Handling the Undead and 5 other chilling Norwegian horror movies

Horror fans should always seek out movies outside of their home country. My fellow American horror fans would be doing themselves a disservice to limit themselves only to the films made in the USA.

Here at 1428 Elm, we'll be highlighting movies from other countries, starting with Norway, which feels fitting since Neon just released the excellent Norwegian film Handling the Undead.

Handling the Undead (2024)

While the concept of dead people returning from their graves is not exactly new, Handling the Undead is a frightening and haunting tale that adds its own twist. During a hot summer day in Norway, three families are faced with a dire predicament when their loved ones return from the dead.

But this is far from a "fun" horror flick, sometimes relentless in its somber and melancholy tone. Handling the Undead is not afraid to grapple with the heaviness and surreality of grief. Tonally, it reminded me a little of the French series The Returned. Now available to rent or buy on demand.

Good Boy (2022)

This twisted little film has been making the rounds on the internet lately due to its newfound availability on Tubi and Prime Video. A woman uses a dating app to connect with a handsome man, except he's hiding a strange secret.

Christian has a pet dog that turns out to be another man dressed like one, including a mask. Sigrid tries to entertain Christian's unorthodox behavior but then learns her new boyfriend is hiding an insidious secret.

Lake of the Dead (1958)

I just really enjoy any movie that takes place at a creepy cabin in the woods, and this 1958 atmospheric film fits the bill. It might not be super scary by modern sensibilities, but Lake of the Dead is a haunting and unnerving thriller about a group of friends staying in a cabin near the lake where it's rumored you can hear the screams of a dead man nearby. Streaming on Tubi and Shudder.

Troll Hunter (2010)

If you enjoyed André Øvredal's movies Autopsy of Jane Doe, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and The Last Voyage of the Demeter, you'll want to check out his Norwegian horror fantasy film from 2010.

As you might have guessed from the title, this movie follows a group of explorers who stumble upon a mysterious troll hunter. Not only is this a great found-footage horror movie that functions as a "documentary," but it expertly combines all the things we love about camp, horror-comedy, and creature features. Streaming on Freevee, Tubi, and Prime Video.

The Innocents (2021)

One of my favorite movies from 2021, The Innocents is a heartwrenching and deeply disturbing movie about a group of kids who end up having a very f**ked up childhood. There's no other way to put it.

It's a bit like X-Men meets Stranger Things, but with a much darker twist. In this story, a group of kids develop strange new abilities and go into the nearby forest to experiment with their gifts. Things soon take a horrific turn. Streaming on Shudder.

Viking Wolf (2023)

Werewolf movies are in short supply, so it's always worth trying new ones. I was happy to give this one a chance when it premiered on Netflix last year.

A small town is disturbed by a sudden, brutal murder that links back to 17-year-old Thale. With some surprisingly gruesome kills and a gnarly transformation scene, Viking Wolf is an exhilarating flick that bites back. Streaming on Netflix.

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