To find real-life horrors, one need only look back on history, whether it be the atrocities of war or modern-day corporate greed at the expense of the many. Yet there is one period with unlimited potential to influence the horror genre that is seldom utilized: the Middle Ages. The period has given us one of the greatest movie monsters of all time, Dracula (inspired by Vlad the Impaler), and much of Western folklore comes from this period with stories with witchcraft and satanism embedded into horror. Yet, medieval times often offer only inspiration, with few directors wanting to place their horror movies directly in the era.
These movies stand tall for embracing the era's horrors while crafting stories during this period (500 to 1500 AD). Some may take a humorous or campy approach, while others may dwell too heavily on the real-life terrors of the turbulent time period. Still, these films offer a unique viewing experience inspired by medieval times.
10 Black Death (2010)
- Release Date
- June 7, 2010
Set in 1348 during the bubonic plague in medieval England, Black Death follows novice monk Osmund, who finds himself torn between his love for a woman and his duty to God during a period of unimaginable sickness. When he is tasked with investigating a town that appears to be free of the plague and suspected of using necromancy to fight it off, he sees this as an opportunity to escape.
Traveling Through One of the Darkest Periods in History
Black Death is an instantly unsettling journey that captures the utter despair that one would imagine of a culture succumbing to the horrors of the bubonic plague. Yet, when elements of supernatural horror are added in as a town's dark rituals take center stage, the movie falls into pure genre perfection. The performances here are also great, with Eddie Redmayne as Osmund and Sean Bean as the monk's leader investigating the village accused of satanic rituals.
35 Best Horror Movies on Netflix to Watch Right Now
Get ready for some bone-chilling scares with this constantly growing list of the best selection of horror movies currently streaming on Netflix.
9 The Head Hunter (2018)
A medieval warrior embarks on a long, solo journey to kill the monster that murdered his daughter. Consumed by grief and bloodthirsty for revenge, the nameless warrior faces mental and physical challenges as he travels far and wide to complete his missions. Blending fantasy and horror elements and taking a more nuanced approach to both genres, The Head Hunter is a unique experience.
One Man's Quest for Revenge
The Head Hunter is a testament to the ability to create an immersive and complicated story on a budget, made for an extremely low $30,000. Despite its limitations, the use of atmosphere, strong performance from Christopher Rygh, and intimate camerawork make the movie feel much bigger than it actually is. Despite causing a slight stir among the fandom on release, this movie is often overlooked, but it exemplifies Indian horror at its most accomplished and stylish.
8 Army of Darkness (1993)
- Release Date
- February 19, 1993
The third installment of the Evil Dead franchise, Army of Darkness, follows Ash Williams as he is sent into the past and tasked to help fight an army of demonic zombies and supernatural terrors. While helping fight off the deadites Ash desperately searches for a way home, seeking out the Necronomicon to recite the spell that will allow him to return to the modern era. A box office disappointment at the time of release, Army of Darkness would become the definitive vision of a wise-cracking Ash Williams and obtain cult status.
A Groovy and Ghastly Medieval Horror
Arguably one of the greatest horror comedies ever made, Army of Darkness blends campy gross-out humor with over-the-top practical effects to great success. Add in the cocksure attitude of Ash Williams that offers up plenty of quotable one-liners, and Army of Darkness is the type of horror movie you can revisit again and again. This may be the furthest from a historically accurate depiction of medieval times, but it is undoubtedly the most entertaining.
7 Hagazussa (2017)
Set in the 15th-century Alps, Hagazussa follows an isolated goatherder, Albrun, who lives a reclusive lifestyle. Forced into isolation by her mother, who was ousted from the nearby community as a witch, Albrun tries to live a simple life with her daughter. However, after befriending a local villager, Albrun is betrayed and assaulted by the locals. The broken woman fully embraces the label of witch put on her family and begins her bid for revenge.
A wonderfully constructed psychological horror film, Haguzassa takes a minimalistic approach to crafting a slow, brooding tale of terror. The Austrian Alps provide a beautiful backdrop, and the contrast between the serene landscape and Albrun's suffering paints a rather grim portrait of life in the Middle Ages, often ruled by superstition. The film's pacing is slow, and the dialogue is minimal, which does require patience and will likely appear more to those who like artistic, slow-burn horror.
You can stream Hagazussa on Fandor, Screambox, Tubi, Plex, Kanopy, or FreeVee.
6 Kuroneko (1968)
Set against the backdrop of feudal Japan during a civil war, Kuroneko opens with Yone and her daughter-in-law Shige being brutally attacked and murdered by passing samurai. Before they pass, the two women make a pact to become vengeful spirits, taking on a beautiful visage and cat-like abilities. Gintoki, Shige's husband, having been given honors for his accomplishments in war, is tasked with taking out the spirits that have been luring men to their deaths, unaware of the familial connection.
Supernatural Horrors Inspired by Folklore
Kuroneko has become a significant work in Japanese horror by exploring the nature of honor among Japanese warriors and the morality of revenge. The supernatural elements also added a dark, foreboding atmosphere captured quite beautifully by director Kaneto Shindô. The movie has that feeling of the classic tale, not unlike one you would expect from the Brothers Grimm or, more specifically, of Japanese culture, a story recorded by historian Lafcadio Hearn.
You can stream Kuroneko on The Criterion Channel.
20 Best Horror Movie Endings of the 21st Century (So Far)
A good ending to a horror movie has the power to improve your experience. These are the best conclusions in horror of the 21st century.
5 The Pit and the Pendulum (1991)
Based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe, The Pit and the Pendulum follows the bloody and power-hungry Grand Inquisitor Torquemada, who has taken to bizarre means of torture. When one noble, Maria, speaks out against the cruelty of the inquisitor and his using the Church to exact his revenge, he accuses her of witchcraft. Enamored by her beauty, instead of murdering her, he takes her captive, leaving it up to her husband, Antonio, to try to rescue Maria. Yet, when Antonio fails, he meets the inquisitor's newest, most gruesome torture device.
An Underrated Edgar Allan Poe Adaptation
The Pit and the Pendulum has been adapted multiple times for film, and while the 1961 movie with Vincent Price is stellar, we will give the edge to the more modern and slightly campy 1991 version by director Stuart Gordon. Gordon, better known for his work adapting H.P. Lovecraft with movies like Dagon, Re-Animator, and From Beyond, does not quite nail the Gothic aesthetic of Poe as well as the cosmic horror of Lovecraft. However, he still manages to create a pretty immersive period piece, with the final vision of the pit and the pendulum offering a frightening image of torture. Lance Henriksen is also great as Torquemada.
You can stream The Pit and The Pendulum on Prime Video, Peacock, or Tubi.
4 The Long Hair of Death (1964)
The Long Hair of Death takes place in a 15th-century feudal village, opening with a woman being accused of witchcraft and set to be burned at the stake. Her eldest daughter, Helen, is aware that this accusation comes from her persecutor, Count Franz Humboldt, lust for her mother and his inability to have her and speaks up. This leads the Count to murder most of Helen's lineage, leaving only one sibling. Years later, the sibling is visited by the ghost of one of her sisters, pushing her to seek revenge.
A Minor Gothic Classic from Italy
Starring the beautiful and iconic Barabara Steele, The Long Hair of Death (1964) is an often overlooked historical horror film from Italy. It is shadowed by Bava's Black Sunday, which also has historical elements and stars Steele. Still, the movie presents an atmospheric Gothic horror story mixed with engaging melodrama. It may be slightly predictable, but the film has been referred to as a "minor classic of Gothic horror" and will undoubtedly please people looking for gems in the genre.
You can stream The Long Hair of Death on Tubi, Kanopy, or Plex.
3 Onibaba (1964)
Onibaba
- Release Date
- November 21, 1964
- Director
- Kaneto Shindō
- Cast
- Nobuko Otowa , Jitsuko Yoshimura , Kei Satō , Taiji Tonoyama
Set in 14th-century Japan during a brutal civil war, Onibaba follows a mother-daughter duo who survive by robbing the corpses of fallen soldiers. The two depend on each other, so when the young daughter falls for a traveler, the mother dons a demon mask she stole from a soldier she lured to his death to scare her daughter into submission. When the mask can not be removed, the mother must try to prove she is not the demon she pretended to be.
A Classic Japanese Horror Story
Onibaba drew inspiration from the horrors of World War II, traditional Noh theater, and folklore to craft its unique vision of horror. This is a horror film with a lot of depth and nuance, which means it may lack the scares that most modern audiences crave, but it is a film that welcomes introspection into themes of survival, sexuality, and the trauma of war. Onibaba's themes and visuals have remained timeless, though, and there is undoubtedly still a dedicated audience for this classic horror film.
You can stream Onibaba on Max or The Criterion Channel.
2 Häxan (1922)
Häxan
- Release Date
- September 18, 1922
- Director
- Benjamin Christensen
- Cast
- Benjamin Christensen , Clara Pontoppidan , Oscar Stribolt , Astrid Holm , Maren Pedersen
Often considered the first horror film, Haxan was a Swedish-Danish silent film from the silent film era that took a documentary approach to showing the horror of witchcraft during the Middle Ages. Opening with a lecture to discuss the history and effect of Witchcraft on culture, the movie then shows several scenes involving trials, practicing witchcraft, and hysteria of the masses. The film then ties the practice of witch-hunting to the (then) modern era's treatment of mental illness and hysteria.
A Revolutionary Horror Movie
Revolutionary and ahead of its time, the silent film's imagery is still surprisingly unsettling over one hundred years after its release. The movie also offers a window into the sentimentality of the time and revolution, not just in visual storytelling but in ideology, with a pushback against the church controversial for the time. This may not terrify the modern viewer, but it is an exciting window into the birth of horror and film as a medium for new and fresh ideas.
Haxan is in the public domain, meaning you can stream it for free on YouTube and various other platforms.
10 Best Horror Mockumentaries of All Time
Horror isn't exactly real. But in the case of the best horror mockumentaries ever, they're so well made that you'll believe it is.
1 Mark of the Devil (1970)
Set in 18th-century Austria, Mark of the Devil is an unflinching and graphic exploration of the corruption behind the witch hunts of the era. The plot follows Count Christian von Meruh, an apprentice witch hunter who heads to a small village to find that a man named Albino has appointed himself the local witchfinder. As Christian tries to integrate himself into the community, he becomes disenfranchised by his profession, as he sees the persecution of the locals as used for personal gain and revenge rather than grounded in the teachings of the church.
Disturbing Visions of the Witch Trials
Starring a young Udo Kier, Mark of the Devil may share more in common with exploitation films of the era than horror. The torture scenes are gratuitous, and the jabs at Christian ideology are overly ham-fisted and without nuance. The movie was controversial upon its release and was banned in several countries, making it a potential hidden treat for those who like boundary-pushing cinema. Still, this is the case where the deplorable acts people have done to each other in the name of misguided power structures is a horror unto itself.
You can stream Mark of the Devil on Prime or Tubi.
Comments
Post a Comment