The 15 Best Experimental Horror Movies of All Time (original) (raw)
Updated Jan 1, 2024, 4:00 AM EST
Samantha is a Senior Writer for Collider, with a deep admiration for the arts, a vast amount of unpopular opinions, and an ever-expanding knowledge of all things TV and Film. Unafraid to speak her mind, she can provide analysis that feels fresh and unabashed, with a hearty balance of humor. She can appreciate and respect all sides of an angle, and will happily discuss such opinions. A lover of the written word, she has a punchy taste in media that lends itself to fun and unique takes.
Her bias lies in the horror genre, as she enjoys all things spooky and scary, and can talk your ear off about it. When she's not writing for Collider she can also be found as a co-host of the pop-culture podcast *Enter The Fangirls*, indulging in films featuring Jamie Lee Curtis or Winona Ryder, and working through her extensive watchlist with her cat Nala by her side.
Summary
- Experimental horror films create a unique sense of fear and dread through unconventional approaches to lighting, sound, and atmosphere.
- These films prioritize stylistic choices and unique storytelling over conventional horror structures -- often pushing boundaries and experimenting with different techniques.
- Experimental horror films challenge viewers and may not always be easily understood, but they help to evolve the genre and inspire other avant-garde filmmakers.
Horror has many different sub-genres, from slashers to paranormal, to psychological, and more. They’re all great, but sometimes we just want a little something extra and there’s no better sub-genre for that than experimental horror. Experimental horror films take a unique approach to the genre, using lighting, sound, and atmosphere to create a rarely-seen sense of fear and dread among the audience. These films don’t often follow typical horror structure — and if they do, there’s often something eccentric and offbeat about them that’s just around the corner. Experimental horror films don’t care whether you understand them or not, that’s not the point of them. The point is in the stylistic choices made and the unique stories told, and these are some of the films that do it best.
'Skinamarink' (2023)
Kevin (Lucas Paul) sits in a hallway in the dark and stares into an empty room in Skinamarink.
Image via Shudder
Skinamarink follows two children who wake up in the middle of the night to find their father missing, and all of the doors and windows in their house having disappeared. They decide to have a sleepover in the living room, in hope that someone will rescue them, only to realize that their situation is much more dire than they originally believed. Directed by Kyle Edward Ball, the film made waves among audiences for its experimental nature and its foray into analog horror. Love it or hate it, there's no denying that Skinmarink was influential to the horror genre, and kicked off a new wave of experimental horror.
Videodrome (1983)
Written and directed by the master of body horror himself, David Cronenberg, Videodrome earns a rightful place among the best experimental horror films. The film follows the CEO of a UHF television station who discovers a broadcast that shows snuff films. He soon becomes obsessed with discovering where the signal originates from, launching him into dangerous new territories. While much of David Cronenberg's filmography can be listed among the best experimental horror films, Videodrome is widely considered one of his best. The film is often used as a prime example when discussing body horror. The effects and ambience still remain up to par decades later, and with social media consistently growing bigger and more influential, Videodrome remains just as relevant as ever.
'Antichrist' (2009)
Still from 'Antichrist': The protagonist (Charlotte Gainsbourg) pulling her husband (Willem Dafoe) through the woods.
Image via Nordisk Film Distribution.
Director Lars Von Trier is known for his polarizing works. His films are not for the faint of heart and Antichrist is a perfect example of that fact. It’s the first film in von Trier’s "Depression Trilogy" (though that’s not its official name). This should be your first warning before diving into this film. It’s unrelenting in its dark and dreary nature, with no comedy or lightheartedness to break up the mood even a little. It truly immerses you in the grief of the characters (played by Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe) and trades in narrative for surrealist horror sequences, leaving you stunned by the time the credits roll. It’s a brilliant piece of experimental horror but not a super enjoyable one due to its heavy nature.
'Eraserhead' (1977)
Jack Nance as Henry Spencer looking down at the disfigured baby in Eraserhead
Image via AFI
When it comes to the unique and baffling, one of the most prominent directors is David Lynch. All of his films have an experimental quality to them, with his penchant for long, still shots on singular objects, and his eccentric characters and world-building. But none of his subsequent films have ever quite touched **Eraserhead**’s level of experimentation. The film focuses on a man who becomes the father of a child with an inhuman appearance, and his struggles navigating his new life. It’s Lynch’s most poignant example of surrealism in film and feels like it exists in two different worlds: one of reality and one of complete nightmare. Yet, it never loses itself and Lynch’s vision for the film is unwavering and beautifully done.
'Begotten' (1989)
Begotten is a dark, twisted take on creation myths that is left up to the interpretation of the viewer. It’s a black and white film, and also a silent one, with eerie visuals and an unrelenting disturbing feel to it. It’s bleak and grotesque and not for the faint of heart, but it’s all of these aspects that make it a near-perfect addition to the experimental horror genre. In fact, after its release, it was ignored by most critics, but went on to become a cult favorite and inspired a wave of avant-garde filmmakers, musicians, and artists alike.
'Santa Sangre' (1989)
For those who like surrealist horror, Santa Sangre by Alejandro Jodorowsky is a perfect choice. It’s been described as an “avant-garde surreal horror film” and tells the story of Fenix, a boy who grew up in the circus and the childhood trauma he endured during it. The plot itself may not sound like it should land on this list, but it’s perhaps one of the most worthy. It’s a psychedelic nightmare from start to finish and was listed on Empire Magazine’s 500 Greatest Movies of All Time list back in 2008. There aren’t quite words to describe Santa Sangre, as it’s a film that needs to be seen to get the full extent of its experimental, surrealist nature. But it’s a stellar example of film as an art form — and a brilliant one at that.
'Dementia' (1955)
Dementia (1955)
Image Via Exploitation Pictures
1955’s Dementia not only took on the experimental horror genre but also incorporated aspects of film noir and expressionist film to weave this nightmarish art piece. The film follows a young woman during a night in Los Angeles’s skid row. It's filmed in black and white and has no dialogue throughout. The film is truly a nightmare, and though it clicks in at just below an hour long, it’s unrelenting in its uncomfortable nature. As the film trudges on, it feels as though you’re watching the deterioration of this character’s psyche — or perhaps experiencing it yourself. It’s brilliantly done and though it faced severe backlash upon release, it earns praise for its exploratory nature.
'My House Walk-Through' (2016)
This 12-minute short is filmed from the perspective of someone walking through their house. While sounding simple, My House Walk-Through is so much more unnerving than you may originally think. This person isn’t just filming around their house, they’re filming an unending amount of hallways. Each hallway proves to be more terrifying than the last and though its runtime is short, the film instills a sense of dread in the viewer that makes it feel never-ending.
'The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears' (2013)
'The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears' (2013)
Image via Shellac
The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears follows a man who comes home to find that his wife is missing. He sets out to find her which kicks off a fairly typical mystery format that descends into utter chaos. It takes place solely in an apartment complex as this man goes door to door searching for his wife and encounters many an interesting character on the way. It doesn’t have a proper narrative, constantly shifting perspective throughout its run, but what it lacks narratively, it makes up for in gorgeous visuals that earned it much praise for its cinematography work. It’s beautiful yet grotesque in its visuals and is a true gem in the experimental genre.
'The Wolf House' (2018)
Image via Globo Rojo Films
2018’s stop-motion horror, The Wolf House, is especially unique in the experimental realm. Itnot only experiments thematically but stylistically as well, blending different animation styles such as 2D and 3D with live-action set pieces that come together to create a deeply uncomfortable atmosphere. It’s this format that leaves such an impact on the viewer, and ups the psychological effect to new heights, weaving a twisted little fairytale that won’t soon be forgotten.