Love Is Ugly: 10 Valentine’s Day Film Recommendations
February 14, 2023 ● Meltem Yalcin Evren
1. The Shiver of the Vampires (1971) dir. Jean Rollin
In Jean Rollin’s third vampire movie, a young honeymooning couple stop for the night at an ancient castle. Unbeknownst to them, the castle is home to a horde of vampires, who have their own plans for the couple.
Available on: Arrow GB & BFI Player GB
2. Nekromantik (1988) dir. Jörg Buttgereit
A street sweeper who cleans up after grisly accidents brings home a full corpse for him and his wife to enjoy sexually but is dismayed to see that his wife prefers the corpse over him.
Available on: Arrow GB & Shudder GB
3. May (2002) dir. Lucky McKee
A socially awkward veterinary assistant with a lazy eye and obsession with perfection descends into depravity after developing a crush on a boy with perfect hands.
Available to rent on: Amazon GB & iTunes GB
4. Breaking the Waves (1996) dir. Lars von Trier
In a small and conservative Scottish village, a woman’s paralytic husband convinces her to have extramarital intercourse so she can tell him about it and give him a reason for living.
Available on: Mubi GB
5. The Honeymoon Killers (1970) dir. Leonard Kastle
Raymond, a con man, contacts Martha through a lonely hearts club directory and the two become romantically involved. Martha joins Raymond in his schemes and the pair embark on a killing spree of wealthy single women.
Available on: BFI Player GB
6. Valentine (2001) dir. Jamie Blanks
Four friends start to receive morbid Valentine's cards and realise someone is stalking them. A masked killer is on the loose and Valentine's day is soon approaching.
Available to rent on: Amazon GB & iTunes GB
7. Frankenhooker (1990) dir. Frank Henenlotter
A New Jersey mad doctor (James Lorinz) rebuilds his girlfriend (Patty Mullen) with body parts from exploded hookers.
Available on: Shudder GB & US
8. The Blood Spattered Bride (1972) dir. Vicente Aranda
Newlyweds in a haunted mansion discover that their strange visitor is a 200-year-old reincarnated killer.
Available on: Amazon US & Tubi US
9. The Loved Ones (2009) dir. Sean Byrne
When Brent turns down his classmate Lola's invitation to the prom, she enlists Daddy’s help to throw a prom of her own, where she is queen and Brent is king – whether he likes it or not.
Available to rent on: Amazon GB & iTunes GB
10. The Hunger (1983) dir. Tony Scott
Miriam promises her lovers the gift of eternal life, but John, her companion for centuries, suddenly discovers that he is getting old minute by minute, so he looks for Dr. Sarah Roberts, a researcher on the mechanisms of ageing, and asks her for help.
Available to rent on: Amazon GB & iTunes GB