Sometimes the scariest things out there are the ones that comes from within…
Check out our staff roundup of 4 thrillers and horror films for the spooky vibes this Halloween!
*images are from the films & production companies associated.
RAGING GRACE (2023)
DIR. PARIS ZARCILLA | WATCH ON Paramount+ & on VOD
"Manok! Manok!"
I had never heard an old British man aggressively speak Tagalog before watching Paris Zarcilla's brilliant 2023 horror/mystery/thriller feature debut, and that fact alone makes Raging Grace a must-watch. Beyond it, sleek atmospherics, engaging sound design, and clever enough storytelling to ensure you won't figure out all of its twists and turns, Raging Grace offers plenty of spooky intrigue deftly entwined with current and very-relevant political and social commentary.
Perfect for Halloween and a fun one to watch with friends & family, it's intense enough to put a pit in your stomach but not a challenging watch by any means, which, for me, is very appreciated when we consider the horror genre at large (lord knows I don't need any more uncessary stress in my life). Throw it on and you'll find yourself a fan of the film in some way or another—I guarantee it.
Marlon Hedrick, Social Media Coordinator
THE FIFTH THORACIC VERTEBRA (2022)
Dir. Syeyoung Park & Na Yohan | Watch on TUBI
This microbudget oddity (and AAAFF 2023 selection) starts from a singular premise—a mattress fungus inexplicably attains sentience—and somehow gets weirder from there. Perhaps troubled by the realization that it's a sentient mattress fungus, it goes on a killing spree via a tentacle-like appendage that snatches away chunks of its victims' spinal columns. Acquiring their memories in the process, the fungus is exposed at second-hand to all the ups and downs of the human condition. Packing more ideas into 64 minutes than most horror films manage in an entire franchise, The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra proves that ickiness and existential angst aren't really so far from each other.
Josh Martin, Special Film Programs & Sr. Feature Film Programmer
THE BRIDE WHO HAS RETURNED FROM HELL (1965)
Dir. Hsin | Watch on Taiwan Plus
If you told me that a Taiwanese language gothic film exists I would not have believed it 4 years ago. However in April 2022, we had a momentus series of 4 restored black and white Taiwanese films largely made in the 60s with AFS Cinema, and we had one as part of the Unleashed Desires: Lost Films of Taiwan series.
Inspired by an English gothic novel similar to the infamous Rebecca, THE BRIDE WHO HAS RETURNED FROM HELL is the story of a young woman who takes a position as a governess in her sister's wealthy family while also investigating her mysterious death. The use of lighting for black and white films, Taiwanese children singing ballads eerily, meddlesome relatives, and a haunted mansion all await her as she arrives for her new job.
More personally, seeing this film set in Taichung bring to life the family photos that I peruse when visiting my home in Taichung. It's like a leap back into time to see images of the old Taichung main station and the western fashion that was popular in Taiwanese life in the 60s. We filled the theater in 2022 on a Monday for this film and hope it'll bring you some thrills and chills as you stream for free on Taiwan Plus!
Hanna Huang, Executive Director
SHAKY SHIVERS
Dir. Sung Kang | Watch on TUBI, PLUTO TV, Roku, PHilo, Plex
Sung Kang makes his directorial debut in 2022 with a horror/comedy feature, Shaky Shivers, an homage to the campy, over the top horror movies of the 80s. It's a story of two friends going on an adventure to find a cure after one of them is bitten by a mysterious animal. This low-budget film was made during the pandemic with a small crew, three locations, a handful of characters, and heavily features practical effects.
It's an easy, fun watch to introduce the horror genre to friends and family this Halloween.
David Chen, Hospitality Assistant