Top 5 Nordic Horror Films

A-ah-ahh-ah, ah-ah-ahh-ah
We come from the land of the ice and snow
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow

The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands
To fight the horde and sing and cry, Valhalla, I am coming

“Immigrant Song” Led Zeppelin

Today is the shortest day in the solar year. In honor of our brethren to the north, where the cold nights are endless, I thought it appropriate to compile a list of my “Top 5 Nordic Horror Films.”  So curl up with some aquavit or Glogg to ward off the chill of these Scandinavian tales of terror.

Here they are in order of personal preference:

1. Let the Right One In (2008) – Based on the bestselling Swedish novel of the same name, the film fills your lungs with atmosphere. This gender-bending, genre-challenging, mind-screw of a vampire tale is an instant classic.

2. Cold Prey (2006) – Drawing on many of the same conventions of the American camping horror film, this Norwegian chiller pits a group of stranded snowboarders against a relentless killer.

3. Dead Snow (2009) – A group of medical students get a lesson in gross anatomy while they battle a group of Nazi zombies! Twinges of dark humor round out this Norwegian blood bath.

4. Nightwatch (1994) – A Danish law student takes on a job as a night watchman in a morgue in an effort to get some studying done. The distractions are plentiful as the morgue fills up with the victims of a serial killer… and guess who is the prime suspect?!

5. Trollhunter (2010) – Our third Norwegian entry concerns a group of students following a hunter who seeks more than ‘lions and tigers and bears’.  One of the best “Found Footage” films ever!

 

Feedback is always welcome! Please comment, challenge and add your own films and thoughts to the comments section!