Darkest Horror Movies

From Park Chan-wook, starring Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
Rated R

Oldboy follows the story of Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a businessman who is inexplicably kidnapped and held hostage in a strange, private prison for fifteen years without explanation. After his unexpected release, Dae-su embarks on a quest to discover who kidnapped him and why, ultimately leading him to a shocking resolution and a fateful confrontation with his captor. Along the way, Dae-su is aided by a young woman named Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung) and a sushi chef named Tak (Yoo Ji-tae). As Dae-su's search for answers intensifies, he is drawn into a violent and deadly game of cat and mouse with his captor. The film is a visceral, intense, and darkly humorous exploration of revenge and the human condition.

From Tomas Alfredson, starring Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl
Rated R

Let the Right One In is a Swedish romantic horror film about a 12-year-old boy, Oskar, and his relationship with a peculiar girl, Eli, who happens to be a vampire. The film focuses on their struggles to maintain their friendship as Oskar deals with bullying and Eli faces a predator who is hunting her. As Eli and Oskar's relationship slowly deepens, they must confront the difficulties of their unique relationship while they both struggle with the implications of Eli's vampirism. The film examines the themes of love, friendship, identity, and loss of innocence as the two characters experience a heart-warming yet heartbreaking story of love.

From Jee-woon Kim, starring Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik, Jeon Gook-hwan, Ho-jin Chun
Rated Not Rated

I Saw the Devil is a dark and twisted revenge thriller from South Korean director Jee-woon Kim. The film follows Kyung-chul, a vicious serial killer who has slain a young woman, the fiancée of secret agent Soo-hyun. In a violent rage, Soo-hyun decides to take revenge on the killer, and sets out on a mission to hunt and punish him. Through a series of cat-and-mouse confrontations, Soo-hyun begins to play a deadly game of revenge with Kyung-chul. As the hunter slowly descends into a dark place, the line between good and evil is blurred, leaving viewers to question who the real monster is. I Saw the Devil is a brilliantly crafted thriller that is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

From Bong Joon Ho, starring Hye-ja Kim, Won Bin, Jin Goo, Je-mun Yun
Rated R

Mother is a 2009 South Korean psychological thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho. The film centers on an elderly single mother in her sixties who struggles to defend her socially challenged son when he is accused of murder. Despite the mother's efforts to prove her son's innocence, she is unable to convince the police of her son's innocence and her only hope is to find the real killer herself. The film follows her journey of desperation as she becomes increasingly desperate to find the truth and save her son. Along the way, she confronts various obstacles and discovers the harsh reality of the society she lives in. Ultimately, she must make a difficult decision that could have devastating consequences for her and her son.

From Na Hong-jin, starring Kim Yoon-seok, Ha Jung-woo, Yeong-hie Seo, Kim Yoo-jeong
Rated Not Rated

The Chaser is a South Korean crime thriller directed by Na Hong-jin, starring Kim Yoon-seok, Ha Jung-woo, and Seo Young-hee. The film follows the story of a small-time former pimp, Joong-ho, whose prostitutes have gone missing. Determined to find them and bring them back, he finds himself in a dangerous, cat-and-mouse game with a psychopathic killer, who forces Joong-ho to go on a wild chase across the city. Along the way, Joong-ho discovers the killer's dark past, and the truth behind his victims' disappearances. In the end, Joong-ho gets his revenge and saves the day, but not without a few twists and turns along the way.

From Rob Reiner, starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen
Rated R

Misery is a psychological thriller directed by Rob Reiner and starring James Caan and Kathy Bates. It follows the story of novelist Paul Sheldon (Caan) who is rescued from a car crash in the Colorado Rocky Mountains by former nurse Annie Wilkes (Bates). Wilkes takes Sheldon to her remote home to nurse him back to health after his accident. However, Wilkes soon reveals herself to be a psychotic fan of Sheldon’s novels and holds him captive while forcing him to write a novel that she will approve of. Sheldon must find a way to escape his captor’s control without putting his own life in danger.

From Pedro Almodóvar, starring Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Jan Cornet, Marisa Paredes
Rated R

The Skin I Live In is a psychological thriller directed by Pedro Almodóvar in which a brilliant plastic surgeon develops an artificial skin that is resistant to burns and aging, in order to exact revenge on the man who raped his daughter. The doctor's experiments involve using a patient as a guinea pig for his research. As the story unfolds, a complex web of secrets and lies slowly reveals the identity of the patient and the doctor's motivations. With a strong cast, stunning visuals and a gripping story, The Skin I Live In is a thrilling exploration of identity, revenge, and the limits of science.

From Kinji Fukasaku, starring Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarô Yamamoto, Chiaki Kuriyama
Rated Not Rated

Battle Royale is a 2000 Japanese dystopian action film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. The film revolves around 42 junior high school students who are sent to an isolated island and forced to battle each other to the death until only one is left standing. The students are issued with a random weapon, ranging from knives and machine guns to crossbows and explosives, and are also forced to wear collars that will detonate if they attempt to flee. The winner of the game will be allowed to go home, while the rest will be killed by the collars. The film was controversial upon its release due to its violent content, but has since become a cult classic.

From Gregg Araki, starring Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison
Rated Unrated

Mysterious Skin is a 2004 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Gregg Araki, based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Scott Heim. The film follows two pre-adolescent boys who are affected in different ways by a sexual encounter with an older man. Brian Lackey (Brady Corbet) is traumatized by the event and suffers from strange episodes of missing time. Neil McCormick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) develops a promiscuous lifestyle and becomes a male prostitute. As the two boys grow older and try to make sense of their past, the film examines their divergent paths and explores themes of childhood sexual abuse, sexual identity, and the need for closure.

From Park Chan-wook, starring Nam-mi Kang, Jeong-nam Choi, Hye-Sook Go, Bok-hwa Baek
Rated R

Lady Vengeance is a Korean crime thriller directed by Park Chan-wook, starring Lee Yeong-ae. The film follows the story of Lee Geum-ja (Lee Yeong-ae), a woman released from prison after serving a thirteen-year sentence for a crime she did not commit. After her release, she seeks revenge on the man who framed her and also seeks to reunite with her daughter, who was taken away from her while she was in prison. Along the way, she teams up with a ragtag group of misfits who help her on her mission. With their help, she is able to exact her revenge and get her daughter back, but not without consequences. Lady Vengeance is a dark, violent, and violent story of revenge and redemption, with a unique visual style and an unforgettable cast of characters.

From Park Chan-wook, starring Song Kang-ho, Shin Ha-kyun, Bae Doona, Ji-Eun Lim
Rated R

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a 2002 South Korean thriller film written and directed by Park Chan-wook. The film tells the story of Ryu, a young deaf man, and his attempt to take revenge on a former boss who caused the death of his sister. Ryu kidnaps his boss's daughter and requests a large ransom in exchange for her release. Ryu finds himself in a tug-of-war between the kidnappers and his own conscience as he struggles with his desire for justice and his sympathy for his victim's family. Along the way, Ryu is pushed to the limits of his endurance and, ultimately, must confront the consequences of his actions.

From Danny Boyle, starring Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Alex Palmer
Rated R

28 Days Later... is a post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle, starring Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris. The film follows Jim, a young man who wakes up from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world in which most of the population has been wiped out by a virus called the Rage Virus. As he searches for survivors, he soon discovers that the virus is still active and is being spread by humans infected with it. With the help of a group of survivors, Jim embarks on a journey of survival and hope, confronting the horrors of the virus and fighting for a future for mankind.

From J.A. Bayona, starring Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep, Mabel Rivera
Rated R

From Jee-woon Kim, starring Lim Soo-jung, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Kap-su, Moon Geun-young
Rated R

From Takashi Miike, starring Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura
Rated R

From John Fawcett, starring Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle, Kris Lemche, Mimi Rogers
Rated Not Rated

From James Watkins, starring Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Tara Ellis, Jack O'Connell
Rated R

From Alexandre Aja, starring Cécile de France, Maïwenn, Philippe Nahon, Franck Khalfoun
Rated R

From Lucky McKee, starring Angela Bettis, Jeremy Sisto, Anna Faris, James Duval
Rated R

From Sean Byrne, starring Xavier Samuel, Robin McLeavy, John Brumpton, Richard Wilson
Rated R

From Justin Kurzel, starring Lucas Pittaway, Daniel Henshall, Louise Harris, Bob Adriaens
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska, starring Katharine Isabelle, Antonio Cupo, Tristan Risk, David Lovgren
Rated R

From Franck Khalfoun, starring Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, America Olivo, Megan Duffy
Rated Not Rated

From M. Night Shyamalan, starring Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Jackson Rathbone, Dev Patel
Rated PG