Spanish horror cinema has carved out a distinct and chilling identity, known for pushing creative boundaries and blending psychological dread with haunting supernatural themes that linger long after the credits roll. Visionary filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro and Paco Plaza have helped elevate Spanish-language horror into a globally respected genre. Whether rooted in the haunting legacy of the Spanish Civil War or unfolding in the eerie confines of modern apartment blocks, these ten standout films showcase the genre’s striking range, emotional depth, and its uniquely unsettling power.

10. REC

A landmark in found-footage horror, [REC] (2007) redefined the subgenre with its relentless intensity and claustrophobic terror. Directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, the film follows a late-night TV reporter and her cameraman as they shadow a fire crew on what begins as a routine call to a Barcelona apartment building. But when they arrive, residents are acting violently, the building is abruptly sealed off by authorities, and a mysterious infection begins to spread.

What unfolds is a terrifying descent into chaos, captured entirely through the lens of the crew’s camera. With its real-time pacing, confined setting, and escalating dread, [REC] delivers a raw, visceral experience that feels horrifyingly immediate. Its success not only spawned a franchise but also helped cement Spain’s reputation as a powerhouse in modern horror cinema.

9. The Orphanage

Produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by J.A. Bayona, The Orphanage (El Orfanato, 2007) is one of modern cinema’s most emotionally devastating ghost stories. The film follows Laura, who returns with her family to the orphanage where she was raised, with the intention of reopening it as a home for children with disabilities. But when her young son begins speaking to an invisible friend and then vanishes without a trace, Laura is drawn into a chilling mystery rooted in the building’s tragic past. Beneath its supernatural surface, The Orphanage is a deeply affecting meditation on motherhood, loss, and the limits of denial. Bayona masterfully builds tension through gothic atmosphere and emotional restraint, avoiding cheap scares in favor of slow-burning dread. For Spanish learners, the film also offers plenty of natural, conversational dialogue — making it both haunting and surprisingly educational.

8. Verónica

Inspired by the real-life 1991 “Vallecas Case” in Madrid, Verónica (2017) offers a chilling twist on the classic possession narrative. Directed by Paco Plaza — best known for co-directing [REC] — the film centers on a teenage girl who, during a solar eclipse, unwittingly invites something sinister into her home while using a Ouija board with friends. What sets Verónica apart is how it grounds supernatural horror in the everyday struggles of adolescence, capturing the tension between teenage responsibility and helplessness.

As Verónica tries to shield her younger siblings from the growing evil presence, Plaza builds a suffocating atmosphere of dread, making the horror feel disturbingly intimate. Set against the backdrop of working-class Madrid, the film’s realism only heightens its impact — leaving viewers unsettled long after the final scene.

7. The Devil’s Backbone

Another standout from Guillermo del Toro’s filmography, The Devil’s Backbone (El espinazo del diablo, 2001) is a gothic ghost story layered with political and emotional resonance. Set in the final years of the Spanish Civil War, the film follows Carlos, a quiet young boy sent to a remote orphanage after his father dies fighting in the conflict. There, Carlos encounters a restless spirit — the ghost of a murdered child whose presence is as tragic as it is terrifying. Del Toro masterfully uses the supernatural not just to frighten, but to explore the lingering wounds of war, abandonment, and betrayal.

The orphanage itself becomes a microcosm of a fractured nation, where hidden secrets fester and the past refuses to stay buried. Critics have praised The Devil’s Backbone as “a potent ghost story and an intelligent political allegory,” and its 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes reflects its lasting impact. Blending atmospheric horror with poignant social commentary, it stands as one of the most haunting and thematically rich Spanish-language horror films ever made.

6. Pan’s Labyrinth

Often categorized as dark fantasy, Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) blurs the line between myth and horror so effectively that it stands among the most haunting entries in Spanish-language cinema. Set in the brutal aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, the film follows young Ofelia as she escapes the cruelty of her fascist stepfather by entering a mysterious underground world inhabited by both wondrous and nightmarish creatures.

Among them is the Pale Man — a child-devouring monster with eyeballs in his hands — whose unsettling design remains one of horror cinema’s most unforgettable images. Critics have hailed the film as a “spellbinding fable” that seamlessly fuses the horrors of history with the terrors of imagination.

With a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes and countless accolades, Pan’s Labyrinth is a masterclass in using fantasy to reflect — and sometimes outmatch — the real-life horrors of war and authoritarianism.

5. Tigers Are Not Afraid

Issa López’s Tigers Are Not Afraid (Vuelven, 2017) is a haunting blend of magical realism and raw social commentary, telling the story of orphaned children struggling to survive in a city devastated by cartel violence. When young Estrella’s mother disappears, she finds refuge with a group of street kids — but even as they dodge ruthless criminals, Estrella is pursued by eerie supernatural forces that seem tied to the trauma she carries. López crafts a world where the line between fantasy and reality blurs, allowing ghosts and graffiti to speak as clearly as guns and grief.

With a staggering 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics have praised the film for “drawing on childhood trauma to tell a story that deftly blends magical fantasy and hard-hitting realism.” Tigers Are Not Afraid doesn’t rely on jump scares; instead, it delivers a slow, soul-deep horror that lingers long after the credits roll — equal parts fairy tale, nightmare, and brutal truth.

4. When Evil Lurks

One of the most chilling recent additions to Spanish-language horror, Demián Rugna’s When Evil Lurks (Cuando Acecha la Maldad, 2023) has quickly established itself as a modern genre standout. Set in rural Argentina, the film follows two brothers who encounter a man infected by a malevolent presence.

This encounter triggers a horrifying chain reaction of supernatural contagion, violence, and escalating dread.

With a staggering 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics have hailed it as “a hard-hitting horror film whose surface-level frights are just as engaging as its thematic concerns.” Rugna pulls no punches, delivering brutally effective scares and shocking moments that rival genre titans like The Exorcist in both atmosphere and intensity.

3. Sleep Tight

For psychological horror that truly gets under your skin, few films rival the slow-burning dread of Sleep Tight (Mientras Duermes, 2011). Directed by [REC] co-creator Jaume Balagueró, this unnerving thriller follows César, a seemingly unremarkable apartment concierge who hides a deeply twisted obsession: he can only find joy by making others suffer.

His primary target is Clara, a radiant, upbeat tenant whose happiness becomes a personal affront. As César’s manipulations grow increasingly invasive — sneaking into her apartment at night while she sleeps — the film builds unbearable tension without relying on a single supernatural element. Instead, Sleep Tight explores the horror of violated privacy, unseen malice, and the darkness lurking behind ordinary faces.

Topping IMDb’s list of best Spanish horror films from 2000 to 2015, it’s a chilling reminder that the most terrifying monsters are often the ones hiding in plain sight — with keys to your home.

The Platform

The Platform (El Hoyo, 2019) offers a brutal and thought-provoking take on horror through its chillingly original dystopian concept. Set in a vertical prison where food is delivered via a descending platform, inmates on the upper levels gorge while those below are left to starve — unless they resort to violence, theft, or worse. As each level reveals the extremes of human behavior under pressure, director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia turns this minimalist setting into a nightmarish social experiment.

The true terror lies not just in the gore or cannibalism, but in the film’s unflinching portrayal of inequality, greed, and moral decay. With its bleak atmosphere and razor-sharp allegory, The Platform holds up a dark mirror to real-world systems — and dares viewers to ask whether we’d act any differently if we were the ones above or below.

Piggy

Carlota Pereda’s Piggy (Cerdita, 2022) takes the raw terror of teenage bullying and twists it into a brutal, morally charged horror story. Sara, an overweight teen relentlessly tormented by her peers, becomes an unwitting accomplice when she witnesses her bullies being abducted by a mysterious man — and chooses to stay silent. What follows isn’t a typical revenge tale, but a harrowing exploration of shame, complicity, and the blurred lines between justice and vengeance.

With a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes, critics have praised Piggy for using genre conventions to deliver sharp social commentary, noting how it “deploys genre thrills in service of deeper reflection.” Pereda refuses to offer easy catharsis; instead, she creates a tense, morally ambiguous scenario that leaves viewers questioning their own instincts as the violence intensifies. Equal parts disturbing and emotionally resonant, Piggy is one of the most provocative and thought-provoking entries in modern Spanish horror.