Swiss Horror Films

When you think of Switzerland, you probably envision watches, cheese, chocolate, loud bells, and plenty of leggy blondes. But there’s more going on beneath the calm surface than you might imagine, and these Swiss horror films reveal a distinctly different side to the neutral nation.

From method actors getting lost in their roles to families of neo-Nazis abducting travelers to help further the bloodlines of the “master race,” the films included on this list will both terrify and surprise you. Horror movies from Switzerland don’t get as much press as their Hollywood counterparts, but the end products are just as entertaining.

• Sennentuntschi (2010) – Based on a legend that’s commonly known throughout the mountains of Europe, Sennentuntschi deals with herdsmen in the Alps who construct straw women to help them pass the lonely hours of the summer grazing season. But as you might expect from a horror film, the straw ladies are none-too-happy about being taken advantage of by their creators, so they come to life and seek revenge. A bizarre film that mixes in an interesting piece of European folklore.
• Method (2004) – A collaborative effort between Switzerland, the USA, the UK, and Romania, this film stars Elizabeth Hurley as a method actress who lands the role of Belle Gunness, a 19th century serial killer who lured men back to her farmhouse with the promise of marriage before dispatching them. As filming begins and the actress is forced to work with her ex-boyfriend (Jeremy Sisto), bodies start piling up. Has she gotten too involved in the role, or is a supernatural force at work?
• Frontier(s) (2007) – One of my favorite Swiss horror films (co-produced by France), Frontier(s) begins with riots in Paris following the election of a conservative political candidate. A group of young thieves take advantage of the chaos, pulling off a robbery and then heading for the countryside. But they stop at the wrong inn, as it turns out to be run by a Nazi and his brood of twisted children. The thieves are methodically hunted down and slaughtered, with the lone female of the group targeted for a life as nothing more than breeding stock. Violent and disturbing throughout, it received an NC-17 rating from the MPAA, which derailed the plans to have it be one of the 8 Films to Die For at Horrorfest 2007.
• Jack the Ripper (1976) – A Swiss-German co-production, this film is directed by legendary horror icon Jesus Franco and stars the volatile German actor Klaus Kinski as none other than Jack the Ripper. Kinski, as one would expect, veers between somber introspection and utter mania, but he manages to make his Jack a compelling and complex character in the process. If you’re interested in the famous London murders, this film comes highly recommended.
• Benny’s Video (1992) – Director Michael Haneke (Funny Games) know how to make personal and disturbing films, and Benny’s Video is no exception. Arno Frisch stars as Benny, a teen obsessed with life as it’s seen through the lens of a video camera. This leads him to make his own snuff film, an act which forces his upper-middle-class parents to make some hard choices about the fate of their son. Fans of the killer in No Country for Old Men may get a real kick, as Benny’s weapon of choice (a captive bolt pistol) is the same. A co-production between Austria and Switzerland.
• Humains (2009) – A co-production between Switzerland, France, and Luxembourg, Humains revolves around a group of French researchers who head into the Swiss Alps to investigate an important discovery. But when a car wreck leaves them stranded in the mountains, they’ll need to team up with a group of tourists in order to survive the madman who’s stalking them. Starring Dominique Pinon, Sara Forestier, Philippe Nahon.

That wraps up our look at Swiss horror films, at least for the time being. If you like your horror set against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains, be sure to give one or more of these a try. Start by checking a local horror retailer like Eerie Books, as they may have what you’re looking for. If not, then there are always options such as Amazon or Netflix.