Tired of watching horror films such as Friday the 13th or Texas Chainsaw Massacre and looking for something different? Below are seven films from seven different countries that will definitely provide you with an unusual horror movie-watching experience.

United States: The House of the Devil An ingenious attempt at a throwback to the 80s horror genre, the film features Samantha Hughes, a college student who is hired as a babysitter, only to be told after her arrival that the family does not have a kid. As the night draws on and the moon is gradually shadowed during an eclipse, the story slowly assumes a sinister turn as the disturbing uncertainty and unnerving eccentricity of the house reach their climax. If you are tired of the senseless exhibition of blood and gore of conventional horror clichés, The House of the Devil is definitely worth your attention as it successfully demonstrates suspense in its most original meaning: the anticipation of happening instead of happening itself.

Hong Kong: Rigor Mortis Rigor Mortis, in its most fundamental sense, is a film about nostalgia. It excellently captures that idea through an eerily satisfying mix of the zombie theme reminiscent of the 20th century Hong Kong horror genre, the supernatural atmosphere from conventional Japanese ghost movies and the disquieting violence and cruelty ingrained in the US horror tradition. The haunting emotional core of this film will definitely stir your own longing for the glorious past of the horror genre, which has become more superficial and sensational in recent years.

France: Inside Insane and cruel, Inside carries the spirit of the New Wave movement that emphasizes emotional experiences and challenges traditional boundaries to their extreme. The film tells the tale of a pregnant woman who is alone on Christmas Eve trying to defend herself against an unknown intruder intent on seizing the child in her womb. The intense pacing of the story and the gory display of blood and human intestines (among other body parts) test the limits of your senses and constitute a rich promise that the film will offer an unforgettable experience.

Spain: [REC] This low-budget, found footage film records the hellish experience of reporter Angela and her cameraman as they follow a crew of firefighters into an apartment to deal with what they thought was a trivial emergency. In [REC], claustrophobia collaborates with supernatural elements to lead to a frightful climax while you are left to struggle with a sense of raw terror that is destined to linger in your mind for some time to come.

South Korea: The Wailing This third film by the maverick Korean director Na Hong-jin was created after his six-year break from moviemaking. The Wailing offers an immense sense of satisfaction as it carries almost every endearing idiosyncrasy of his directorial style while also taking his complexity even further. The tale revolves around a small village in South Korea, where the arrival of a mysterious Japanese man triggers a series of horrific and mythic deaths. Through this story, The Wailing ambitiously investigates South Korea’s troubled history during the Second World War, boldly questions the limits of religion and thoughtfully engages with the philosophy of victimhood. If you are looking for a film that does not just seek to horrify but also to challenge and confuse you, this eerie and wicked tale should not be missed.

Poland: Demon Demon is not an easy film to watch, but that in no way means that it is not worth a try. Through the story of a bridegroom being possessed by an unknown spirit on the eve of his wedding day, Demon successfully demonstrates how the horror genre is a powerful tool in examining the deeper issues plaguing a society. While the horror of possession keeps you hooked, you may gradually realize that the real horror lies somewhere else, a place that promises to be even more terrifying.

New Zealand: What We Do in the Shadows This quasi-documentary film of the daily routines of a group of vampires will definitely be a wonderfully innovative choice. A far cry from traditional vampire cinema that features horror and violence, What We Do in the Shadows is a pleasant attempt at usurping such assumptions and aims to provide a hilarious display of how vampires live among human beings. If you are tired of having to pick a horror film, this unique production will work for you just fine.