10 Deep Thrillers To Watch If You Loved The Wailing | ScreenRant
Given the abundance of zombie films these days, it's not easy to craft a deep, imaginative movie that utilizes these concepts and themes. Yet, South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin manages to achieve this with his intense and unsettling horror, The Wailing.
The film injects new life into this undead premise - thanks in part to unique influences largely drawing from Eastern and Western religion as well as mythology. With its unique blend of mystery, suspense, horror, and action, this 2016 thriller truly captivates and leaves an impression.
One can argue that romps which can be described as "standard" tend to dominate the scene as a whole. Still, an increasing number of deep, innovative horror akin to The Wailing are popping up. This is especially true when it comes to indie and foreign filmmakers who aren't afraid to push boundaries and try something new.
10 The Mist (2007)
Author Stephen King is definitely no stranger when it comes to eerie, supernatural films rife with mysticism.
This can very much describe 2007's, The Mist - a film centered around an ominous, unforeseen presence that threatens a modern-day apocalypse. These elements are not unlike those found in Na Hong-jin's thriller, which holds the parallels of a spreading plague that threatens to destroy all in its wake.
In the case of this Frank Darabont film, the malignant force in question is a cloudly mist, which gives way to tremors and plenty of things that go bump in the night. Both in a literal and figurative sense, The Mist is wrought with a thick sense of atmosphere that should entice fans of The Wailing.
9 It Follows (2014)
Over the years and decades, filmmakers and storytellers have offered a range of explanations when it comes to the traits and sources of plagues and zombie outbreaks. The unsettling psychological horror, It Follows, captivates with a malevolent outbreak premise that's both unique and familiar.
Director David Robert Mitchell puts a creative twist on the typical undead premise by including a more grounded, humanistic element - that of sexually transmitted diseases. Much like The Wailing, both the protagonists and the viewer never quite feel safe, as this mind-altering outbreak continues to spread.
8 The Devil's Backbone (2001)
As The Wailing helped convey, horror films can benefit from a backdrop steeped in mythological and historical influences. Such is the case with this gothic horror romp, which takes place in Spain during the tail end of the Spanish Civil War. The violence and turbulence in the region, coupled with the grit of the war-torn settings, make the paranormal happenings here even more creepy.
Not that he needs to at this point - but filmmaker Guillermo del Toro truly showcases his horror chops in this distinctly spooky romp from '01.
7 Sinister (2012)
The recent trend of using ancient ritual and mythological evils as backdrops proves both alluring and bone-chillingly creepy. Just like Na Hong-jin's thriller, director Scott Derrickson leans on the strength of these spooky and malignant themes for the crux of 2012's Sinister.
The film takes the concepts of demonic influences to the next level - portraying seemingly innocent kids as cold, terrifying killers. In addition to its use of evil possession - other Wailing parallels include mystery-solving revelations, gore-laden deaths, and a dark, eerie atmosphere that permeates.
6 Cure (1997)
The spook factor of a thriller can really be amplified when the source and nature of evil forces are presented as threats that seemingly can't be measured; let alone stopped. As is the case with The Wailing, another foreign film by the name of Cure, also thrives with this ominous technique.
The film follows a detective investigating a series of murders in which an "X" is carved into victims. The worst part? In each case, the murderer is seen near the victim with no memory of their crime. The mystery and ambiguity as to the source of this evil, coupled with grotesquely-detailed visuals, make for an unsettling watch.
5 The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015)
Like some others on this list, The Blackcoat's Daughter uses a thick atmosphere and the premise of demonic influence to create intensity and scares. The cold, desolate settings prominent in The Blackcoats daughter - along with some chilling performances - set the stage for a truly spooky ride.
Yet, director Osgood Perkins goes a step beyond with inventive editing and storytelling that shifts between intertwining tales. These elements set in motion a series of jaw-dropping twists and revelations, as the pieces of a sinister possession are put together.
4 REC (2007)
The blend of undead outbreaks and evil beings often makes for a winning formula when it comes to chilling horror. Just as Na Hong-jin reinforces this notion, so too does Spanish filmmaker Jaume Balagueró, with this frightening thriller from '07.
In one sense, Rec is akin to The Blair Witch Project with ravenous undead - as it uses a realistic, disorienting found footage style. Despite minimalistic visuals and a short length, though, Balagueró crams tons of intense, seat-jumping moments into this creepy horror - strengthened by some rich religious lore.
3 Train To Busan (2016)
As it happens, The Wailing isn't the only zombie-esque thriller from South Korea to push the envelope with creative storytelling and cinematography. Much like that film, this 3-hour epic takes viewers on a gripping, terrifying ride with tense moments, detailed imagery, and convincing acting.
Unlike Na Hong-jin's horror, this film emphasizes pummeling action and hordes of raging undead - versus the methodical buildup and eerie nature of The Wailing. Regardless, Train to Busan runs with the premise of a violent epidemic in a similarly creative and chilling manner.
2 The Witch (2015)
Filmmaker Roggert Eggers has fast made a name for himself when it comes to twisted, unsettling horror. Along with the dark psychological drama, The Lighthouse, he's helped establish a new style of atmospheric horror with 2015's The Witch.
Like The Wailing, the film uses gritty, realistic imagery and juxtaposes it with an ominous supernatural force, adding a distinct element of fear.
The movie follows a family residing in desolate woodlands as they're increasingly terrorized by a force of witchcraft. Its ominous aura, slow buildup, and creepy imagery keep viewers on the edge of their seats throughout.
1 Shutter (2008)
Not to be confused with the more tepid reboot years later - 2004's Shutter marks one of the more simultaneously creative and haunting romps of the 21st century.
This supernatural horror from Thailand follows a photographer and his girlfriend, as a ghostly apparition begins to haunt them. While it's a seemingly familiar concept, Shutter scares and shocks as the mysteries surrounding this entity - and the photographer's background - are brought to light. This gripping narrative is further enhanced by some intense performances and "flashy visuals" - pun not intended.
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