Welcome back! Today we’re continuing our series on Foreign Horror with a trip to Italian horror cinema.
If you’ve been following along, we’ve already travelled through time with our looks at 1950s horror and 1960s horror — both decades that shaped the genre we love today. Now, we’re heading to Italy, home to some of the most stylish, surreal, and downright disturbing horror films ever made.
I’ll admit, I’m not as up-to-date on the Italian horror scene as I am with some other countries, but Italy has still given us plenty of iconic, older horror films. In my opinion, a great horror movie is like fine wine — it ages beautifully. Sure, some get a little corny over time, but a classic remains a classic.
So, let’s jump into our time machine, fire up the popcorn maker, grab your favourite beverage, and explore my five favourite Italian horror films. If you’ve been following this series, you know the drill — spoiler alert is now in effect.
5. Cannibal Ferox (1981) – Unrated
Synopsis: Anthropologists travel to the jungles of Colombia to study native cannibals, only to encounter drug dealers exploiting the locals. Eventually, the natives take bloody revenge on everyone.
Not to be confused with Cannibal Holocaust, Cannibal Ferox is another controversial entry in the Italian horror/cannibal subgenre. Known for extreme violence and animal cruelty (a practice unacceptable today but sadly common in 1980s exploitation cinema), the film follows a junior anthropologist, her brother, and a friend as they enter the Amazon to disprove cannibalism — only to meet two shady dealers on the run, who have already angered the locals.
While parallels with Cannibal Holocaust are obvious, Ferox has a slightly campier tone. There’s still plenty of gore for horror fans, but less of the relentless sadism of its infamous counterpart. At over 40 years old, it remains a must-watch for anyone curious about Italian horror’s cannibal era.
4. The Church (1989) – Rated R
Synopsis: Built on the burial site of supposed demonic spirits, a medieval church becomes the epicentre of possession and terror when a young librarian disturbs the evil within.
Directed by Michele Soavi but heavily influenced by Dario Argento, The Church blends medieval horror with surreal imagery. It opens with knights massacring a village, then shifts to the present day as a malevolent force begins possessing visitors.
The visuals are stunning — Soavi’s dreamlike camera work creates a constant sense of unease. Memorable set pieces (including a tense subway sequence) and a moody score by Goblin and Keith Emerson elevate the film. Though the plot wavers, it’s a stylish and gory slice of late ’80s Italian horror worth checking out.
3. The Beyond (1981) – Rated R
Synopsis: A young woman inherits a Louisiana hotel, only to discover it was built over one of the seven gates to Hell.
Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond is a surreal, gore-soaked masterpiece. From undead warlocks to tarantulas, its nightmarish imagery and relentless gore cement its place as one of the great Italian horror films.
In the post-Exorcist and Dawn of the Dead era, many Italian filmmakers imitated successful formulas, but Fulci — along with Argento and the Bavas — brought unique vision and craftsmanship. The Beyond stands as one of Fulci’s finest works, essential for any horror fan.
2. Suspiria (1977) – Rated R
Synopsis: An American student at a prestigious German ballet academy discovers the school is hiding a sinister, supernatural secret.
Dario Argento’s Suspiria is a hypnotic, unsettling experience. Its vivid colours, surreal set design, and haunting score by Goblin create a dreamlike — and often nightmarish — atmosphere.
One particularly chilling sequence involves a blind man and his dog standing alone in a vast, empty square. It’s the kind of unsettling visual Argento excels at. Grisly, disorienting, and unforgettable, Suspiria is a cornerstone of Italian horror and the perfect introduction to Argento’s work.
1. Cannibal Holocaust (1980) – Unrated
Synopsis: A rescue mission into the Amazon uncovers the horrifying fate of a missing film crew — and the shocking footage they left behind.
Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust is arguably the most notorious Italian horror film ever made. Seized by Italian authorities shortly after release, it sparked murder charges against the director when rumours spread it was a real snuff film. These were dropped when the supposedly dead actors appeared in court, alive and well.
Still, the extreme animal cruelty and graphic violence make it one of cinema’s most disturbing films. Controversial, shocking, and deeply influential, it remains the definitive cannibal movie.
Thanks for joining me for this dive into Italian horror. From Fulci’s surrealism to Argento’s hypnotic style and the raw brutality of the cannibal subgenre, Italy’s horror legacy is as rich as it is unsettling. Stay tuned for the next instalment in our Foreign Horror series — we’ve still got plenty of countries (and nightmares) to explore.