13 Greatest Art-House Horror Films
Erin Hoyles
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3. Suspiria (1977):
It was between this and Phantasm, but not because I loved either of those movies. There are moments in all of our lives when we must recognize that although WE do not like something, that doesn’t mean we cannot recognize its value. This is the case with Dario Argento’s 1977 Italian cult classic. Part of Argento’s “Three Mothers Trilogy,” this movie tells the story of a dancer who attends a dance academy that has much more going on than just dance. Murder, maggots, ritual killing, progressive rock soundtrack, and a dash of Argento’s textbook gore and weirdness are on full display; and thankfully this movie, unlike others, doesn’t feature his own daughter in sex scenes. It cannot be denied that Argento could be considered a pioneer of this sub-genre, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. At some point horror fans everywhere should make a list of “givens” so that we don’t have to keep including obvious choices on these lists.
2. Martyrs (2008):
Who didn’t love Martyrs? Probably anyone who hates artsy indie horror, but for those who eat this stuff up, it is the end-all, be-all of horror movies. Pascal Laugier’s 2008 masterpiece seems to include everything we love about horror, and unlike many other art-house classics, it has all the terror and edge-of-your-seat dread you could ask for. The film tells the story of Lucie; kidnapped as a young girl and suffering from a severe case of PTSD from the traumatic event, she convinces her friend Anna to come with her to exact revenge on those who took her as a young girl. What transpires is as terrifying as it is shocking… and it makes me concerned for the mental well being of its director. While a predictable remake has been made for American audiences, I would strongly suggest watching the original as it is a work of art that should not be avoided.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Qx2dT-lUw
1. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920):
Choosing the number one spot is never very easy, but in this case it was a slam dunk. Robert Wiene’s 1920 silent, German expressionist film is considered the first horror movie ever made and is about as artistic as they come. It tells the story of an evil asylum director who uses his patient via hypnosis to commit all sorts of heinous murders. Also the first movie to employ a “twist” ending, Caligari stands up to most modern day horror and should not be overlooked just because it’s nearly 100 years old.
