Surreal horror cinema’s otherworldly and/or dreamlike narratives leave a lasting impression because it doesn’t give a straightforward answer. For first-time horror fans and individuals who want to dip their toes into surreal horror waters, here is a list of some of the 10 surreal horror movies that will give you a taste of this realm.
10 Surreal Horror Movies That Are a Must-Watch
Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
Jacob Singer, a Vietnam veteran, never really escaped the horrors of war and is tormented by a tragedy that occurred before his deployment. This film demonstrates the strong hold that love, loss, and PTSD can have on a person to the point of isolation and despair, using elements of nonlinear timelines and setting changes.
Suspiria (1977)
Dario Argento’s film centers around a female ballet dancer named Suzy joining a dance school in Germany. Suzy and her fellow ballerinas encounter strange events and supernatural occurrences, building an atmosphere of trepidation from start to finish. Argento’s design of the film uses colored lighting, distorted stage setups, and deceptive characters that teleport the audience to an unorthodox realm.
Videodrome (1983)
A TV station president named Max Renn becomes embroiled with an abnormal broadcast feed that depicts horrifying, violent media. His obsession with locating the signal’s source transforms his reality, mind, and body. This film pushed the edges of 80s horror to present a message about artistic expressionism, especially during the reign of the Video Nasty Panic.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
One of the first horror films made, this German Expressionist film centers around a man named Francis and the mystery of his friend’s murder. The filmmaker manipulates angles, emphasizes shadows, and applies trippy color filters to convey the tone and emotions of the characters and environment.
In the Mouth of Madness (1995)
John Trent investigates a missing horror writer whose novels drive their readers into madness. His character witnesses these paranoia-inducing twists with every step he takes. This surreal tale uses metafictional and reality-bending elements to link our reality to the Lovecraftian dimension. A must-watch from the 10 Surreal Horror Movies list.
Eraserhead (1977)
A black-and-white story about Henry Spencer and his struggles with the strange developments of his life. David Lynch creates an unnerving narrative by using creature designs, gore, light saturations, and body dysmorphia. Those elements add to the tension of the characters and the creepy atmosphere.
The Neon Demon (2016)
A young woman called Jesse enters the abstract and cut-throat world of modeling. The use of neon lighting, gore, and peculiar behaviors of her colleagues gives a weird and disturbing depiction of the modeling industry. Not even the bright color palette can conceal the evil leaking under all that makeup. One of the 10 Surreal Horror movies that deserve the spot.
Black Swan (2010)
Nana Sayers, a professional ballet dancer, dreams of stardom and pushes herself to uphold the Black Swan role with crippling and hostile determination. This movie focuses on her choices and the resulting consequences, with a dash of mind-bending body horror and memory lapses that leave the viewers second-guessing. Apart from all the Oscar glory, this is one of the 10 Surreal Horror Movies for sure.
Mother! (2017)
A nonlinear narrative that shows a woman and her husband building a home but having it intruded upon by uninvited guests. The house acts as the heart of the film, with the characters acting as the surreal elements. The use of Biblical elements adds to the uneven plot flow as the tale is spun until the audience can’t make heads or tails of it.
House (1977)
The off-beat horror-comedy is about a group of classmates trying to escape supernatural events in a vacation home. The film is a mixed media platter of film techniques that balance the screams and laughs. An unnatural approach that delivers an eccentric, surreal film that still works today.
