7 Terrifying Korean Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween
When spooky season rolls around, horror fans everywhere go searching for the scariest, smartest, and most original fright flicks. If you’re tired of the usual Western slashers, it’s time to dip into Korean horror movies — a genre that blends supernatural chills with social commentary and unforgettable storytelling.
Here are seven Korean horror films that deserve a spot on your Halloween watchlist in 2025.
1. Dark Nuns (2025) — Faith vs. Fear
Freshly released in January 2025, Dark Nuns (검은 수녀들) is already being hailed as the next big Korean exorcism horror movie. A spin-off of 2015’s The Priests, the film follows two nuns (played by Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-been) who defy church law to perform a forbidden exorcism on a possessed boy.
With its eerie candlelit rituals, battle against church authority, and emotional stakes, Dark Nuns delivers more than jump scares — it’s a tense spiritual thriller perfect for Halloween night.
👻 A chilling Korean exorcism thriller where two nuns defy the church to save a possessed boy. Perfect for a dark, atmospheric Halloween watch.
2. The Ghost Game (2025) — Do Not Play
Another fresh release for 2025, The Ghost Game (강령: 귀신놀이) taps into a terrifying urban legend about a group of students who attempt a forbidden séance-style ritual for fun — only to awaken something far darker. Expect creepy corridors, supernatural revenge, and a grim lesson about playing with forces beyond your control.
This one is ideal for fans of Ouija-style horror and paranormal survival stories.
🖤 A terrifying 2025 Korean horror where a group of students play a forbidden spirit-summoning game and unleash deadly consequences. Perfect for Halloween chills.
3. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) — Found-Footage Nightmare
Considered one of the scariest Korean horror movies of the past decade, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum takes the found-footage format to new heights. A web team livestreams their overnight stay inside a notorious abandoned asylum — and quickly discovers the spirits inside are all too real.
With genuine jump scares and relentless tension, this is a perfect Halloween movie to watch with friends in the dark.
🏥 A spine-tingling found-footage Korean horror where a livestream crew explores an abandoned asylum and discovers the haunting is all too real.
4. The Call (2020) — Time-Bending Terror
The Call isn’t just a thriller — it’s a nerve-shredding Korean horror movie about two women connected by a mysterious phone call across time. When the woman in the past begins altering events, the consequences for the present become terrifying.
It’s part psychological thriller, part supernatural nightmare — and a great pick for viewers who like their horror with a sci-fi twist.
📱 A tense Korean thriller where two women connected by a mysterious phone call across time set off a deadly chain of events that blurs past and present.
5. The Mimic (2017) — A Chilling Folk Legend
Inspired by Korea’s mythical Jangsan Tiger, The Mimic tells the story of a creature that lures victims by imitating human voices. A grieving family moves near a forest and soon encounters something that knows exactly how to prey on their pain.
This is atmospheric, folklore-infused horror at its best — perfect for fans of The Babadook or The Witch.
🧙♀️ A creepy Korean folk-horror about a shape-shifting creature that mimics human voices to lure its victims, inspired by the Jangsan Tiger legend.
6. Bedevilled (2010) — Human Horror on a Remote Island
Not all great horror is supernatural. In Bedevilled, a woman returns to her childhood island to escape her life in Seoul — only to witness the brutal abuse of her childhood friend. What follows is a slow-burn descent into rage and bloody revenge.
This film is more psychological and social horror than ghost story, but it’s one of Korea’s most powerful and disturbing genre entries.
👹 A gripping Korean horror-thriller about a woman returning to her isolated hometown, uncovering abuse, and witnessing a chilling descent into revenge.
7. The Wrath (2018) — Classic Ghostly Revenge
Set during Korea’s Joseon era, The Wrath is a period horror film dripping with atmosphere. After a series of mysterious deaths in a noble family, whispers of a vengeful spirit emerge.
Combining traditional costumes, candlelit mansions, and deadly secrets, The Wrath is a chilling mix of historical drama and ghost story — a perfect mood-setter for Halloween night.
🩸 A haunting period horror set in Korea’s Joseon era, where a vengeful spirit terrorizes a noble family in a tale of secrets, betrayal, and ghostly revenge.
Why Korean Horror Movies Belong on Your Halloween Watchlist
From forbidden exorcisms (Dark Nuns) to urban legends (The Ghost Game) and folk horror (The Mimic), Korean filmmakers excel at taking familiar scares and making them feel new, cultural, and deeply unsettling. These films don’t just shock; they explore themes of guilt, authority, trauma, and revenge, making their horror hit even harder.
This Halloween, dim the lights, grab some snacks, and press play on one (or all!) of these terrifying Korean horror movies. Whether you want ghosts, curses, or pure human darkness, Korea’s genre masters have something to haunt you long after the credits roll.