8 Best French Horror Films, Ranked

France has long been one of the world’s great movie-making countries, dating back to the Lumière Brothers’ creation of the groundbreaking Cinematographe device. From the timeless silent movies of Georges Méliès to François Truffaut’s Auteur Theory and the French New Wave, France has pushed the boundaries of cinema since the beginning.

In the modern era, horror has become one of France’s most renowned movie exports, with the New French Extremity movement shocking audiences across the globe. Graphically violent, these transgressive movies pushed the limits of taste in cinema and have become notorious cult classics. French horror remains at the forefront of the genre, and each year, it continues to shock and enthrall its audiences with blood-soaked nightmares.

8

Frontier(s)

A Politically Charged Splatter-Fest

Frontier(s)

Release Date

July 1, 2007

Runtime

108 minutes

Director

Xavier Gens

Considered part of the French New Extremity movement, Frontier(s) explores themes around far-right ideologies and extreme fringe movements that are allowed to take root within a country.

The film follows a gang of Muslim youths who flee Paris after political riots cause chaos on the streets. After finding a seemingly normal inn to stay in, their getaway becomes a nightmare after discovering their shelter is run by a group of neo-Nazis. Filled with extreme violence and gore, Frontier(s), like many films of this genre, split critical opinion. However, Frontier(s) is a must-watch experience for fans of no-holds-barred splatter films.

7

High Tension

A Violent Cult Classic

High Tension

Release Date

June 10, 2005

Runtime

85 minutes

Director

Alexandre Aja

Closely associated with the transgressive French New Extremity movement, High Tension, also known as Switchblade Romance, is a controversial cult slasher movie that will broadly appeal to fans of classic splatter cinema. The film revolves around Marie and Alex, who are hunted by a mysterious killer after visiting a remote family farmhouse.

While High Tension has received a mixed critical consensus during its lifetime, its horrific, blood-soaked scenes have made it a must-watch for fans of French horror movies. Its famously bad English dub is best left ignored in favor of the French language original.

6

Inside

A Visceral & Tense Slasher Classic

Inside

Release Date

October 17, 2007

Runtime

83 Minutes

Director

Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury

Inside is a tense slasher movie that is as tough to watch as it is compelling. The film follows Sarah, a heavily pregnant and grieving widow, who is close to giving birth on Christmas Eve. Her evening alone turns into a nightmare when a knife-wielding intruder invades her home.

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Inside pulls few punches, with its unrelenting horror presented as realistic and visceral. While the film may not appeal to a mass audience, hardcore horror aficionados will appreciate this brutal, gory, and horrific outing.

5

Martyrs

Polarizing & Graphically Violent

Martyrs

Release Date

September 3, 2008

Runtime

99 Minutes

Director

Pascal Laugier

A controversial modern horror classic, Martyrs, is a transgressive marathon of torture and blood. The film takes place in 1986 and follows Lucie, who, after being captured and tortured as a child, seeks her revenge as an adult. Along with her friend Anna, the couple breaks into the home of one they believe was responsible.

The film was extremely polarizing on release, and often regarded simply as torture porn. However, far from being solely about graphic violence, the film explores ideas around sainthood, martyrdom, and existentialism. While Martyrs can be a tough watch, it remains a cult classic of extreme cinema.

4

Climax

A Unique Psychedelic Nightmare

Climax

Release Date

September 19, 2018

Runtime

97 minutes

Director

Gaspar Noé

This unique psychedelic horror movie revolves around a troupe of young dancers, who, after rehearsing in an abandoned school for days, enjoy a final night celebration. However, their party soon becomes a nightmare when the sangria is spiked with LSD.

With a cast filled with professional dancers, Climax is a bizarre blend of extreme violence, stunning cinematography, and free-form dancing, with many of the scenes filmed in a single long take. Like many experimental films, Climax is a unique experience that will not appeal to a mass audience. However, its expertly crafted sequences and vivid color palette make it a must-watch feast for the senses.

3

Titane

An Award-Winning Body Horror

Titane

Release Date

October 1, 2021

Runtime

108 minutes

Director

Julia Ducournau

Julia Ducournau’s second feature film is a stunning psychological body horror that won the prestigious Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival. Titane follows Alexia, who, as a child, suffered a brutal car accident, which resulted in a titanium plate being fitted into her head. As an adult, now a car model, the murderous Alexia has grown a fetishistic obsession with automobiles.

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The film explores themes around gender, motherhood, and the body, and is a provocative and disturbing experience that will appeal to fans of body horror classics.

2

Raw

A Stunning Feature Debut

Raw

Release Date

March 15, 2017

Runtime

99 Minutes

Director

Julia Ducournau

Julia Ducournau’s feature film debut is a gory and vibrant coming-of-age tale that received widespread critical acclaim on its release. The film follows Justine in her first year in veterinary school. A lifelong vegetarian, Justine initially struggles with the brutal hazing and partying lifestyle of the school. However, it isn’t until she tastes meat for the first time that her ravenous appetites begin to emerge.

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Raw‘s graphic violence and stylish cinematography bombards the senses, and with terrific performances from its central cast, the film was one of 2016’s very best and solidified the director as a rising star of French cinema.

1

Eyes Without A Face

An Influential Classic

Eyes Without a Face

Release Date

October 24, 1962

Runtime

90 Minutes

Director

Georges Franju

Widely considered one of the most influential horror movies of all time, Eyes Without a Face received a mixed critical reaction on release. While its violence would cause controversy among audiences, the film’s poetic approach to horror would garner a strong fan base over time.

Based on the novel by Jean Redon, the film follows a plastic surgeon’s murderous attempts to fix his daughter’s face after a horrific car accident left her disfigured. The film’s chilling story and unique interpretation of the classic mad scientist trope would go on to influence countless movies, including Pedro Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In (2011).

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