The term Australian or New Zealand horror film doesn’t really fill anyone’s heart with confidence. It’s not a genre that we produce many films in and when they are released for the most part we gladly ignore them.

It’s a strange phenomenon as low budget horror is a staple of US film making and given our fiduciary restraints you’d think there’d be an onslaught of poorly produced, acted and scripted horror films filling up the bargain DVD bin at your local video store. The recent release of Daybreakers has made us reflect on what is possible on our very shores and look beyond Rogue, Prey and Boat House Horror to the hidden terrifying gems.

Daybreakers was by no means a classic but it proved that with a little creativity we can churn out some high quality stuff. In the hope that the Spierig Bros. tale of vampiric terror signals a new period in horror we have looked back at those Australian and New Zealand films that have disturbed us for all the right reasons.

We chose to look on both sides of the Tasman in the spirit of cultural unity and because honestly we don’t have Peter Jackson in Australia. Let us know if you have any other favourites.

10. Long Weekend (1978)
Ignore the recent remake it’s the original that is well worth your time. There is a constant creepiness to this film that culminates in a particularly memorable ending.



9. Razorback (1984)
Having hated this film for so long I recently went back and experienced the hog filled wonder of this piece of eighties Aussie horror. Not the greatest film of all time but it’s a hell of a lot of fun.



8. Black Sheep (2006)
Owing a debt of gratitude to Sam Raimi and Peter Jackson this little known New Zealand film is funny and terrifying in equal measures. Killer sheep may seem like a horrible film idea but trust me it's a lot of fun.



7. Road Games (1981)
A great little genre piece that benefits from the horror credentials of Jamie Lee Curtis.



6. Wolf Creek (2005)
Sure everyone hates it now but we were all freaked out when we first saw it.



5. Patrick (1978)
Reportedly Tarantino loved this movie so much that those paying close attention can see what he borrowed from Patrick in the Kill Bill films.



4. Dead Calm (1988)
Remember when Nicole Kidman wasn’t an emotionless hack?



3. Next of Kin (1982)
Similar in tone to Long Weekend there is a creepy atmosphere to this film that is still effective after all these years.



2. Undead (2003)
Excellent for so many reasons but none more so than the joy of seeing a zombie invasion in such familiar surroundings. I wait with eager anticipation at the next Spierig Bros. film.



1. Braindead (1992)
This is the reason why many of us love Peter Jackson, not that Frodo and the ring nonsense.