A continent as vast as South America is bound to produce its fair share of innovative cinema, and horror is no exception. In fact, the horror genre is where South American filmmakers tend to shine the most, as they have thousands of years of history from which to garner inspiration.
South America as a whole isn't exactly known for its booming film industry, but in recent years, more and more of its countries have begun to produce new and exciting horror movies. There are also some older films from countries like Brazil and Argentina that remain influential and paved the way for smaller South American countries to try their hand at making their own horror masterpieces.
The Black Vampire (1953)
German Expressionist filmmaker Fritz Lang and his classic horror thriller M were the inspiration behind The Black Vampire, a 1953 Argentine horror film that acts as a loose adaptation of M. The setting is now Buenos Aires and the plot focuses on the search for a deranged stalker of young girls.
The title is meant to be allegorical, referring to the twisted and calculating way the stalker preys on his victims. Winks and nods to the original German expressionist masterpiece can be found scattered throughout this film, most notably in the cinematography and camerawork that attempt to put the viewer in the mind of the stalker. Make no mistake, however; The Black Vampire can stand alone as its own masterpiece.
The Silent House (2010)
Most audiences are familiar with Silent House, a 2011 American horror flick starring future Marvel superstar Elizabeth Olsen, but most remain unaware of the film that inspired it. The Silent House made quite the impression when it was released in Uruguay back in 2010, being allegedly inspired by actual events in the 1940s.
What impressed viewers the most were the technical achievements such a low-budget film was able to pull off. The entire movie was made to appear as if it was shot in one long, continuous take and took place in real-time. These reasons alone merit it a watch.
At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul (1964)
Known as the first Brazilian horror movie, At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul is also notable for giving the world Zé do Caixão, also known as Coffin Joe, Brazil's own national horror icon. His 1964 feature film debut establishes Zé as an amoral, evil undertaker obsessed with achieving immortality through the continuation of his bloodline.
Director and co-writer José Mojica Marins also stars in the leading role, and his passion and dedication for the project shines through every frame. Any true horror aficionado needs to put Marins' cult horror classic on their must-watch list.
The Wolf House (2018)
Chilean artists Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña made their feature film debut with The Wolf House, a visually stunning exercise in stop motion animation. What makes the film even more unique is the way it incorporates actual historical events; the plot centers around a woman named Maria who has just escaped a German cult known as Colonia Dignidad.
She takes shelter in a new house but the horrors she endured continue to haunt her. The Wolf House shines a light on a period in history that is seldom discussed and uses the medium of animation to do so in a refreshingly creative way.
Mother (2016)
Another hidden gem from Chile, Mother tells the nightmarish story of Diana and her autistic son Martin when the overwhelmed mother hires a Filipina caregiver named Luz to help her with her son.
Although everything seems wonderful at first, Diana begins to suspect Luz may have evil intentions after Martin grows more and more attached to his new caregiver. Fans of the horror genre may recognize Mother's director Aaron Burns from his work with Eli Roth on films like The Green Inferno but his first solo directorial effort more than delivers on the thrills and gore.
Terrified (2017)
A paranormal investigator enlists the help of two colleagues when several supernatural forces begin to take over a neighborhood in Buenos Aires. Terrified is very reminiscent of recent supernatural horror hits like The Conjuring but the film's unique setting and plot structure are enough to set it apart.
The paranormal events in the film occur in three different houses and the audience experiences everything from varying points of view while also never really getting to see the evil entities themselves. All of this adds to Terrified's overall sense of dread because it knows that what the human mind imagines can be much more terrifying than any onscreen monster.
At the End of the Spectra (2006)
Colombian horror began to carve out a name for itself with this little claustrophobic thriller. In At the End of the Spectra, an agoraphobic woman with a traumatic past begins to see and hear things in her apartment that may or may not be there. With his first feature-length directorial effort, Juan Felipe Orozco proved to critics and audiences alike that Colombia is more than capable of producing quality horror.
At the End of the Spectra even caught the attention of Hollywood itself with A-list talent attached at one point to make an English-language remake. That adaptation never came to fruition but the original stands alone as a worthwhile watch.
The Entity (2015)
Never purporting to be anything other than a straightforward found footage horror thriller, The Entity follows a group of film students as they make a documentary about reaction videos which eventually leads them to uncover some diabolical, ancient secrets.
The film was released and marketed in its native Peru as the nation's first 3D horror movie and was able to find a modest amount of success in Latin America. While The Entity is blatantly derivative and borrows a lot from films that came before it, it manages to stay authentic to its Peruvian roots and broke plenty of ground.
The Hidden Face (2011)
Colombian cinema's prolific horror streak produced The Hidden Face, an erotic horror thriller that tells the story of one orchestra conductor's search for answers after his girlfriend suddenly goes missing.
Andrés Baiz, known primarily for his work on television dramas and mysteries such as Narcos and Metástasis, combines different genres to write and direct this suspenseful piece of storytelling. Anyone wishing to familiarize themselves with contemporary Latin American cinema should consider looking into this little-known horror thriller.
Morgue (2019)
It is always exciting to see smaller countries grow and develop their film industries, and Paraguay was able to do this by producing an effective supernatural horror flick known as Morgue. Security guard Diego finds himself in for a long night when he becomes trapped inside a hospital morgue and begins to see some of the bodies coming back to life.
The filmmakers behind Morgue have been lauded for what they were able to achieve with such a small budget and minimal resources; their efforts haven't gone unnoticed, as the movie is already being eyed by American producers for an English-language remake.