9 New International Horror Movies To Add To Your Watch List

Blending elements of cosmic horror with surreal sci-fi and a comedic twist, writer-director Moonika Siimets’ The Black Hole emerged on digital platforms on April 3.
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Inspired by the short stories of Armin Kõomägi and Andrus Kivirähk, this genre-bending triptych explores three interconnected and otherworldly stories playing out in a suburban Estonian apartment complex after a mysterious black hole appears in the district. Get ready for giant spiders, extraterrestrial science experiments, out-of-this-world orgasms, and (if you can believe it), even more weirdness.

Writer-director Dawid Torrone’s Dead by Dawn is being marketed as Poland’s first Giallo film, bringing stylish visuals, gnarly practical kills, and, of course, a black-gloved killer to digital platforms as of April 5.
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In the film, a troupe of actors heads to the mysterious Heissenhoff theaters, a venue steeped in occult rumor. But when their rehearsal is interrupted by the arrival of a masked killer, the actors realize that the theater, murders, and even their play may all be part of a sinister ritual that must unfold before dawn. Check out the sick eyeball-covered mask worn by the killer in the trailer—this looks like one to watch!

Writer-director Achmed Abdel-Salam makes his feature debut this month with Smother (aka Heimsuchung), a German-language horror film that hit DVD shelves and digital platforms on April 7.
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Smother centers on Michi (Cornelia Ivancan), a young mother and recovering alcoholic who retreats to her estranged father’s isolated house in the countryside in an attempt to mend her broken bond with her daughter.

Soon, however, long-repressed memories of her childhood and her mother’s suicide start to surface. As Michi’s mental state deteriorates and she turns back to the bottle for solace, she realizes she must confront her demons to save her daughter. Sounds pretty heavy, so brace yourself for this one!

Based on the hit video game of the same name from KOTAKE CREATE, director Genki Kawamaura’s Exit 8 traps its protagonist (and audience) in an eerie, seemingly endless subway passage.

The rules in the film are simple: find Exit 8 (duh). Do not overlook anything out of the ordinary. If you discover an anomaly, turn back immediately. If you don’t, carry on.

But even a simple oversight can send you right back to the beginning, trapping you in this infinite corridor… forever.
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Sounds a lot like walking the 14th Street subway passage in NYC at night (and having now watched the film, I stand by that analogy). Exit 8 arrived in theaters on April 10, so hop on your public transportation option of choice and get yourself to the movies!

Hindi-language horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla brought Indian mythology and black magic to theaters on April 17.
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Bhooth Bangla was directed by Priyadarshan and stars prolific Indian actor Akshay Kumar, marking their first collaboration in 14 years. The story is said to draw inspiration from ancient Hindu texts like the Vedas and the Mahābhārata, and has something to do with a mysterious haunted mansion.

As with a lot of international releases, information on this one is a little scarce, so take a chance and go in blind if you’re feeling adventurous!

My favorite watch from last year’s Fantastic Fest (and that’s saying a lot), writer-director Taratoa Stappard’s Mārama swept into select theaters on April 17.
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Set in Victorian England, Stappard’s film is a defiant scream of post-colonial rage and pain told through the lens of Gothic horror. Ariāna Osborn stars as the eponymous Mārama, a young Māori woman who has made the arduous journey from Aotearoa to North Yorkshire after receiving a letter from a man claiming to know about her heritage.

Discovering the man dead on arrival, and with nowhere else to go, she accepts a job offer from whaling tycoon Nathanial Cole (Toby Stephens) to be his daughter’s new live-in governess.

But the deeper Mārama ventures into his manor house filled with Māori artifacts, the clearer it becomes that Cole’s proclaimed appreciation for her culture masks dark intent. This one knocked the breath right out of me—catch it on the big screen if you can.

Previously titled The Fields Are Watching, director Diego Velasco’s supernatural horror film The Whistler began its  limited theatrical release on April 17.

As the name may suggest to those familiar with the Venezuelan legend, the film is based on El Silbón (which translates to “the whistler”), an unsettlingly tall folkloric figure who slays solo travelers (rude) and whose signature whistle signals greater danger the further away it appears to be.
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This is probably bad news for the couple in The Whistler, who have enough to deal with already as they grapple with the loss of their daughter. When they unexpectedly inherit a secluded farm in Venezuela, they hope it will offer the fresh start they need.

Unfortunately, they’ve also inherited a whole lot of trouble, as they are forced to confront a group of squatters who claim they can communicate with spirits from beyond—including dead daughters. What could possibly go wrong?

The latest offering from prolific 21-year-old Aussie filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay (T-Blockers, Carnage for Christmas), The Serpent’s Skin has already slithered into theaters in New York and LA, but it’s expanding to further cities and on-demand platforms on April 21.
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A sapphic romantic horror-thriller with strong trans representation, The Serpent’s Skin follows shy twenty-something Anna (Alexandra McVicker), who moves in with her sister in the big city, quickly falls for tattooist Gen (Avalon Fast), and discovers they share supernatural powers (that's lesbian life, alright).

But their budding romance is threatened when Gen inadvertently unleashes a demon via a snake tattoo. Check out the Red Band trailer here and be prepared to get lost in the film’s dreamy score.

Last but not least, if you’re craving more morgue-based thrills and chills after last month’s The Mortuary Assistant, don’t miss Broken Bird. This feature-length adaptation of the short film Sybil is set to open in theaters on April 24.
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Directed by Joanne Mitchell, who also helmed the short, Broken Bird stars Rebecca Calder—recently spotted playing Janet Smurl in The Conjuring: Last Rites—as a lonely mortician with a poetic soul. She craves love and belonging, but as grief and desire collide, her need for connection takes a disturbingly… intimate… turn. Read into that what you will.
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Those are our top international picks for April! Need more excuses to stay home and watch horror on a rainy spring afternoon? We’ve rounded up 125 terrifying titles that you can stream for free this month—don’t say we’re not good to you!