11 Best folklore horror movies to watch

the ritual
Credit: Netflix

Folklore is the lore (stories, customs, and beliefs) of a group of people that is passed down generationally, usually by word of mouth. Imagine all of that presented to you with elements of horror. And if you are one of those who loves horror, folklore horror has to be on the top of your list.

It won’t be wrong to say that folklore horror never disappoints and comes with a lot of information about various communities passed on by many generations. So, if you are someone who binges on horror, or someone who hasn’t tasted folklore horror yet, here is a list of the best folklore horror movies to watch.

The Wicker Man

Where to watch: Prime Video

The Wicker man
Credits – Prime Video

Adapted from the novel named ‘Ritual’ by David Pinner, this movie was released in the year of 2006 with a run time of 1 hour 45 minutes and features Nicolas Cage, Kate Beahan and Molly Parker. The movie revolves around the story of a man named Edward who decides to help out his ex-fiancé, who lives on a private island with a community that follows odd cult things.

Midsommar

Where to watch: Apple TV

MIDSOMMAR | Official Trailer HD | A24

Released in 2019, this gem of a horror movie by the genius Ari Aster is a folk horror tale. You cannot deny watching it after knowing that Florence Pugh is the lead character of the movie. The film is a 2-hour 51-minute watch. The story is of a couple ‘Dani & Christian’ who visit their friend’s hometown in Sweden for a renowned mid-summer festival, which is exactly not that but something you cannot predict. The film is a treat to cinematic freaks, with a pleasing use of lights and colors, making it yet more disturbing.

The Blair Witch Project

Where to watch: Apple TV, Google Play movies

The blair witch project
Credits – Amazon Prime Video

A 1999 Indie horror movie which is 1 hour 21 minutes long. The movie follows the story of a blair witch legend and 3 film students who actually dared to go to the Maryland woods to make a documentary on the same.

The Wailing

Where to watch:  Prime Video, MX player

The Wailing
Credits – Prime Video

Released in the year of 2016, this movie is 2 hours and 36 minutes long. South Korean horror is dark in its own way, and so is this one. The movie follows the story of the appearance of a weird foreign man in a village, and then the village experiences a mysterious epidemic.

The Exorcist: Believer

Where to watch: Netflix, Prime Video

The Exorcist: Believer | Official Trailer

This one is a thriller horror movie for giving you some Halloween vibes. It features Ellen Burstyn, Olivia O’Neill, and Lidya Jewett. The movie is the new installment of The Exorcist horror franchise and revolves around a single father who seeks help from a person who is the only person to help him in the matter of demonic possession of his daughter and friend Katherine.

Evil Dead Rise

Where to watch: Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Apple TV

EVIL DEAD RISE - Official Trailer - (Redband)

A horror fantasy film features Bruce Campbell, Besty Baker, and Ted Raimi. The horror genre is incomplete without this movie and its sequel movies, and it follows the story of a group of friends who play a tape filled with incantation, which leads to the release of demonic entities.

Hereditary

Where to watch: Netflix, Prime Video, Hotstar and other streaming services

Hereditary | Official Trailer HD | A24

Another horror masterpiece by Ari Aster, released in 2018 is a psychological horror movie with a brilliant cast including Toni Collette and Alex Wolff. A 2hr 7 minute movie with a slow yet grasping plot will make you rethink your own thoughts and leave you with flashbacks of the strange unsettled clips from the movie. The story is of a grieving family who lost their matriarch and is facing old and new traumas. 

The Ritual

Where to watch: Netflix

The Ritual | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Released in 2017, featuring Rafe Spall, Sam Troughton, and Paul Reid this movie is a 1 hour 34 minutes watch. The movie follows the story of 4 friends who go on a trip to the Swedish wilderness, where they are accompanied by something unexpected.

Candyman

Where to watch: Prime Video

Candyman - Official Trailer 2

Part of the Candyman horror film series, this one was released in 2021 and is a 1-hour 31-minute watch. The film features Jordan Peele, Tony Todd, and Virginia Madsen and revolves around the story of an artist who tries to explore the disturbing history of Candyman, unaware of the violent experience he is putting himself into. 

The Babadook

Where to watch: Prime Video

The Babadook
Credits – Prime Video

This movie’s name is uttered by many horror movie freaks even though it was released in the year of 2014, with a run time of 1 hour 33 minutes. The movie is about a single mother and his son named Samuel or Sam, who start seeing visuals of a weird monster figure named Babadook. The whole movie will hit you when you know the how and why behind the Babadook.

The Witch

Where to watch: Google Play movies, Prime Video

The Witch | Official Trailer HD | A24

Released in the year of 2015, this movie falls into the genre of drama-horror and follows the story of a Puritan family who sets up a farm in a remote forest and witnesses the horror of witchcraft.

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