November has officially arrived, cloaking the outside world in dense streams of rain. The sun is hidden behind grey clouds, and a piercing wind cuts through our bodies, reaching deep into our bones. Despite the retail industry’s attempts to persuade us to kickstart our Christmas preparations with festive displays, I suggest embracing the nostalgic spirit brought by November. 

Halloween may be behind us, but let’s keep the demons and monsters alive a bit longer by postponing our Christmas film marathons. Instead, let’s immerse ourselves in horror movies that resonate with the dark feelings of this month.

Terrify Yourself with International Found-Footage Gems

In this article, we’ll briefly discuss three international found-footage horrors that eschew cheap jump scares and repetitive plots. Much like the chilling November winds, these films penetrate our souls, gaining entry into our subconscious. These horrors employ the found-footage technique, not a new device in the genre. Films like Blair Witch Project (1999) and Paranormal Activity (2007) were marketed as terrifying real events. The found footage technique immerses us in the film, allowing us to experience the action through the characters’ eyes, contributing to a sense of documentary authenticity.

The ghosts, demons, and sinister forces haunting these movies hail from Turkey and Taiwan. As a Western viewer, the unfamiliarity with the dark entities in the films explored in this article heightened the fear during and after viewing. These horrors offer a freshness beyond jump scares, delving into grief manifested through otherworldly beings: monsters, ghosts, and demons. In November, as nature slowly dies to be reborn in spring, it’s an appropriate time to sit with our darkest emotions, explore them, and allow ourselves to feel them. This purging process is what these horrors can help achieve.

Ready to immerse yourself in the darkness? Be prepared; the films listed below will linger in your thoughts long after the viewing ends. Their plot twists will make you ponder the narrative, maybe even questioning the notion of reality itself. They could open a wound you’ve tried to deny. However, only by acknowledging your pain can you let it go.

1) Incantation (Kevin Ko, 2022, Taiwan)

This Taiwanese masterpiece can be described as supernatural folk horror. Narrated by Li Ronan (Tsai Hsuan-yen), a young woman attempting to lift a curse on her daughter, the film uses a non-linear narrative with footage shot over the years. Despite the found-footage technique, Incantation offers high production value and thoughtful cinematography. The film explores a mother’s unbreakable love and suggests that blessings and curses can morph through the power of the mind.

2) Dabbe: The Possession ( Hasan Karacadağ, 2013, Turkey)

This Turkish deliciously terrifying horror is the fourth instalment of the Dabbe universe, arguably the scariest one. The film relies on the battle between science and religion, questioning the difference between them or hinting that science simply does not yet have the tools to describe demonic possession.

Dabbe: The Possession tells the story of psychiatrist Ebru (Irmak Örnek), shooting a film as part of her academic work to disprove the idea of the paranormal. She convinces exorcist Faruk (A. Murat Özgen) to help her childhood friend Kübra (Cansu Kurgun), who appears to be possessed by a djinn. The plot also centres around Kıbledere village, struck by an unexplained tragedy, forcing the inhabitants to leave their houses. Ebru, initially sceptical about supernatural forces, quickly realises their existence.

As acutely observed by 8insqualWviano in their analysis, Dabbe is an insightful social commentary linked to the development of the internet. The concept of dabbe—a mischievous and evil creature—parallels the spread of the internet, allowing for the easy transportation of dark spells and black magic. The internet brings chaos and addiction, cutting people off from reality and often driving them insane.

3) The Bridge Curse (Lester Hsi, 2020, Taiwan)

While not entirely shot with the found-footage technique, this film explores an urban legend about a haunted bridge and a vengeful female ghost. A group of university students decides to conduct a bravery test by crossing the bridge. Not surprisingly, things don’t go exactly to plan, and the young people find themselves surrounded by evil forces.

The most interesting character is a mysterious female reporter (Summer Meng), downgraded from covering news to investigating the story of the students who went missing or lost their lives after crossing the bridge.

Despite lacking unique freshness, The Bridge Curse utilises in terrifying locations, making the audience feel claustrophobic and unable to escape the evil forces. Worth noting is its video game adaptation and a sequel in production.

So, immerse yourself in these chilling tales

The horrors on this subjective list go beyond momentary frights, offering narratives that may even make you question reality itself. As November’s winds howl, let these films stir your deepest emotions, allowing you to acknowledge and release the pain within.