Who makes the best horror films? It’s a question frequently, viciously, debated between genre fans. Japan brought us classics like Ringu, Ju-On and Audition, A24 continues to raise the bar in the US, and revered subgenres like French extremity and Giallo have been born out of Europe. Poor old Australia and Aotearoa (NZ) can often find themselves left out of the conversation.
Australian and New Zealand horror cinemas sit at decidedly opposite ends of the spectrum from each other, characterised by their bleakness and humour. Comedies are Aotearoa’s bread and butter, but for locals the humour runs deeper than a cheap laugh.
