The Canadian horror imagination has produced many fantastic horror films over the years. The Great White North has played a part in shaping the horror film genre. Alongside the usual Canadian fear of creaking ice rinks lies a deep awareness of mythology that Canadian filmmakers have helped shed some light on. Let’s take a look at some of the best Canadian horror movies to hit the big screen.
10 My Bloody Valentine (1981)
First on our list is the 1981 slasher My Bloody Valentine. This horror film was released in 1981 and starred Paul Kelman, Lori Hallier and Neil Affleck. The premise of the film is that a group of young adults organize a Valentine’s Day party, but their carelessness angers a vengeful maniac dressed in miner’s gear. This film is notable for facing heavy censorship upon its release. It featured violence and gore that cut nine minutes from the final product. It stands above other slashers of the time for its maturity and the strength of its characters. A lot of slasher movies at the time made their characters out of one note because they just existed to get killed. The kill scenes in the movie give it a really creepy vibe that holds up to this day.
9 Screamers (1995)
Screamers is a Canadian sci-fi horror film released in 1995. Peter Weller, Roy Dupuis and Jennifer Rubin star. The plot involves two mercenaries who are on the planet, which has since become a toxic wasteland after a war. These mercenaries try to resolve a violent labor dispute. However, once they arrive, they find that the weapons created to protect the mines begin to replicate and attack everyone in sight. Things are further complicated by the fact that these weapons have the ability to take on a flawless human form. It’s memorable because it’s a fast-paced thriller that never lets the pace slow. The film exudes the atmosphere and is put together with intelligence and a unique charm.
8 Videodrome (1983)
videodrome is a body horror science fiction film released in 1983. It was directed by David Cronenberg and was his first film backed by a major Hollywood studio. Unlike his early films, he used a budget of almost $6 million. The story follows a TV channel president named Max Renn, who is played by James Woods. His channel begins to fail as he begins to lose viewers, so Max starts looking for more programs to put on the air. He discovers a mysterious program called “Videodrome”, involving torture and punishment.
Max thinks he has a potential hit on his hands and starts broadcasting it on his channel. However, things are not what they seem as his girlfriend goes to audition for the show and disappears. What he thought was fake blood may be hiding something sinister beneath it. The film features believable body horror and stuns audiences with stunning visual effects. Although it was initially a flop at the box office, it developed enough of a cult following to be considered a cult classic.
7 Dead Ringtones (1988)
Then we have Dead Ringers, another David Cronenberg film released in 1988. The film follows a successful gynecologist named Elliot, who is played by Jeremy Irons. Elliot works in the same practice as his identical twin brother Beverly, who also plays Irons. Elliot is a womanizer and has many affairs with his patients despite his marriage. Elliot amuses himself by giving his conquests to Beverly to enjoy. Because they look exactly alike, Elliot can dump these girls without them knowing he’s dumping them. Things change when one of the patients is able to trick Beverly, who begins to go insane. The film benefits from Cronenberg’s experience with body horror. The medical setting offers ample opportunity for a body horror story combined with a psychological drama.
6 7 days (2010)
7 days is a horror movie released in 2010. It is a mystery thriller directed by Daniel Grou, who based it on the novel written by Patrick Senécal. The premise of the film is that a doctor named Bruno, played by Claude Legault, pursues and tortures the man responsible for sexually assaulting and murdering his daughter. After his life is shattered by the loss of his daughter, he devises an intense plan for revenge, drugging an officer and using a remote-controlled computer to cover up his operation. Bruno taunts the police saying he will kill the man in seven days and give up being arrested after he is done. What follows are seven days of torture and ridicule. At the end of the seven days, however, he lets the man live while he himself is still under arrest. It’s a heart-wrenching experience that will leave even the bravest of horror movie viewers in awe.
5 Ginger Snaps (2000)
Another excellent Canadian horror movie worth your time Ginger Snaps. This movie was released in 2000 and starred Katherine Isabelle, Emily Perkins and Kris Lernche. It takes place like a horror mystery story, in which two outcast sisters have been attacked by a mysterious wild creature. A sister named Ginger recovers from mortal wounds, but it turns out she turns into a werewolf with every full moon. As her sister tries to heal her, Ginger begins to enjoy her change in body and personality. She then infects other people with the curse and eventually has to be restrained by her own sister with a syringe and knife. The movie has a high rating on Rotten Tomatoeswith critics praising his sophisticated characters and his intellectual musings on middle-class suburbs.
4 Hinterland (2014)
Hinterland is a wilderness horror film released in 2014. The film is Adam MacDonald’s directorial debut. It follows a couple who get lost while walking through the wilderness. Unbeknownst to them, they have invaded a black bear’s territory and are now fighting for their lives. A great trick the film does is build an atmosphere through the use of sound and silence. As a spectator you hear every change in the environment down to the smallest sounds. You feel the deterioration of their relationship as the characters are subjected to increasingly intense survival scenarios. It’s a bloody affair with a good pace, well acted and tense at the right moments. You feel the fear of being consumed by the bear, and the performances give the movie a very believable feel.
3 Starved (2017)
Hungry is a Canadian film released in 2017. Robin Aubert directs this French language film. In the film, the inhabitants of a small rural town deal with a zombie outbreak. The apocalypse has already begun with the spread of the plague that turns infected people into flesh-eating monsters. The people who live in the countryside are the only ones left, and there are only a few survivors. The remaining humans pass the time shooting zombies and finding supplies to survive. A group of survivors come together in a unique house to survive when they realize a horde of zombies will sweep across the city.
With each scene, fewer and fewer survivors remain alive as they turn on each other and become zombies. There’s more going on than meets the eye when they discover the zombies are collecting items and performing weird rituals. The film received critical acclaim upon its release. It was praised for its witty script and intense moments. The violence is handled appropriately and creates a thrilling horror thriller atmosphere. It’s probably the best zombie road trip movie out there.
2 The Dark Hours (2005)
The dark hours is a horror mystery film released in 2005. The film was directed by Paul Fox and starred Katie Greenhouse, Aidan Devine and Gordon Currie. The story follows a psychiatrist named Samantha, who is dying of brain cancer. She is all set for a getaway with her sister and husband to take her mind off things. Fate would have other plans; however, as a mental patient would escape and take the group hostage. Making matters worse is that this patient was being cared for by Samantha and wants revenge. What follows is a night of torture and thrilling survival horror. Critics praised the film for its intense torture scenes and fast pace. It has a short running time that doesn’t mess around and jumps straight into the horror.
1 The Changeling (1980)
At the top of the list is the 1980 film The Changeling. This Canadian horror movie was directed by Peter Medak and starred George C. Scott as a composer who accidentally killed his family in a car accident. After being upset by his loss, he leaves town for a creepy house in Seattle. He encounters a supernatural ghost and tries to unravel the secrets of the ghost’s death. The film is a haunted house thriller that is a masterclass in setting the mood and creating ambiance. It has many well-composed shots of gothic horror that add to the building tension that never diminishes throughout the film.