If You Loved Woe, You’ll Adore These 10 Dark Gems

Description: A gothic psychological horror film with a slow-building tension and a famous twist ending, exploring themes of isolation, denial, and the supernatural in a post-war setting.

Fact: The film was shot almost entirely using natural light and candlelight to maintain its eerie atmosphere. Nicole Kidman's character was inspired by Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca.

Description: A psychological horror film that uses its monster as a metaphor for grief and depression, focusing on a mother's deteriorating mental state and her troubled relationship with her son.

Fact: The Babadook storybook featured in the film was actually created by the director and contains 20 pages not shown in the movie. The film's monster was inspired by early 20th century German expressionist cinema.

Description: A contained supernatural horror film that gradually reveals its terrifying secrets through a methodical autopsy procedure, blending medical realism with supernatural elements.

Fact: The titular character was played by a real actress who had to remain completely still for hours during filming. The autopsy procedures shown were so realistic that they made some crew members faint during filming.

Description: A politically charged supernatural horror film set during the Iran-Iraq War, using its haunting premise to explore themes of maternal anxiety and political oppression.

Fact: The film was shot in Jordan because filming horror movies is banned in Iran. The director based the story on his mother's experiences during the war.

Description: A slow-burning occult horror film that focuses on a grueling, months-long ritual performed by two people in an isolated house, exploring themes of grief, redemption, and the supernatural.

Fact: The film's ritual sequences were based on actual occult practices from the Abramelin operation. The entire film was shot in sequence to maintain the actors' emotional and physical deterioration.

Description: A complex Korean horror film that blends police procedural elements with supernatural horror and folkloric mythology, creating an atmosphere of growing dread and uncertainty.

Fact: The film's exorcism scene was performed by an actual shaman. Director Na Hong-jin spent three years researching Korean shamanism before making the film.

Description: A clinical, unsettling psychological horror film that explores themes of guilt, retribution, and moral dilemmas through its detached, almost surreal storytelling style.

Fact: The film's title references the Greek myth of Iphigenia, which also inspired the plot. All the surgical scenes were supervised by real surgeons to ensure medical accuracy.

Description: A deeply unsettling horror film that explores themes of grief, family dysfunction, and supernatural terror, with a slow-burning tension that escalates into shocking violence.

Fact: The miniature models seen throughout the film were all created by the main character, Annie, who is a miniature artist in the story. The film's most shocking scene was kept secret from the actors until filming to capture genuine reactions.

Description: A claustrophobic psychological horror film shot in black-and-white that explores isolation, madness, and mythological themes through the deteriorating relationship of two lighthouse keepers.

Fact: The film was shot on 35mm black-and-white film stock using vintage lenses from the 1930s. The actors had to learn authentic 1890s sailor lingo for their dialogue.

Description: A visually striking folk horror film that delves into themes of trauma, relationships, and cult behavior, set against the backdrop of a deceptively bright and colorful environment.

Fact: The flower dress worn by the main character in the finale weighed over 40 pounds due to the intricate floral arrangements. The film's daylight horror approach was inspired by real Swedish midsummer traditions.