Occult horror is a broad category that encompasses witches, rituals, cult activity, supernatural beings, and devil worship. Much of the horror genre has ties to the occult, but some films explore the terrifying corners of the dark and bizarre with a more otherworldly focus. With so many choices from classics to modern hits, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. But we at The Lineup have cultivated a list of 8 of the best occult movies you can watch tonight.
Related: Ultimate List of Classic Horror Movies Every Fan Must See At Least Once
Rosemary's Baby
A classic that can't be missed, this film is based on the novel of the same name by Ira Levin. A young couple, Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and Guy Woodhouse (John Cassavetes) move into a New York City apartment building with a dark history. When Rosemary finds out she's pregnant, her neighbors Roman (Sidney Blackmer) and Minnie Castevet (Ruth Gordon) seem almost too eager to help...
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A Dark Song
This underrated indie horror film follows the embittered Sophia Howard (Catherine Walker) after the death of her young son. Renting a home in the Welsh countryside, she approaches occultist Joseph Solomon (Steve Oram) for help with a dangerous ritual. With their souls on the line, they attempt to summon forth Sophia's guardian angel, but the woman's agenda may not be quite what it seems.
Noroi: The Curse
In this gripping found footage film, documentarian and paranormal researcher Masafumi Kobayashi (Jin Muraki) is looking to a string of paranormal incidents. Strange deaths, incredible psychic abilities, and the sudden disappearance of a young girl all seem to be linked to an ancient demon called Kagutaba. But the closer those involved get to answers, the more they find themselves in danger.
Hereditary
This masterpiece of occult horror will stay with you long after it's finished. Starring Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, and Milly Shapiro, the film follows a family as they begin to fracture beneath the weight of grief. At the same time, a dark supernatural presence creeps in around them, plaguing each of them with disturbing, otherworldly experiences.
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The Evil Dead (1981)
A cult classic that has turned Bruce Campbell into a pop culture icon, this film follows five college students as they set off for a vacation in a remote cabin in the woods. When they find a strange book and audio recording, an incantation summons a powerful evil force. One by one the evil takes them over, leaving a lone survivor to fight off the threat until morning.
Suspiria (2018)
American ballerina Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson) travels to Berlin to study at Madame Blanc's world-renowned Markos Tanz company. The murder of a recently expelled student gives a glimpse into the darkness surrounding this school, and as other chilling occurrences happen around her, Susie begins to suspect that the company was involved in the killing.
The Witch
When a family is shunned from their religious community in 1630s New England, they relocate to an isolated home in the wilderness. As hardship and tragedy befall them, the tensions of their new life cause them to turn on themselves. But a dark presence lingers all too close, preying upon their sins and vulnerabilities.
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The House of the Devil
Set in 1983, this film brings to life the anxieties of the "satanic panic" of the era. Samantha Hughes (Jocelin Donahue) is a college student desperate for cash. Taking on an unconventional babysitting job, she starts to notice strange things about her clients and their home. The oncoming lunar eclipse may hold more danger than she could imagine.
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