Czech (and Czechoslovak) cinema isn’t usually known for horror films, but maybe that reputation isn’t warranted. Letterboxd recently unveiled a list of the 100 highest-rated underseen horror films on the platform, and three Czech movies ranked among the top 10—including one that grabbed the #1 spot.
The Letterboxd list curated by Horrorville compiled films highly rated by those who have discovered them, but which have not yet reached a mainstream audience, with watch counts between 5,000 and 50,000. The result is a goldmine of horror films ripe for rediscovery, and includes a number of Czech classics.
Three films from Czechoslovakia made the top 10: The Cremator, The Pied Piper, and Beauty and the Beast. Their presence on the list highlights Czech cinema’s unique contribution to the horror genre, especially through a distinct combination of dark psychology, gothic visuals, and surreal storytelling.
The Cremator (1969)
Taking the number one spot on the Letterboxd list, The Cremator (Spalovač mrtvol) is a chilling depiction of the banality of evil. Directed by Juraj Herz, the film follows Karl Kopfrkingl (Rudolf Hrušínský), a crematorium worker whose twisted mind and obsession with purification lead him down a path of horrific complicity with the Nazi regime.
Known for Hrušínský’s terrifying lead performance, The Cremator delves into the horror of ideology, with black-and-white visuals and eerie cinematography that add to its disturbing effect. This Czech New Wave classic is both a horror film and a profound sociopolitical critique, and now celebrated as a masterpiece despite being banned for over two decades by Soviet censors.
The Prague Reporter also ranked The Cremator in the top slot in its list of the top 15 Czech horror films ever made.
Read our full review of The Cremator here.
The Pied Piper (1986)
The sixth film on the list, Jiří Barta’s The Pied Piper (Krysař), is a mesmerizing stop-motion adaptation of the Pied Piper of Hamelin folk tale. Unlike typical animated fare, this film is set in a grotesque medieval town and explores themes of greed, corruption, and plague. Barta’s unique animation style, combined with haunting, gothic visuals, makes it a horror experience unlike any other.
Though just under an hour in length, the film’s dark, evocative imagery and stylized set designs have earned it a cult following. Barta, a noted animator, experimented with both horror and fantasy in his other work, though The Pied Piper remains his most haunting achievement.
Beauty and the Beast (1978)
Also directed by Juraj Herz, this Beauty and the Beast (Panna a netvor) is a darker, horror-infused retelling of the classic fairy tale. Herz’s adaptation draws on atmospheric horror elements, blending romance with a sense of dread. Set in an ominous forest, it tells the story of a terrifying creature and the young woman he brings into his world.
Beauty and the Beast uses unsettling visuals and sound to reframe the traditional tale, and Herz’s version is far from the Disney story, offering a chilling, adult take on the theme of transformation and inner darkness.
More underseen Czech horror
Beyond the top 10, several other Czech horror films made it into Letterboxd’s full list of the top 100 underseen horror movies, including:
Witchhammer (Kladivo na čarodějnice, 1970) – Ranked at 13, this haunting portrayal of 17th-century witch trials in Moravia, directed by Otakar Vávra, is based on historical records. The film’s depiction of religious fanaticism and torture, banned upon its release, is among the most unsettling depictions of the era. The Prague Reporter ranked Witchhammer #2 in its list of the top 15 Czech horror films.
Morgiana (1972) – Coming in at number 24, Herz’s Morgiana brings gothic horror to the screen with a tale of jealousy and murder between two sisters, one good and the other evil. Known for its stylized cinematography and unnerving plot, it’s often compared to psychological horror classics.
Little Otik (Otesánek, 2000) – Ranked 38, this Jan Švankmajer film offers a surreal horror story based on a Czech folk tale about a monstrous child. Blending humor and horror, Švankmajer’s style challenges typical genre boundaries and leaves viewers both fascinated and unsettled.
The Top 10 Highest-Rated Underseen Horror Films on Letterboxd 🩸 pic.twitter.com/8T9KWO7BDI
— Letterboxd (@letterboxd) October 30, 2024
And while not a Czech movie, 1920’s The Golem, ranked 80 on the Letterboxd list, is a German expressionist film set in Prague. The silent horror film directed by Paul Wegener and Carl Boese draws on the legend of the Golem, a clay figure brought to life to protect Prague’s Jewish community that remains an enduring part of Prague’s cultural identity. Wegener also starred in and co-wrote the Prague-set The Student of Prague (1913), which is considered to be the first feature-length horror film ever made.
Czech horror’s quiet influence
Though Czech horror films remain underseen, the Czech Republic (and former Czechoslovakia) has produced a number of notable and perhaps under-appreciated horror films that merge gothic atmosphere with psychological depth. Directors like Herz and Švankmajer have cemented their legacies in both Czech and international cinema, but other filmmakers and their work are still awaiting rediscovery.
Discover more underseen horror movies in the full Letterboxd list of the 100 highest-rated underseen horror movies, and more Czech horror movies in the Prague Reporter‘s list of the best 15 Czech horror films ever made.
Lead photo: Vlastimil Harapes under heavy Beast makeup in Herz’s Beauty and the Beast
