British horror thrives on frightening its audience to no end. While ghostly manors and moors are the ideal escapade for a tale of spooks, the Brits take fear to the next level through psychological terror and raise the stakes by blending the tone with humor, drama, and utter tragedies; throw in the accent and viewers will be charmed into a world of trepidation.
5 British Horrors That Deserve To Be Revisited
Dog Soldiers (2002)
An American Werewolf in London set the bar for werewolf movies in 1981 but even so, there’s still a huge gap in the genre. If there’s one thing Brits do well, it’s lycan-horror and two decades after John Landis’ classic, Neil Marshall made his directorial debut with Dog Soldiers.
Kevin McKidd, perhaps now best known for Grey’s Anatomy, is a Scottish treasure as he leads a band of soldiers into battle against a pack of werewolves. The film has it all – horror, comedy, drama, great effects, and gore. Setting itself up with a terrifying opening, Dog Soldiers falls into a sense of familiarity when the heroic platoon is introduced. They’re a loveable bunch from the get-go, ribbing into one another. With the moon at its highest and the threat looming, there’s only one thing on the boys’ mind – will England beat Germany in their latest footie match?
The Descent (2005)
Even without monstrous creatures at every corner, The Descent upholds an urgency of claustrophobia as a group of thrill seekers become trapped within a cave system.
This 2005 thriller-horror dives straight into the action without a moment of hesitation. The Descent is carried by an all-female cast, sometimes a rarity for films of this genre, and each give strong performances in conveying their terror as they struggle to grasp onto reality. It is near nightmarish. This could easily work outside the realm of creature-feature, which is a credit to Neil Marshall’s commitment in bringing a genuine sense of fear to life through an enclosed setting.
Creep (2004)
10 years before the found footage horror of the same name, viewers across the pond were subjected to a different kind of, well, creep. As if late night trips in the London Underground weren’t eerie enough, Kate (Franka Potente) is stalked by a disturbing figure lurking in the shadows.
Creep definitely lives up to its namesake. There are elements of sheer dread and anxiety from the second Kate finds herself locked in the underground, and to makes matters worse, she’s followed by a smarmy co-worker who can’t take no for an answer – and this is before the resident creeper makes his presence known. It’s a very simple plot to follow but what it lacks in depth, it makes up for in suspense and gore.
Howl (2015)
Decent werewolf flicks are hard to come by, but Brits put their whole back into delivering them as if their lives depend on it. Coincidently, both Howl and Dog Soldiers star Sean Pertwee in an otherwise ill-fated role.
While it’s less prolific than the 2002 cult-classic, Howl bodes well in setting up an eerie tone. As it primarily takes place on a single location, the tension is an all-time high. What stands out about Howl is how it chooses to portray the werewolves; though beastly and vicious, they lean more towards a humanoid-type being, which makes them all the more terrifying to see. It’s not your average creature-feature and may easily be forgotten after a little while, but it’s one of the stronger films of the genre.
Eden Lake (2008)
When young couple, Jenny (Kelly Reilly) and Steve (Michael Fassbender), travel to a remote lake, they soon find themselves terrorized by a local gang of violent youths.
Eden Lake is Britain’s answer to Deliverance. The story follows up on the morbid depiction of a peaceful getaway gone horribly wrong. It is a total nightmare to watch unfold. Led by Brett (Jack O’Connell), the villainous teens put a whole new perspective onto YOB-culture as they commit unthinkably torturous acts for their own entertainment. Eden Lake is tough to watch, particularly for its brutal nature, and is maybe one of those movies that can only be stomached once, but serves as a reminder of how effective contemporary horror can be.
What are your favorite British horror movies?
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Jenna is a Film and Visual Culture graduate and freelance entertainment writer from Scotland. Her passion lies with TV and horror, where she will take any opportunity to geek out. Jenna spends her free time binging shows and looking to be spooked.