CategoryForeign
International horror: J-horror, European extremity, Latin American shocks and the films Hollywood keeps remaking.
906 stories
ForeignMoviesReviewsStreaming TV
Here are reviews of two gorgeous looking, recently restored films from Deaf Crocodile, now playing on OVID. Alraune Directed by Henrik Galeen Deaf Crocodile, Horror, 1927, 121 mins Germany Official synopsis A deranged Weimar-era erotic sci-fi/horror starring Brigitte Helm (Metropolis) as the unholy offspring of a genetics experiment conducted by her scientist “father” (Paul Wegener), who implants the semen of a hanged man in the womb of a prostitute. As an adult, the lithe, sinuous Helm drives men to suicide and madness – including her own pseudo-father Wegener. Review Brigitte Helm is a force of nature in her portrayal of Alraune ten Brinken in the silent film Alraune (AKA A Daughter of Destiny). Alraune is a young woman who is the product of a mad scientific experiment in which Professor Jakon ten Brinken (Paul Wegener, who played the titular supernatural entity in Der Golem, 1914) implanted the semen of a hanged criminal in the womb of a prostitute. Listen, if
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
The Curse of Tahu’a (La Malédiction des Tahu’a; France, 2026) Official synopsis On a small Pacific island, as a storm approaches, an air traffic controller is contacted by a plane — that no radar can show. Review Director Benjamin Busnel crafts a lean, mean supernatural fear-fare feature with The Curse of Tahu’a. Busnel, who cowrote the screenplay with Myriam Dupuis, strips things down to largely one performer on screen most of the time, with much of the action taking place through radio and phone contact. The aural approach is reminiscent of horror radio plays, of which I am a huge fan, so this style really worked for me. Sometimes leaving things to our imagination can be just as strong, if not more so, then experiencing graphic violence onscreen. Moea (Marie Kauffmann) is a troubled air traffic controller who drinks on the job after losing her pilot husband in an accident. When a massive storm hits her area, a pilot in
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
Dogs Reign (France, 2026) Official synopsis Léa, a young deaf woman, is approached by Raph and Julien, two insistent men whose ‘friendly’ invitation feels slightly off — yet she accepts it. As the night unfolds, their intentions grow increasingly unclear, and the tension rises. Review Axel Zeltser won Dark Nights Film Fest’s Best Short Film Director Award for Dogs Reign, and for good reason. The short uses horror to shine a light on predatory behavior. Léa (Chiara Corbetta) is approached by two young men (Julien Crampon and Julien Le Lons) with bad behavior on their minds. She takes them up on their offer and invites them to her home. Giving away anything further would be a disservice to future viewers, but suffice it to say that Zeltser, who also wrote the screenplay, has plenty of shocking surprises in store. Corbetta gives an excellent lead performance and Crampon and Le Lons add solid support. The pacing is perfect and the payoff
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesReviews
Visual Vengeance have collected a duo of ninja films and put them out on Blu-ray, the first of which, Commando the Ninja (1988), was produced and co-created by Godfrey Ho (we are just going to go with the gloriously mentally unstable Cynthia Rothrock martial arts experience, Undefeatable… but he has been associated with…sometimes in a rather bullshit way… bananas cinematic fried gold on any number of other features such as Ninja Terminator)… Anyway, a dude named Tanaka went and developed a form of germ warfare during World War II, and nowadays plenty of folks are hot on his ass to obtain that formula right quick! Vying for possession of said formula are evil businessman Martin who desires the formula to sell at a tidy profit… there’s also a ninja named David involved… as well as Brenda, a woman in a bedazzled all-denim outfit who kicks a rather outrageous amount of ass… for instance she pounds another character in a scene
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesReviewsSci-Fi
Long thought lost, Mexican-produced animated feature Roy del espacio (1983) begins as only it… and Flash Gordon… could. Evil space emperor Alome (Rubén Moya) gets a wild hair up his space-ass to put a threat upon the Earth. To counter this, Roy (Salvador Nájar), Dr. Faz (Esteban Siller), and comely psychologist Helena (Rommy Mendoza) launch themselves into the cosmos to battle the threat! While that synopsis won’t exactly start a blaze based on it’s red-hot originality, Rafael Angel Gil and Hector Lopez Carmona’s Roy del espacio (which the duo co-wrote with Ulises Pérez Aguirre) instead offers a ton of heart… if not technical razzle-dazzle. Boasting an animation style that could best be described as a lil’ bit Sport Billy with a dash of Chargeman Ken and all of the jank and animation-whoopsies those pieces contained (including limited movement, costume inaccuracies, and uses of perspective that’ll have you think you snorted a fistful of premium Moon Dust)… but here
Continue reading →
ForeignNetflixNewsStreaming TVTrailers
A highly anticipated project is bringing Filipino horror to a global audience like never before. The ambitious new series titled “Balaraw: Blood Island” represents a major milestone for regional storytelling. The narrative aims to weave dark folklore, deep family trauma, and oceanic mystery into a cohesive whole. Mysterious Island Search Unlocks Family Secrets The story follows a determined protagonist, Sabina Tejeros. Years after her mother vanishes without a trace, Sabina receives a strange, unexpected clue. As a result, her dangerous search leads her to a mysterious, uncharted island. She soon uncovers terrifying secrets that tie her bloodline directly to the land. High-Caliber Cast Assembles for Dark Thriller Acclaimed actress Janine Gutierrez leads the stellar cast as the driven investigator Sabina. Meanwhile, seasoned performer Agot Isidro plays her missing mother, Rebecca. The impressive ensemble also features talented actors Romnick Sarmenta, Ronnie Lazaro, and Nonie Buencamino. Teroy Guzman and Archi Adamos round out the supporting cast. Masterful Creative Team Reassembles for Horror
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ForeignMoviesReviewsSci-FiThriller
Official synopsis Czech director Otakar Vávra’s astonishing fever dream of a movie that mixes 1940s film noir, paranoid thriller, and speculative atomic-bomb sci-fi in the story of a chemist named Prokop who hallucinates fragments of how he’s invented a proto-nuclear weapon. OVID Exclusive Directed by Otakar Vávra Deaf Crocodile, Drama, 1948, 110 mins Czechoslovakia Review Krakatit is a seminal science fiction/film noir hybrid that finds a scientist named Prokop (Karel Höger) on a wild odyssey involving the titular dangerous explosive that he invented. He encounters a former classmate, a mysterious veiled lady, an arms dealer, a princess interested in marrying him, and others, many of whom are intent on getting the secret formula for krakatit from the desperate man. There is also a nameless man in a hospital in dire straits, but no spoilers here. Director Otakar Vávra crafts a genre film carrying a message about the need for world peace, with paranoia and double-dealings galore. The mystery unwraps slowly
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
When She Sings (U.K., 2026) Official synopsis In a dreary, British seaside town, a talented artist is haunted by a sinister mermaid, and terrorized by a coven of strange locals. Review When She Sings is a classic example of fine folk horror cinema. Director Paul Holbrook invests his short film with a sense of dread throughout as artist Fay Corr (Laura Bayston, who cowrote the screenplay with Holbrook) is harassed by local townsfolk speaking in mysterious short bursts as she grieves over the death of her sister. Cinematographer James Oldham wonderfully captures the beauty of the coastal setting and the bleakness of Fay’s world, with Composers Hannah Cartwright and Ross Tones aiding greatly with the short’s mood. Moryow (U.K., 2026) Official synopsis A recovering addict, desperate to escape her past, finds herself on a cursed fishing boat headed into a Lovecraftian nightmare where the depths of the ocean feed on her darkest sins. Review Writer/director Ted Wilkes weaves
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Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
Matapanki (Chile, 2026) Official synopsis A punk kid gets superpowers from alcohol and tries to reshape society, but a violent error sparks global tensions with him at the center. Review “Punk’s not dead!” goes the battle cry, and writer/director Diego Fuentes follows that spirit with his action comedy/fantasy feature Matapanki. Punk rock fan Ricardo (Ramón Gálvez) accidentally discovers a bottle of the titular fictitious drink and finds that ingesting the beverage gives him superpowers. With nods to Spider-Man, the film takes him on an origin-story journey where he is reluctant to use his powers despite his friends’ encouragement. Naturally, nefarious forces are at work, which Fuentes uses to skewer local and international political figures and movements. He also uses colorful animation and drawing effects to complement Cinematographer Vicente Correa’s impressive black-and-white work. Fueled with punk soul, a driving soundtrack, and all-in performances, Matapanki is a unique slice of genre-cinema fare. The Thing Inside Her (Canada, 2026) Official synopsis After removing
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Amazon Prime VideoForeignHalloweenMoviesNewsStreaming TVTrailers
Following the massive streaming success of the 2024 international hit, Prime Video dropped a new trailer for Apocalypse Z: New World. Returning director Carles Torrens helms the follow-up, which expands the story of the platform’s hit Spanish film. Fans can expect intense horror action as the terrifying viral saga continues across post-apocalyptic Europe. A Brief Look Back at the Outbreak In Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End, the rabid TSJ virus collapsed human civilization by turning infected people into violent killers. Grieving lawyer Manel fled his barricaded Spanish home with his beloved cat, Lúculo. Eventually, he joined forces with a tough helicopter pilot named Pritchenko and rescued a nurse named Lucía. Together, they fought through relentless hordes to escape toward the last safe zone in the Canary Islands. Hazardous Missions Across Europe The sequel, “New World,” picks up after the devastating pandemic reduces continental Europe to ruins. Meanwhile, the Canary Islands serve as humanity’s final haven against extinction—the narrative
Continue reading →
More from Foreign
ForeignMoviesReviewsStreaming TV
Here are reviews of two gorgeous looking, recently restored films from Deaf Crocodile, now playing on OVID. Alraune Directed by Henrik Galeen Deaf Crocodile, Horror, 1927, 121 mins Germany Official synopsis A deranged Weimar-era erotic sci-fi/horror starring Brigitte Helm (Metropolis) as the unholy offspring of a genetics experiment conducted by her scientist “father” (Paul Wegener), who implants the semen of a hanged man in the womb of a prostitute. As an adult, the lithe, sinuous Helm drives men to suicide and madness – including her own pseudo-father Wegener. Review Brigitte Helm is a force of nature in her portrayal of Alraune ten Brinken in the silent film Alraune (AKA A Daughter of Destiny). Alraune is a young woman who is the product of a mad scientific experiment in which Professor Jakon ten Brinken (Paul Wegener, who played the titular supernatural entity in Der Golem, 1914) implanted the semen of a hanged criminal in the womb of a prostitute. Listen, if
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
The Curse of Tahu’a (La Malédiction des Tahu’a; France, 2026) Official synopsis On a small Pacific island, as a storm approaches, an air traffic controller is contacted by a plane — that no radar can show. Review Director Benjamin Busnel crafts a lean, mean supernatural fear-fare feature with The Curse of Tahu’a. Busnel, who cowrote the screenplay with Myriam Dupuis, strips things down to largely one performer on screen most of the time, with much of the action taking place through radio and phone contact. The aural approach is reminiscent of horror radio plays, of which I am a huge fan, so this style really worked for me. Sometimes leaving things to our imagination can be just as strong, if not more so, then experiencing graphic violence onscreen. Moea (Marie Kauffmann) is a troubled air traffic controller who drinks on the job after losing her pilot husband in an accident. When a massive storm hits her area, a pilot in
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
Dogs Reign (France, 2026) Official synopsis Léa, a young deaf woman, is approached by Raph and Julien, two insistent men whose ‘friendly’ invitation feels slightly off — yet she accepts it. As the night unfolds, their intentions grow increasingly unclear, and the tension rises. Review Axel Zeltser won Dark Nights Film Fest’s Best Short Film Director Award for Dogs Reign, and for good reason. The short uses horror to shine a light on predatory behavior. Léa (Chiara Corbetta) is approached by two young men (Julien Crampon and Julien Le Lons) with bad behavior on their minds. She takes them up on their offer and invites them to her home. Giving away anything further would be a disservice to future viewers, but suffice it to say that Zeltser, who also wrote the screenplay, has plenty of shocking surprises in store. Corbetta gives an excellent lead performance and Crampon and Le Lons add solid support. The pacing is perfect and the payoff
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesReviews
Visual Vengeance have collected a duo of ninja films and put them out on Blu-ray, the first of which, Commando the Ninja (1988), was produced and co-created by Godfrey Ho (we are just going to go with the gloriously mentally unstable Cynthia Rothrock martial arts experience, Undefeatable… but he has been associated with…sometimes in a rather bullshit way… bananas cinematic fried gold on any number of other features such as Ninja Terminator)… Anyway, a dude named Tanaka went and developed a form of germ warfare during World War II, and nowadays plenty of folks are hot on his ass to obtain that formula right quick! Vying for possession of said formula are evil businessman Martin who desires the formula to sell at a tidy profit… there’s also a ninja named David involved… as well as Brenda, a woman in a bedazzled all-denim outfit who kicks a rather outrageous amount of ass… for instance she pounds another character in a scene
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesReviewsSci-Fi
Long thought lost, Mexican-produced animated feature Roy del espacio (1983) begins as only it… and Flash Gordon… could. Evil space emperor Alome (Rubén Moya) gets a wild hair up his space-ass to put a threat upon the Earth. To counter this, Roy (Salvador Nájar), Dr. Faz (Esteban Siller), and comely psychologist Helena (Rommy Mendoza) launch themselves into the cosmos to battle the threat! While that synopsis won’t exactly start a blaze based on it’s red-hot originality, Rafael Angel Gil and Hector Lopez Carmona’s Roy del espacio (which the duo co-wrote with Ulises Pérez Aguirre) instead offers a ton of heart… if not technical razzle-dazzle. Boasting an animation style that could best be described as a lil’ bit Sport Billy with a dash of Chargeman Ken and all of the jank and animation-whoopsies those pieces contained (including limited movement, costume inaccuracies, and uses of perspective that’ll have you think you snorted a fistful of premium Moon Dust)… but here
Continue reading →
ForeignNetflixNewsStreaming TVTrailers
A highly anticipated project is bringing Filipino horror to a global audience like never before. The ambitious new series titled “Balaraw: Blood Island” represents a major milestone for regional storytelling. The narrative aims to weave dark folklore, deep family trauma, and oceanic mystery into a cohesive whole. Mysterious Island Search Unlocks Family Secrets The story follows a determined protagonist, Sabina Tejeros. Years after her mother vanishes without a trace, Sabina receives a strange, unexpected clue. As a result, her dangerous search leads her to a mysterious, uncharted island. She soon uncovers terrifying secrets that tie her bloodline directly to the land. High-Caliber Cast Assembles for Dark Thriller Acclaimed actress Janine Gutierrez leads the stellar cast as the driven investigator Sabina. Meanwhile, seasoned performer Agot Isidro plays her missing mother, Rebecca. The impressive ensemble also features talented actors Romnick Sarmenta, Ronnie Lazaro, and Nonie Buencamino. Teroy Guzman and Archi Adamos round out the supporting cast. Masterful Creative Team Reassembles for Horror
Continue reading →
ForeignMoviesReviewsSci-FiThriller
Official synopsis Czech director Otakar Vávra’s astonishing fever dream of a movie that mixes 1940s film noir, paranoid thriller, and speculative atomic-bomb sci-fi in the story of a chemist named Prokop who hallucinates fragments of how he’s invented a proto-nuclear weapon. OVID Exclusive Directed by Otakar Vávra Deaf Crocodile, Drama, 1948, 110 mins Czechoslovakia Review Krakatit is a seminal science fiction/film noir hybrid that finds a scientist named Prokop (Karel Höger) on a wild odyssey involving the titular dangerous explosive that he invented. He encounters a former classmate, a mysterious veiled lady, an arms dealer, a princess interested in marrying him, and others, many of whom are intent on getting the secret formula for krakatit from the desperate man. There is also a nameless man in a hospital in dire straits, but no spoilers here. Director Otakar Vávra crafts a genre film carrying a message about the need for world peace, with paranoia and double-dealings galore. The mystery unwraps slowly
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
When She Sings (U.K., 2026) Official synopsis In a dreary, British seaside town, a talented artist is haunted by a sinister mermaid, and terrorized by a coven of strange locals. Review When She Sings is a classic example of fine folk horror cinema. Director Paul Holbrook invests his short film with a sense of dread throughout as artist Fay Corr (Laura Bayston, who cowrote the screenplay with Holbrook) is harassed by local townsfolk speaking in mysterious short bursts as she grieves over the death of her sister. Cinematographer James Oldham wonderfully captures the beauty of the coastal setting and the bleakness of Fay’s world, with Composers Hannah Cartwright and Ross Tones aiding greatly with the short’s mood. Moryow (U.K., 2026) Official synopsis A recovering addict, desperate to escape her past, finds herself on a cursed fishing boat headed into a Lovecraftian nightmare where the depths of the ocean feed on her darkest sins. Review Writer/director Ted Wilkes weaves
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
Matapanki (Chile, 2026) Official synopsis A punk kid gets superpowers from alcohol and tries to reshape society, but a violent error sparks global tensions with him at the center. Review “Punk’s not dead!” goes the battle cry, and writer/director Diego Fuentes follows that spirit with his action comedy/fantasy feature Matapanki. Punk rock fan Ricardo (Ramón Gálvez) accidentally discovers a bottle of the titular fictitious drink and finds that ingesting the beverage gives him superpowers. With nods to Spider-Man, the film takes him on an origin-story journey where he is reluctant to use his powers despite his friends’ encouragement. Naturally, nefarious forces are at work, which Fuentes uses to skewer local and international political figures and movements. He also uses colorful animation and drawing effects to complement Cinematographer Vicente Correa’s impressive black-and-white work. Fueled with punk soul, a driving soundtrack, and all-in performances, Matapanki is a unique slice of genre-cinema fare. The Thing Inside Her (Canada, 2026) Official synopsis After removing
Continue reading →
Amazon Prime VideoForeignHalloweenMoviesNewsStreaming TVTrailers
Following the massive streaming success of the 2024 international hit, Prime Video dropped a new trailer for Apocalypse Z: New World. Returning director Carles Torrens helms the follow-up, which expands the story of the platform’s hit Spanish film. Fans can expect intense horror action as the terrifying viral saga continues across post-apocalyptic Europe. A Brief Look Back at the Outbreak In Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End, the rabid TSJ virus collapsed human civilization by turning infected people into violent killers. Grieving lawyer Manel fled his barricaded Spanish home with his beloved cat, Lúculo. Eventually, he joined forces with a tough helicopter pilot named Pritchenko and rescued a nurse named Lucía. Together, they fought through relentless hordes to escape toward the last safe zone in the Canary Islands. Hazardous Missions Across Europe The sequel, “New World,” picks up after the devastating pandemic reduces continental Europe to ruins. Meanwhile, the Canary Islands serve as humanity’s final haven against extinction—the narrative
Continue reading →
