The Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Greenland etc.) are famous (or infamous) for their horror and crime films and shows. Maybe it can be attributed to the harsh, cold climate, maybe to the longer nights, maybe to the vast forests, but there is something about the Nordic / Scandinavian atmosphere that really works in favor of the horror genre.

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Let’s explore ten Nordic movies, some more and some less known, that a horror film fan cannot miss. To be included here, a film has to be in a Nordic language, not a Nordic production in English.

Wither / Vittra – Sweden (2012)

Cropped art from Japanese DVD release of Wither

The title refers to the creature featured in the film, the Vittra (which also translates to “wither” in English), a being from Swedish folklore that is supposed to dwell underground. Ida and Albin are wife and husband, content in their marriage. They go on a short trip to a cabin in an immense and beautiful but dark Swedish forest to enjoy a relaxing vacation with their friends. Yet under the creaky floors of the old cabin lurks an evil from Sweden's mysterious history. Many have called this the Swedish version of The Evil Dead.

Hidden / Skjult – Norway (2009)

A man sits down in Norwegian 2009 movie Hidden

Upon being informed of the death of his elderly and estranged mother, KK (short for Kai Koss) returns to his hometown to take care of his late mother’s affairs. In his 19-year absence he tried to let go of the past and her abusive behavior, but it’s difficult to outrun one’s past. Ominous dreams haunt him when he visits his childhood home, memories of a past filled with pain, fear, and a tragic but unintentional mistake that he made 19 years ago; a mistake whose repercussions are still very much alive.

Nightwatch / Nattevagten – Denmark (1994)

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in Nightwatch

This Danish film by Ole Bornedal was remade in Hollywood in 1997, directed by himself and starring Ewan McGregor and Josh Brolin. In the original, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (famous as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones) portrays the protagonist, Martin, a student who is hired as a night watchman at the Forensic Medicine Institute in Copenhagen.

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When the victims of a sex-worker serial killer are brought in, chilling instances begin to occur. A series of strange coincidences have the police begin to speculate that Martin is the culprit. Detective Wormer wishes to support him but Martin falls deeper and deeper into the pit of suspicion.

Dark Woods / Villmark – Norway (2003)

A character in Villmark shrouded in darkness and holding a flashlight to her face

The TV show "Real TV," a reality show where contestants try to survive in rough country, will soon start being filmed. Gunnar, the main producer, has hired a crew of four. To assess his employees, Gunnar takes them to the filming location, an isolated log cabin, buried in the woods. They have to make it for two days, without outside supplies or contact with the world. When two of them discover a corpse in a lake close to the cabin, Gunnar advises that they go on without revealing nothing to the others. But shortly the team undergoes some disturbing occurrences which lead to fear and suspicions.

Sauna – Finland (2008)

A man stands in the forest in the 2008 Swedish movie Sauna

This historical horror film by AJ Annila takes place right after the Russo-Swedish War of 1590-1595. Newfangled borderlines are drawn between Finland, still under Sweden’s control, and Russia. Knut and Eerik, brothers and accessories to a horrible crime, are assigned the duty of drawing the actual borders. They find a shadowy village, located in the midst of a moor. Inside the village they discover a sauna, where the brothers hope their sins may be cleansed. But guilt is not easy to be left behind.

The House / Húsið – Iceland (1983)

A woman in bed in the 1983 Icelandic movie Húsið a.k.a. House

This Icelandic mystery horror movie was chosen as the Icelandic submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 56th Academy Awards, but was ultimately not nominated in the category. Bjorg and her husband, Petur, buy an old house that gradually takes on intimidating proportions, while Bjorg is alone for some days and Petur is on a work-related trip.

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Within the house’s walls, she suffers dreadful hallucinations (or not?) of screaming faces – would they be ghosts, or blurred recollections from her life? The circumstances carry on deteriorating, till it appears like Petur won’t come back soon enough to aid Bjorg – if she can be aided.

When The Darkness Comes / Unnuap Taarnerpaaffiani – Greenland (2014)

Characters in When the Darkness Comes look down into the basement while holding flashlights

This Greenlandic horror film by Malik Kleist was the second movie he ever directed. Hans and Minik have been friends for almost their entire lives. One day, Hans proposes that they go and stay the night in a haunted house to challenge themselves and satisfy their curiosity. Hans wishes to discover the answer to the age-old question: are ghosts real? He also wants to film the experience. Minik is down for the challenge and the guys find themselves in a haunted house very soon. Odd incidents then test their skepticism.

Lake Bodom – Finland (2016)

Cropped Lake Bodom poster

This Finnish slasher movie was not based upon, but more inspired by, the notorious 1960 Lake Bodom murders, one of the most brutal and infamous cold cases in Finland’s criminal history. The movie might not be based on the murders, but it makes explicit reference to them and essentially the plot is triggered because of that case. Nora, Elias, Atte, and Ida, a group of friends and schoolmates, visit Lake Bodom to camp and recreate the notorious 1960 killings. The friends hold grudges against each other, but the greatest danger will come from without. Interesting fact: this case is also where the death metal band Children of Bodom got its name from.

Hour Of The Wolf / Vargtimmen – Sweden (1968)

Cropped English-language poster for Hour of the Wolf

This classic by Ingmar Bergman starred Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann as husband and wife. On an isolated island, a concerned artist starts to feel that he is losing his mind. Disturbed by distressing dreams and fearful hallucinations, he and his wife start to speculate that the plaguing recollections are the doing of a curious, depraved sect that are located on a remote part of the island.

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The founder of the cult could be holding the key to the protagonist’s visions.

Let The Right One In / Låt Den Rätte Komma In – Sweden (2008)

Oskar holds knife in Let The Right One In

The original Let The Right One In is a beautiful and romantic vampire horror film that was based on the novel of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Twelve-year-old Oskar is either ignored or abused by his classmates and he spends his afternoons dreaming of revenge in the most gruesome ways. When Eli, a girl who appears to be his age but is hiding a terrible secret, moves in close to his apartment, the two form a strong friendship that will change both of them in unprecedented ways. The film was nominated for a BAFTA and won a Saturn and an Empire award, amongst others.

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