinematography - is that cold, lingering balance of familiarity
with the unknown, so often captured in European cinema.
Yeah, this one is a must watch.
Swinging in at Number 3 - The Orphanage, 2007
And we definitely can’t talk about European Horror Cinema without giving due credit to
the incredibly unique and distinctly terrifying world of Spanish Fantasy Horror and the formidable
and talented filmmakers that follow suit.
Headed by the Mexican auter and horror aficionado, our boy Guillermo Del Toro, Spanish and Mexican
cinema saw somewhat of a renaissance since his release of Cronos in 1993.
It was only fitting then, that Del Toro himself saw fit to co-produce 2007’s The Orphanage
- because he, more than anyone, saw how uniquely horrifying it could be.
And guess what, he was right.
Because The Orphanage manages to deliver all of the spooks - without ever spilling a single
drop of blood.
Written by Sergio G. Sanchez, and directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, the Orphanage tells
the tale of a young couple, Laura and Carlos - and their adopted seven-year-old son, Simon.
Laura returns to the Orphanage that she grew up in with her husband and adopted son in
tow - with the intention of reopening the Orphanage and giving back to the system that
had saved her as a child.
Well, Laura’s good intentions soon stir up the ghosts of the past - and that’s all
I’m willing to say without giving away any spoilers.
Listen, straight up - 2007’s The Orphanage is just a straight up fantastic horror film.
It’s first and foremost a classic ghost story, yet still manages to be incredibly
original in its approach.
Every single scare in this film is earned.
Trust me, it’s worth it.
Next up at Number 2 - [REC], 2007
And you may be sensing a theme in the next few points - because as it turns out, 2007
was perhaps the greatest ever year for European horror cinema.
And also, Spain was killing it by knocking out some of the most terrifying and unique
films of the decade.
Good job Spain.
Double also - the fact that this film isn’t just a foreign language film, but also a found-footage
film - is testament enough to how damn good it actually is.
For those of you that haven’t seen 2007’s REC - it takes the widely worn-out found footage
genre and manages to do something often rarely executed with the form.
Be genuinely scary.
And it really, really is - while never once turning down the genuine authenticity captured
on a camcorder.
Written and directed by Jaume Balageuro and Paco Plaza - REC tells the tale of Angela,
and her cameraman Pablo, two documentary journalists who run a small late-night TV series called
While You’re Sleeping.
Their newest focus is the Fire Service Crews of downtown Barcelona, yet whilst they’re
filming the show - the fire crew gets a call.
An old lady is trapped in her apartment, yet - she’s acting a little bit … strange.
I don’t want to ruin anything, because REC is an absolute tour-de-force of horror, and
once those few opening moments are set - it never once let’s up on delivering the scares.
Honestly, forget everything you ever thought about jump scares.
REC just seems to be immune to stereotype.
It’s an enigma.
And it’s awesome.
And finally - coming in at our Number 1 spot - Inside, 2007.
I honestly don’t know what to say about this film - and for once, I find myself at
a lack of words.
Inside, directed by Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo - is one of the most insane horror
films - if you can even call it that - that you may ever seen.
Start to finish, this film will make you feel sick.
It will make you feel uneasy.
It will make you want to pause the entire film and not watch any further.
And if you’re a woman - this film has a whole new layer of fear.
It falls much in line with the style we spoke about earlier, the New French Extremity - although
by 2007, the form had reached a plateau, and things needed to be turned up a notch.
This - is the result - but what sets Inside appart is it’s pastiche to Italian Giallo
cinema - it doesn’t just rely on violence and gore, but on the psychological implications.
Saying that though, Inside is perhaps the bloodiest damn movie ever made.
By anyone.
Anywhere.
It tells the tale of Sarah, a pregnant woman whose husband died in a car crash - but she
and the baby survived.
She’s making preparations to give birth, but just before she gets picked up to head
to the hospital - she receives a knock on the door.
And I’ll say no more.
Because as soon as that knock hits, we’re on a runaway train of a movie - that you’ll
more than likely have to watch through splayed fingers.
This film is something else.
Really, it is.
And if I haven’t convinced you already, I’m not sure what else will.
Just watch it.
It’s crazy.
Well, there we have it horror fans - our list for the Top 5 Scariest European Horror Movies.
What did you guys think?
Why don’t you let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below, as well
as any choice pick that you have in your own.
I’m predicting quite a lot of recommendations for this one.
On that note horror fans - unfortunately that’s all we’ve got time for in today’s video
- cheers for sticking around all the way until the end, it’s been a blast as always.
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As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5
Scary Videos.
And until next time, you take it easy.