Spain’s take on horror cinema dates back to roughly 1962 with the release of The Awful Dr. Orloff (Screams in The Night). Well regarded as the first true horror film to be created in the Spanish-speaking language, the film instantaneously became a global success due in part to its resemblance with The Brides of Dracula (1960); however, its stylistic elements remained new and emerging, incorporating excessive violence and heightened nudity. The director, Jesus Franco, introduced the style, assimilating Hammer horror films from England into a distinctly Spanish cinema, and directed or co-directed over 200 movies as a result.
In all, Spain’s most prominent filmmakers have always been looked at as innovators, transforming the ways in which viewers outside the country consume and analyze the cultural distinctions strategically placed within plot lines, separate from their own everyday norms.
Still reeling from post-war anxiety and human trauma, and suffering from the economic fallout of The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and the fascism of the Franco years even into the 1960s to the 1970s, Spanish horror movies portrayed the fears and anxieties attached to these uncertainties and reflected social and political pain points. Both jaw-dropping and spine quivering, these projects have increasingly boomed in the early 2000s, accurately illuminating the uneasiness tied to cultures, identities, and personal desires, past and present day. These international scary movies continue to navigate viewers through a roller coaster of emotions, unleashed by the distinctive emergence of the new wave of Spanish horror. These are some of the best Spanish horror films of recent years.
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6 Veronica
Sony Pictures Releasing International
Why are Ouija boards cool? Maybe these crossed-over souls should be able to realm free in whatever universe or dimension they’re in, without the rest of the human population bothering them; this is exactly why these spirits are so angry, they literally just want to be left alone. During a solar eclipse, a teenaged Veronica (Sandra Escacena) and her friends decide to play with a Ouija board, intending to summon the spirit of the girl’s father. Unleashing a sinister spirit instead, demonic entities begin to take over her life until their presence ultimately consumes her. Very loosely based on true events, the 1991 Vallecas case centers around Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro, who died mysteriously after using the board.
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5 Julia’s Eyes
Focus Features
As Julia Levin (Belén Rueda) becomes more haunted by the death of her sister Sara, she slowly and mysteriously begins to lose her sight as she investigates the death of her twin. Though it is believed by many that Sarah, who also became blind, hung herself in the basement of her home, Julia fears that Sara was murdered by a sinister presence. One thing’s for sure, when it comes to the eyes, any self-proclaimed investigation will be shut down completely if this supposed presence doesn’t want any suppressed information to become uncovered. Why would anyone want to play around with the threat of not being able to see anymore, not to mention, possibly dying. Julia’s Eyes shows how a yearning for the truth can lead people down dark paths.
4 Sleep Tight
Filmax
When it comes to living in an apartment building or any sort of complex (haunted or otherwise), make it a point to ask some extensive questions to the realtor about just who is living and working in these buildings (and have they had background checks). Basically, horror movies make viewers paranoid about every aspect of their lives, especially when they’re successful. In Sleep Tight, Cesar (the apartment concierge) is cringe-worthy and a full-blown creep, as he successfully instills fear into anyone he comes into contact with. The way that he treats Clara is terribly wrong, but he’s definitely met his match in her resistance to his actions.
3 REC
Coming to popularity through the emergence of found-footage styled projects, like the scary Blair Witch Project, REC uses incredibly realistic depictions of horror and documents them in a visceral, immediate manner. As late-night television host Angela (Manuela Velasco Díez) and her cinematographer trails the fire service during a call to an apartment building, a woman gets infected by a malicious virus, giving her inhuman strength. Once the Spanish police seals off the building, Angela and her colleague are both trapped as everyone becomes either infected or prey in the intense scary movie REC, which created a great horror franchise.
2 La Influencia
Netflix
Netflix’s Spanish film La Influencia follows Alicia (Manuela Vellés), who comes back to her childhood home to care for her dying mother. Jokes aside, the project does go deep into childhood traumas and how they will one-hundred percent follow anyone into their adult life without the proper care and guidance. As an evil force runs mad throughout the home’s walls, Alicia is forced to confront a childhood secret she’s been holding onto for most of her life in this wonderfully produced scary movie.
1 The Curse of La Llorona
Warner Bros.
To the mothers who can’t stop their children from being outlandishly rude, either in school or at home, definitely sit them down to watch this. Set in a 1970s Los Angeles, the iconic ghost of La Llorona (but not nearly as iconic as queen Marlyn Monroe) roams the town at night, preying on all the children. When a mother and her two children are unexpectedly drawn into La Llorona’s deadly supernatural realm, their only chance at survival is a disillusioned priest, who possesses his own personal practices in order to keep away evil entities. The Spanish horror-drama The Curse of La Llorona was successful enough that an anticipated sequel was released.
