Dismissively tarred with the derisive label “torture p*rn” in the wake of its mainstream boom in the 2000s, torture-horror is in fact one of the most compelling and provocative horror subgenres. Although its roots date back much further, the subgenre gained notoriety after the 2004 launch of the immensely popular Saw franchise, with many subsequent horror films continuing its bloody legacy.
Exploring the limits of what the human body can endure, as well as themes of gender, power and political unrest, torture-horror is able to provide gruesome scares and compelling stories. These are 10 of the very best torture-horror films, showcasing the strengths of the surprisingly varied subgenre.
10’Saw VI' (2009)
Directed by Kevin Greutert
Saw VIis the sixth entry in the immensely popularSawfranchise, and is a 2009 horror film directed byKevin Greutert. The film centers on a twisted game devised by Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) to punish the people involved in a predatory health insurance company that denied him potentially life-saving medical treatment. As the game takes place after Jigsaw’s death, the game is run by his apprentice, Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) as he attempts to evade the suspicion of the authorities.
TheSawfilms are known for their extreme violence and often self-inflicted torture sequences, andSaw VIis highly effective at shocking and thrilling its audience with its clever and gruesome traps. The film is notable due to its surprisingly incisive critiques of the profit-driven US healthcare industry, adding pathos to Jigsaw’s character as you witness his struggles in the system, brought to life by one of Tobin Bell’s strongest acting turns in the entire series. Gory, fast-paced and extremely entertaining,Saw VIis one of thebest films in its seriesas well as the torture-horror subgenre.
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9’Wolf Creek' (2005)
Directed by Greg McLean
Written and directed byGreg McLean,Wolf Creekis a 2005 Australian horror film. Set deep in the Australian outback, the film follows two English women, Liz (Cassandra Magrath) and Kristy (Kestie Morassi) who meet an Australian man, Ben (Nathan Phillips), while travelling. The three embark on a road trip together that eventually turns horrific when they encounter Mick (John Jarratt), a sadistic serial killer, after being stranded in the middle of the wilderness.
Wolf Creekis a notoriouslybrutal and bleak horror film, portraying the raw terror of being pursued and captured by a serial killer in horrifyingly realistic detail. Played perfectly by John Jarratt, Mick is one of the most twisted villains in modern horror, being highly xenophobic and misogynistic and completely dehumanizing his innocent victims. Containing distressing scenes of physical and psychological torture,Wolf Creekis one of Australia’s nastiest horror films.
Wolf Creek
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8’Eden Lake' (2008)
Directed by James Watkins
Eden Lakeis a 2008 British horror film written and directed byJames Watkins. The film follows a middle-class couple,Jenny (Kelly Reilly)and Steve (Michael Fassbender), who attempt to have a romantic getaway in a small English village. However, upon arrival, the two quickly become involved in a rivalry with a group of local teenagers led by the terrifying Brett (Jack O’Connell) and find themselves the targets of nightmarish violence and cruel torture.
The film centers on the high socio-economic tensions of mid-2000s British society, aiming to satirize tabloid fear-mongering about out of control youths by portraying the worst case scenario possible. Jack O’Connell is highly imposing in his antagonistic role, despite his young age, and the violence inflicted upon the film’s characters is intense and uncompromising.Eden Lakeis a disturbing and depressing horror film about class divisions, featuring visceral torture scenes.
7’Hard Candy' (2005)
Directed by David Slade
Directed byDavid Slade,Hard Candyis a 2005 psychological horror-thriller film. The film follows Hayley (Elliot Page), a young teen who meets a grown man, Jeff (Patrick Wilson), online and begins a flirtation with him. However, while Jeff believes he is going to be able to take advantage of Hayley when they meet in person, he is soon blindsided by the reveal that she is in fact planning on torturing him as punishment for his predatory behavior.
The entire film is an intense psychological cat and mouse game between Hayley and Jeff, with Page and Wilson both delivering chilling and engaging performances. While the film’s subject matteris highly disturbing, seeing such a monstrous character be on the receiving end of most of the film’s physical and psychological violence is subversively cathartic for a film focused on torture. Visually striking and compelling,Hard Candyis a bold and twisted thriller.
Hard Candy
Hard Candy: A teenage girl meets a seemingly charming man online, leading to a tense confrontation that unfolds over an afternoon. As power dynamics shift, their unsettling encounter reveals complex themes of trust, manipulation, and morality, challenging perceptions and exploring the consequences of online interactions and vigilantism.
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6’Hostel' (2005)
Directed by Eli Roth
Written and directed byEli Roth,Hostelis a 2005 torture-horror film. The film focuses on a group of young men who travel to Slovakia in the hopes of taking advantage of the sex tourism industry but end up unwittingly falling into the clutches of an organized crime ring of wealthy businessmen who pay to torture and kill tourists. Centering in on Paxton (Jay Hernandez), the ringleader of the group, the film follows as he attempts to outwit his would-be killer and escape captivity.
Hostel’s central themes focus on gender dynamics and American ignorance about other countries, with the protagonists’ bravado putting them directly at risk as they underestimate the dangers surrounding them. Featuring asubversively intelligent screenplayunderneath its characters’ brash sexist and ignorant remarks,Hosteluses its violence to satirize the concept of sex tourism, drawing a direct comparison between the torture facility and the brothel the protagonists patronize. Smart, disturbing and brutal,Hostelis a torture-horror classic.
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5’The Loved Ones' (2009)
Directed by Sean Byrne
The Loved Onesis a 2009 Australian coming-of-age torture-horror film written and directed bySean Byrne. The film follows Brent (Xavier Samuel), a depressed teenager who finds himself at the mercy of his psychopathic classmate Lola (Robin McLeavy) after rejecting her romantic advances. Kidnapped by Lola and her father (John Brumpton), Brent is forced to endure a twisted and violent version of prom as her “date”.
The film’s strongest element is its antagonist, Lola, who is highly unique for a horror villain due to her being a conventionally shy and feminine teenage girl. Robin McLeavy’s performance in the role is fierce and delightfully unhinged, with the film playing out like a relentlessly extendedTexas Chain Saw Massacredinner sequence as Lola and her father induct Brent into their messed up family. Funny, gruesome and disturbing,The Loved Onesisan underrated gem.
The Loved Ones
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4’Calvaire' (2004)
Directed by Fabrice Du Welz
Calvaireis a 2004 French-Belgian folk horror film directed byFabrice Du Welzand co-written by Du Welz andRomain Protat. The film follows Marc (Laurent Lucas), a singer who becomes stranded in a bizarre small village composed entirely of men. After a tense few days, Marc is eventually held prisoner by an innkeeper named Bartel (Jackie Berroyer) who seeks to turn Marc into his ex-wife, Gloria.
Although less graphic than many of its contemporaries,Calvairecontains intense psychological torture and dehumanization inflicted upon Marc, as well as featuring some shocking explosions of physical violence. The film provides an intelligent commentary on the treatment of women, making the subversive choice of portraying a male character becoming the victim of misogyny in an isolated patriarchal community. A key entry in theEuropean extremity horror canon,Calvaireis a darkly comedic and deeply uncomfortable torture-horror film.
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3’Saw' (2004)
Directed by James Wan
Sawis a 2004 psychological torture-horror thriller directed byJames Wanand written byLeigh Whannell. The film follows Adam (Whannell) and Lawrence (Cary Elwes), two strangers who find themselves chained to opposite ends of a disused bathroom and forced to fight for their lives by the Jigsaw Killer (Tobin Bell). In order to prove that they cherish their lives and deserve redemption, Jigsaw victims are subjected to brutal torture and pushed to make impossible decisions.
The film that launched one of the most successful horror series of all time, as well as the prolific careers of Wan and Whannell,Sawis a crucial part of modern horror history.While the torture itself occurs largely offscreen, the film’s striking editing and brutal sound design make its violence viscerally impactful.Featuring excellent twists, a distinctive and effective visual style and establishing one of horror’s greatest icons in Jigsaw himself,Sawis a true standout of its genre.
2’The Devil’s Rejects' (2005)
Directed by Rob Zombie
The Devil’s Rejectsis a 2005 neo-Western horror film written and directed byRob Zombie. Set in the aftermath ofHouse of 1000 Corpses, the film follows the murderous Firefly family as they go on the run, engaging in a horrific crime spree. As a vengeful Sheriff (William Forsythe) pursues them, Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig), Otis (Bill Moseley) and Baby (Sheri Moon Zombie) take on the roles of both perpetrators and victims of torture.
Taking influence from horror classics as well as the Western genre, the film makes the subversive and compelling choice of portraying itsserial killer protagonistsas antihero outlaws, while still maintaining their evil brutality. The film’s greatest weapon is the stellar performances of its cast, with Haig, Moseley and Zombie imbuing their characters with an immense energy and sense of menace, as well as portraying their surprisingly endearing familial bond. Considered by many fans to beRob Zombie’s crowning achievement,The Devil’s Rejectsis torture-horror at its very best.
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1’Martyrs' (2008)
Directed by Pascal Laugier
Martyrsis a 2008 French extreme horror film written and directed byPascal Laugier. The film follows Lucie (Mylène Jampanoï), a torture survivor who seeks revenge on the people who tormented her as a child with the help of her friend Anna (Morjana Alaoui). Together, the women discover the horrifying reasoning behind Lucie’s ordeal, connected to a conspiratorial organization intent on discovering the truth about life after death.
Martyrsis a deeply upsetting film, presenting analmost unrelentingly bleakstory about pain and suffering in all forms, with the sole light being the tenderness shown by its traumatized protagonists towards fellow victims. The film contains several extreme torture sequences, including an extended montage that deliberately seeks to push the audience to its limits. Asking heavy questions about spirituality and the human body,Martyrsis a unique and horrifying torture-horror film.
