Scotland has a long history of the darker side of life; with violent battles, murders and grisly tales a common theme throughout our past.
Stories of those cave-dwelling cannibals, the devilish Bean clan, and the body-snatching exploits of Burke and Hare have long fascinated generations of Scots.
Couple that with our deep affinity for all things supernatural and fey and you have a fertile playground for creating some truly brilliant horror stories.
So, if you fancy enjoying a scary film set somewhere that's more than a little familiar this Halloween – then these films should be on your watch list this Halloween season.
This week's top Scotland Now stories
Dog Soldiers (2002 - set in the Highlands)
Arguably the best werewolf film of the past two decades (well, at least since American Werewolf in London), Dog Soldiers sees a top cast of British actors including Scots actor Kevin McKidd, upcoming English actress Emma Cleasby and the legendary Sean Pertwee take on some of the best depiction of werewolves you'll see anywhere.
A group of soldiers led by Sergeant Harry G. Wells (Pertwee) are on a training exercise in the Highlands when things start to go terribly wrong.
Wicker Man (1973 – set on the fictional Scottish island of Summerisle)
Let's be clear here, we are talking about the original and not the Nicholas Cage-led remake.
This 1970s folk horror classic paved the way for modern hits like Midsommar and saw Christopher Lee at his very best. Featuring Edward Woodward (of Equaliser fame), it focuses on a Police Sergeant (played by Woodward) who heads to an isolated Scottish island in search of a missing girl.
From there, it's a quick descent into madness and plays on the unique fears of people who are outsiders finding themselves in the midst of a community of strangers.
Calibre (2016 - set in the Highlands)
Currently available on streaming site Netflix, this tense thriller sits alongside other indy British films such as Dead Mans Shoes or the Kill List as one of those films you just can't tear your eyes away from.
An uncomfortable but intensely gripping look at how quickly things can spiral out of control when you are forced to make tough decisions.
A tight plot revolving around two friends going on a hunting expedition in the Highlands, Jack Lowden, who stars as Vaughn, and the excellent Tony Curran as Logan, really shine as part of this brilliant cast.
Try to avoid any spoilers and go in with fresh eyes, and you'll be rewarded with one of the most intense films you'll have watched in years.
The Body Snatcher (1945 - set in Edinburgh)
With a stellar horror cast including the legendary monster actors Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, The Body Snatcher is a novel twist on the Burke and Hare fueled body-snatching of Edinburgh's dark past.
Set in Edinburgh in the 1830s, it follows the story of Donald Fettes (played by Russell Wade) who discovers his mentor's dark secret and his sinister connections to a local cabbie (played by Karloff).
Based on the short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, it's a thrilling horror that mirrors the unsettling truth of how body-snatching became a very real problem in the capital.
Under the Skin (2013 – set in Glasgow)
This cult classic was as much an experiment in filming as it was a film and follows Scarlett Johansson as she navigates the dark streets of Glasgow looking for men.
The twist? Director Jonathan Glazer (of Sexy Beast fame) cast non-actors in most of the roles and used hidden cameras and filmed unaware residents of the city to make the film more realistic.
The uncompromising result is part horror/part sci-fi and is as unsettling as you'd expect, made even more so by the fact that its leading lady is taking a vast departure from her normally glitzy Hollywood roles.
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