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There is a new wave of horror movies coming: French horror. Here are my top five picks from this exciting genre: The Ordeal, High Tension, Frontiers, Martyrs and Inside.

In my opinion the French are the best at producing horror movies. The films have the right balance of crazy unrelenting horror, great cinematography and good storylines.  The best thing is that the films are genuinely scary and as a viewer it really gets my adrenaline flowing watching these films.

Whilst some American horror movies suffer from trying to appeal to the masses for maximum box office profit, the French films seem to be more free to do what the hell they want. These films are designed to please the director’s own vision and to give hardcore horror fans what they want without the constraint of box office targets.

If you are looking for some horror films to watch this Halloween you could do a lot worse than checking out the films on this list.

5. The Ordeal (aka Calvaire)

Actually, this movie is officially from Belgium but I thought I would still include it as the language is in French.

 The film is about a singer who breaks down in his van during a thunderstorm whilst on route to a special Christmas gig. He ends up lost deep in the words and takes sanctuary at an old mans house. But the old man is not as nice as he first seems to be. Infact, he is a complete psycho and subjects the singer to an unthinkable ordeal.

 This film goes against everything that is Hollywood. There is no musical score, no humour, no women with big breasts (hell, there are no women – period) and none of the typical horror elements that you usually find in American films. This is not an enjoyable film as such, but it is one hell of an experience. A deeply disturbing experience, but one worth having. You will come out of it a better person.

4. High Tension (aka Haute Tension – also known as Switchblade Romance for the UK release)

This was the first French horror film I ever watched and has a special place in my heart.

The setting is that of a college girl and her best friend (Cecile de France) staying at her parents house in the countryside. There is local man who breaks into the house one night, massacring the family and kidnapping the girl. It is up to Cecile de France to save her.

This has all the ingredients of a good horror: old house in the countryside; late night gas station; local scary man with an old rusty pickup truck; and awesome cat and mouse chase sequences. 

The cinematography of this film is stunning, in particular the scenes at the deserted gas station late at night. The illuminations of the neon lights, with their beautiful dim hum, just glisten off the crisps packets and coca cola for sale in the gas station shop!

This film is also genuinely scary. The onslaught of horror at the start really sets the scene and makes the cat and mouse chase sequences even more scary, knowing what horror is likely to await you if the killer finds the girl. This one will definitely get the adrenaline flowing! 

3. Frontiers ( Frontière(s) )

 Check. This. Out.

 This film grabs you by the throat right from the get go and does not let up.

 A group of young political activists are on the run from police in Paris and seek refuge in a family run hotel in the countryside. There is, however, a slight inconvenience: the family are a Neo-Nazis.

 One of the scary things about this film is that the family are not just out to kill the group of activists, oh no, they are out to inflict pain and suffering. They even want to use one of the girls to help them breed the next generation of the family.

 Awesome big budget cinematography, crazy horror death sequences, cat and mouse chases, severed limbs and just an all out bloodbath ensue.

 Fans of films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Deliverance, Hostel and The Hills Have Eyes will love this one. In fact it makes these films seem like U rated children’s cartoons in comparison.

 2. Martyrs

 If you have not seen this film then you are a very lucky person. A very lucky person indeed. You still have the first viewing to come, the life changing experience of seeing this film for the very first time. And you shall be better for it.

 The films central character is a girl whom experienced a horrific past of being held prisoner in a disused slaughterhouse. She lived her life tied to a chair, starving, dehydrated, and basically just treated like an animal. The film deals with revenge and the question of just how far can someone be pushed, be treated like an animal, till they are no longer human.

I don’t want to give much away about this one as it has a really well thought out plot and twist.

But what I will say is watch this film. It is one hell of a ride. Yes a bumpy, disturbing, and in general, quite an uncomfortable ride to go on. But hop on, it is an experience worth having.

 1. Inside (À l’intérieur)

Inside is about a pregnant woman who is held captive in her own house by a crazed woman who wants to take her unborn child. I have put this as my favourite French horror film because it has just the right mixture of all the elements from the other four films in this article.

It has the best of the unique elements that make French horror so great plus some of those Hollywood type tricks that we do actually love!

 First of all, yes, this film is another bloodbath. It is disturbing horror to the max that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire film. There are also some genuine cringe worthy moments that will have you hiding behind your pillow. But this film will also appeal to an audience used to more commercial horror films due to its genuine jumpy scary bits, the blood, action, and a nice touch of humour in places as well. Whilst some of the other horror films mentioned in this article are more of an experience, they are not necessarily what you would class as enjoyable, Inside is both disturbing and an enjoyable experience. You get the best of both worlds.

Well that’s it. Hope you enjoyed the read and please do check out some of those films. I can guarantee you won’t regret it.