Of the over 1,000 films released in the Criterion Collection, only a few are horrors. While the studio focuses on dramas, foreign cinema, and certified classics, there’s always more room for great scary movies.
The collection already contains a ton of notable horror movies that certainly deserve Criterion prestige, but since we’re deep into the spooky season, why not suggest some movies that would be great additions to the collection, be it the classic silent scares of Nosferatus or the haunting slow combustion of Hearing.
‘Holy Blood’ (1989)
It is quite surprising that none of the spiritual wonders of Alexander Jodorowsky have made their way into the collection. holy blood is a very experimental surreal horror film from the 80s that perfectly matches the vibe of Criterion. This film explores the life of a mental patient who suffers from an extremely traumatic childhood.
Despite the film’s simple synopsis, it’s a truly bizarre and witty experience with some very arresting visuals and gruesome moments. It’s a very unconventional horror movie that strays far from what you’d expect from the genre. However, it’s still a chilling journey following the life of a particular protagonist.
“The Host” (2006)
Bong Joon Hoit is The host It may be his only horror film, but it’s still one that definitely deserves to join the Criterion collection. The film tells the story of a giant nautical monster that begins to wreak havoc on a Korean city after being spawned by the dumping of toxic waste into the city’s river system.
The film is far more artful than many other monster films, as it touches on similar themes that Bong explores in a variety of his films. This includes class differences and humanity’s impact on the environment. It is one of Bong’s finest works and deserves to be in the collection alongside his other fantastic pieces such as memories of murder and Parasite.
‘Hearing’ (1999)
Hearing is a grueling horror film and is best experienced knowing as little as possible before entering it. All you need to know is that the film follows a man who tries to find a partner seven years after his wife’s death. The movie starts off pretty slow and may not even feel like a horror movie, but it has a fantastic payoff that justifies the pace.
Director Takashi Miike has directed over a hundred movies which is absolutely mind blowing. Although it has a very extensive catalog, with a wide variety of styles and tones, Audition still manages to be one of its best.
“The Lighthouse” (2019)
If there’s one horror film from the last few years that deserves to join the collection, it most certainly is Lighthouse. The film tells the harrowing story of two lighthouse keepers who struggle to maintain their declining sanity with only each other’s company as they live alone on a remote island.
The film’s eerie atmosphere and spiraling tones make it a perfect choice for the Criterion collection. Director Robert Egger has yet to release any of his films in the collection, but Lighthouse would be a great first addition, being one of the best horror films of the last decade.
‘Sighs’ (1977)
sighs is one of those classic horror movies that everyone needs to see at least once. It tells the story of an American ballet student who travels to Germany to begin her studies at a prestigious dance academy and quickly begins to realize that evil dwells within the establishment.
The film focuses on a haunting audiovisual experience, with fantastic cinematography showcasing some of the most memorable uses of color in any horror movie ever made. The film’s soundtrack is also cleverly incorporated into the film, having a very atmospheric and whimsical presence. In all, sighs is a true classic that more than deserves the Criterion treatment.
‘Sighs’ (2018)
as well as the original sighs, the 2018 remake also deserves its own place in the collection. The film follows a similar story but is entirely different in terms of the film’s presentation and handling of the characters and horror aspects.
Like the original, the focus is on the aesthetics of the film. However, director Luca Guadagnino managed to create a totally different experience. Instead of being dynamic and playful, its interpretation is raw and brutal, but still manages to maintain a gruesome audio-visual experience that departs fantastically from the original.
“The Fly” (1986)
The Criterion Collection is a big fan of David Cronenbergincluding a number of his works such as naked lunch, Accident, and Videodrome. However, Criterion has yet to release its most iconic film, Fly. The film tells the story of a scientist who discovers the fantastic ability of teleportation and decides to test it on himself. However, things go awry when a housefly enters the device.
There are several reasons why this film is considered Cronenberg’s most iconic, from its fantastic production design and creature effects to a memorable performance by Jeff Goldblum. It’s one of the classic monster movies that will forever feel timeless due to the great practical elements of cinema that Cronenberg is known for.
“Funny Games” (2007)
USA fun games has an interesting story behind it as it is a shot-for-shot English remake of Michael HanekeThe original Austrian film. He decided to make an English version of his own film as he felt the story was better suited to an American audience. The film tells the story of a family on vacation in their vacation home who is visited by two suspicious young men.
the original funny games the film already has a Criterion release, however, the remake deserves that prestige as well. It rivals the original in terms of quality and has a number of aspects that work much better, such as improved camera quality and more impactful themes. Criterion has a golden opportunity for this film to be released as a box set paired with the original.
‘Nosferatus’ (1922)
Nosferatus tells the classic story of a vampire named Orlock who finds himself loving his real estate agent’s wife terribly and wreaks havoc on the small town where they live.
Nosferatus is one of the oldest horror films ever made in a landscape where filming techniques were vastly different, as well as what audiences perceived as scary. If you were to watch this movie today, you might find it more enjoyable than horrifying. However, despite how horror has aged over the years, Nosferatu is still a landmark film that helped shape the genre and is a classic that deserves a place in the collection in order to celebrate its legacy.
‘Nosferatu the Vampire’ (1979)
The same for the sighs remake, Nosferatu the Vampire is another remake of the classic movie and one that is truly awesome. Werner Herzog clearly cared deeply about the source material when making this film, staying true to the ideas and themes it explored as well as bringing its own stylistic flair.
The film sticks to the gothic nature of the original as well as Herzog’s ethereal style seen in many of his documentaries. The film has a great sense of atmosphere explored through visuals, tone and performance and is a passionate ode to and retelling of the story of Nosferatus.
10 Great Horror Movies That Deserve To Join The Criterion Collection – GameSpot