Jumping into the world of foreign horror films can be a daunting task. There is always the chance that the message will be lost in translation and odds are you will be halfway through the movie when you realize it’s been stealing not just your time but your soul. To save you the anguish of such an occurrence I recommend the following flicks.
Dumplings 2004 (Hong Kong)
This one is definitely not for the squeamish, unless of course the thought of aborted fetuses garnishing your dinner plate gets your gears going. Director Fruit Chan (Tales from the Dark 1, The Midnight After, Made in Hong Kong) serves up the evils of human vanity on a silver platter. Fallen actress Mrs. Li (Miriam Yeung) is desperate to regain the love and affection of her adulterous, cradle robbing husband (Tony Leung Ka Fai) and maintain her status as an elite housewife. To regain her youth, Mrs. Li seeks out former mainland gynecologist Aunt Mei (Bai Ling), who specializes in restorative services through means of rare culinary delights. Mei’s rejuvenating fetus-stuffed dumpling’s fall short of Mrs. Li’s high expectations however and Mei must procure something a little more potent. Just like with a good whiskey, age is everything and when a very pregnant victim of incestual rape shows up on Mei’s doorstep begging for an abortion… well, you can do the math there. Soon after the potent dish is served Mrs. Li begins to suffer some unsavory side effects as her life takes an unexpected turn.
Blood Glacier 2013 (Austria)
Practical effects and B-movie charm get the blood flowing in this creepy crawly eco-horror directed by Marvin Kren (ABC’s of Death 2, Rammbock, Schautag). A group of scientists in the Austrian Alps are violently confronted by the next phase in evolution after a glacier emitting a blood like substance begins to mutate the local wildlife. While much of the research team is concerned about the negative impact the discovery of these genetic hybrids may have on their funding, site technician Janek (Gerhard Liebmann) is adamant about the dangers of keeping such a thing secret. Things really get messy when Janek’s former love interest Tanja (Edita Malovcic) enters the scene with Prime Minister and company in tow. Oblivious to the dangers ahead Tanja leads her group right into the hands or mandibles rather of the bloodthirsty hybrids.
Baby Blood 1990 (France)
Beautiful show of Kensington Gore as an art medium in this parasitic blood festival by director Alain Robak (Adrenaline, Vertiges). After an “unborn” parasite takes up residence in her uterus, abused and dejected Yanka (Emmanuelle Escourrou) embarks upon a mercilessly bloody journey to return the parasitic creature to the sea. The two quickly come to terms with their symbiosis, although it’s really more of a standoff if you ask me. As the snarky little parasite baby grows, so does Yanka’s taste for murder and she wholeheartedly embraces her new role as victimizer. Through quirky bouts of dialogue, and an intense shared bloodlust the two form a seriously peculiar bond and leave a respectably bloody wake.