7 Horror Movies About Cults That Rewrote the Rules of the Genre

The term “cult movie” can mean two things. Sometimes it refers to a movie that didn’t become popular right away but later gained a dedicated following. Other times, it describes a film that focuses on strange or dangerous religious groups.

As a fan, I’ve noticed that the lines between what’s considered classic folk horror and what becomes a cult hit can be really blurry. Some films take a while to find their audience and become appreciated later, while others immediately felt like something totally new and exciting. It’s also pretty cool how many amazing cult movies actually feature cults themselves, and how they’ve all helped shape the genre in different ways.

Midsommar Is Cinema’s Most Unsettling Break-Up Story

Ari Aster’s 2019 film, Midsommar, includes nearly every common element of folk horror – from awkward dancing to disturbing rituals. But what really sets it apart, beyond its shocking imagery, is its focus on the complexities of love and relationships.

Florence Pugh gives a remarkable performance as Dani, a woman coping with a terrible loss who joins her emotionally unavailable boyfriend, Christian (Jack Reynor), and his friends on a trip to Sweden for a traditional midsummer festival. What starts as a picturesque getaway quickly turns into a deeply unsettling experience for the group, dramatically altering Dani’s life and relationships.

The Wicker Man Set the Standard For Cult Horror Movies

The film Midsommar shares similarities with many other horror movies. However, it’s completely different from the 2006 thriller starring Nicolas Cage, which presented a wildly over-the-top and inaccurate portrayal of feminism.

Robin Hardy’s 1973 film, Ritual, based on David Pinner’s novel, is a chilling and brilliant movie. It stars Edward Woodward as a British police sergeant who journeys to the Scottish island of Summersisle to find a missing girl. He soon discovers that the islanders’ ancient pagan beliefs clash with his strong Christian faith, and his investigation becomes a dangerous struggle for survival. Christopher Lee plays the lord of the island.

Hereditary Makes Cult Worship a Family Business

Though Ari Aster became known for his unsettling work with Midsommar, his first feature film, Hereditary, initially showcased his unique vision. The 2018 thriller stars Toni Collette in a powerful role as a mother dealing with immense grief, which is compounded by increasingly strange and frightening events.

Okay, so I just finished watching this A24 film, and it’s really stuck with me. It’s being hailed as a new take on folk horror, and honestly, that’s an understatement. The filmmakers brilliantly held back on revealing the truly dark, cult-like stuff until the very end, which was a smart move. But what really makes this movie special isn’t just the scares—it’s how honestly and painfully it deals with the way trauma gets passed down through families. It’s a tough watch, but a really powerful one.

Martyrs Depicts the Most Brutally Evil Cult Imaginable

Most horror movies about cults involve a quick, sacrificial death for the main character, meant to please the cult’s god. But the cult in the 2008 film Martyrs has a different goal for its rituals, and they definitely don’t rush the process.

Pascal Laugier’s early film, a key work in the French Extremist cinema scene, tells the story of a woman seeking revenge on the group that kidnapped and tortured her as a teenager. Years prior, she was held captive and subjected to a disturbing ritual, as her captors believed it would grant young women insight into the mysteries of the afterlife.

Rosemary’s Baby Demonstrates How It Takes a Village to Raise a Demon

Ruth Gordon, famous for her role in Rosemary’s Baby, plays Minnie Castevet, a nosy neighbor. Her constant attempts to help her pregnant neighbor, Rosemary (Mia Farrow), become truly frightening when the real reason behind her meddling is uncovered.

Rosemary’s neighbors are strangely fixated on her pregnancy, as she’s unknowingly carrying the Devil’s child and they’ve been anticipating his arrival. This groundbreaking 1968 film not only revolutionized horror, but also pioneered a terrifying exploration of motherhood in thrillers.

The Invitation Tests Its Hero’s Tolerance of Awkward Gatherings… and Cult Practices

Cults often attract people who are vulnerable and longing for connection, especially after a difficult experience. This is illustrated in the 2016 film The Invitation, where Eden (Tammy Blanchard), the ex-wife of the main character, becomes involved with a strangely upbeat cult after a personal tragedy.

Don’t mistake this film for the 2022 vampire movie of the same name. Director Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation is a tense and unsettling thriller. It centers around a reunion hosted by Eden and her husband (Michel Huisman), where guest Will feels increasingly uneasy and senses a hidden danger. His attempts to warn everyone are dismissed, highlighting the film’s insightful exploration of social isolation, all leading to a shocking and unexpected twist.

The House of the Devil Is the Ultimate Satanic Panic Throwback

A key ingredient in great folk horror is paranoia – the unsettling feeling of not knowing whether to trust your instincts about someone or something. This is particularly effective when combined with the isolation of a situation like babysitting in an unfamiliar home, which is exactly what makes The House of the Devil so frightening.

Before directing the X Trilogy, Ti West gained recognition with this 2009 film, starring Joceline Donahue as a college student needing money. She takes a strange job on the night of a lunar eclipse. Set in the 1980s, the movie connects to the widespread but irrational fears about Satanism that existed in the United States then. The House of the Devil explores what might happen if those fears turned out to be real.

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2026-03-05 00:42