2023 was a banner year for horror films from across the globe, which deserve just as much praise and attention as any domestic genre triumph.
In a year that’s had its share of ups and downs at the box office, horror continues to be a top performer and one of the most consistent sources of entertainment. Superhero fatigue continues to set in and the ballooning budgets of major studio blockbusters have started to seem more like a curse than a kindness. The film industry adapts accordingly and figures out what audiences want.
However, horror movies have never been more popular and 2023 has been a goldmine of blood, guts, and gore. This year alone has featured grandiose franchise sequels like Scream VI, Evil Dead Rise, Insidious: The Red Door, and Saw X. Even Hercule Poirot has gotten into the horror game with A Haunting in Venice. Additionally, weird and wild local horror releases like Skinamarink, Thanksgiving, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and The Pope’s Exorcist prove that there’s plenty of life left in the genre.
It’s easy for horror fans to get lost in the endless stream of mainstream tentpole movies, but some of the year’s strongest and scariest films are releases from outside North America. There’s such a rich tapestry of horror out there that showcases international voices that might otherwise slip through the cracks. Audiences owe it to themselves to check out these 2023 horror films from across the globe, many of which trump this year’s American slate.
The Forbidden Play
Directed by Hideo Nakata; Japan
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<p><b>Hideo Nakata </b><span>will forever have a place in the horror genre due to his groundbreaking work with </span><b><i>Ringu</i></b><span>, which has arguably become the biggest j-horror film of all-time. Nakata has had other genre hits, like</span><b><i> Dark Water</i></b><span>, but whatever he turns out usually brings something interesting to the table with at least a few solid scares. Nakata’s </span><b><i>The Forbidden Play</i></b><span> sees the director turn to many familiar tricks and while it may lack the same impact as </span><i><span>Ringu</span></i><span>, there’s a lot to like here and it wouldn’t be surprising if this 2023 film spawned several sequels. </span><i><span>The Forbidden Play</span></i><span> is a haunting tale of grief and revenge that bears more in common with </span><b><i>The Grudge</i></b><span> movies than </span><b><i>The Ring</i></b><span>, with some </span><b><i>Exorcist</i></b><span> and </span><b><i>Talk to Me </i></b><span>thrown in for good measure. </span></p>
<p><span>A car accident claims the life of Miyuki, a wife and mother whose fractured family is left to sort through the sadness. Miyuki’s son, Haruto, bears his dead mother’s severed finger and performs a playful ritual that he hopes will regrow his mother and bring his family back together. Haruto’s emotional words work, but Miyuki returns as a vengeful wraith who’s determined to torture Hiroko Kurasawa, a video director with past ties to her husband. Nakata fills </span><i><span>The Forbidden Play</span></i><span> with ghoulish figures that linger out of focus in the background and find the perfect moment to attack. </span><i><span>The Forbidden Play</span></i><span> conjures genuine scares, but there’s also a tongue-in-cheek self-awareness to the horror movie that reflects Nakata’s decades of work in the genre.</span><i><span> The Forbidden Play</span></i><span> should delight most j-horror fans and the film makes excellent use of Kanna Hashimoto’s huge, expressive eyes, which become the film’s greatest special effect.</span></p>
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<h2><b><i>Sister Death</i></b></h2>
<h3><b>Directed by Paco Plaza; Spain</b></h3>
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