My Top 10 Favorite Folk Horror Films

There’s just something about folk horror that strikes both fascination and terror into the hearts and minds of viewers. Folk tales offer a window into the ancient rituals of the past, but the heart of the genre begins and ends with a great back story. These tales teach us about love, faith, surrender, jealousy, revenge, and the power of forgiveness.

As always, I might have a few films you have seen on this list, but I will concentrate on the lesser know gems. Now, on to the movies!

A Dark Song

Directed by Liam Gavin

Synopsis:

A determined young woman and a damaged occultist risk their lives and souls to perform a dangerous ritual that will grant them what they want.

This is one of my all time favorite films. Magic in films is so often shown as a quick, easy display of power, but the magic here is gnosticism, which requires scrupulous study, preparation, and sacrifice. And this is very dangerous work – when you open some doors, anything can come out. The result is a film about grief, the constant powerplay between the sexes, and the will to achieve your goals.

All You Need Is Death

Directed by Paul Duane

Synopsis:

A young couple who collect rare folk ballads discover the dark side of love when they surreptitiously record and translate an ancient, taboo folk song from the deep, forgotten past.

I know I just reviewed it, but there is no doubt in my mind that this one will become a classic in the genre. It features an ancient backstory, spooky music, and nightmarish levels of dread. The love in this film will eat you down to the marrow.

Sator

Directed by Jordan Graham

Synopsis:

Secluded in a desolate forest, a broken family is observed by the demon, Sator, who is attempting to claim them.

This is the definition of a labor of love. It was written, directed, shot, and edited by Graham himself. He even built the cabin it was shot in. He based it on his grandmother’s automatic writing and a figure that she claims to have talked to for decades: Sator. And yes, that’s her in the film. Sator is a slow burn journey into the dark heart of a family’s unspoken curse.

Blood Quantum

Directed by Jeff Barnaby

Synopsis:

The dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi’kmaq reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indigenous inhabitants who are strangely immune to the zombie plague.

A very unique take on the zombie genre finds the Canadian Indigenous Red Crow people immune to a zombie outbreak. That’s right, after generations of being a social ill, white men have become actual monsters. Blood Quantum has plenty of the blood and guts every zombie film needs, with fantastic practical effects to boot. And like the best films in the genre, social history takes center stage in the this fight for the survival of mankind.

The Vigil

Directed by Keith Thomas

Synopsis:

A man providing overnight watch to a deceased member of his former Orthodox Jewish community finds himself opposite a malevolent entity.

Highlighting the Orthodox Jewish ritual of guarding a body before burial, this film is a tense balancing act at all times. It teeters between the living and the dead, the old world and the modern one, and between madness and reason.

The Queen of Black Magic

Directed by Joko Anwar

Synopsis:

Revisiting the orphanage where they grew up, three men and their families discover a horrific supernatural presence lingering in their former home.

Rarely has revenge been served up in such a delicious fashion. This film drips with an atmosphere as intense and foreboding as the spooky jungle surrounding the orphanage. This is definitely the most extreme of Anwar’s films in terms of blood and guts. And it’s such a great time.

Apostle

Directed by Gareth Evens

Synopsis:

In 1905, a drifter on a dangerous mission to rescue his kidnapped sister tangles with a sinister religious cult on an isolated island.

I really love this film. This, to me, is the perfect mix of pagan history, false prophet Christian zealotry, wild remote location, and torture devices straight out of Torquemada’s basement. Everything is just so on point here in terms of acting, story, and cinematography. One of the best folk horror films to come along in while.

Strigoi

Directed by Faye Jackson

Synopsis:

When the villagers killed Constantin Tirescu, they thought it was justice. Vlad Cozma thinks it was murder. Now Constantin thinks pickles might go nice with blood.

This film is an absolute riot. For the purposes of the film, a ‘strigoi’ is not a vampire in the traditional sense, but a living person who has been infected with vampirism. Once the infection takes over in the tiny Romanian village, absolutely no one knows what to do about it. The humor is dry and witty, and the story fresh and original.

Final Prayer (A.K.A. The Borderlands)

Directed by Elliot Goldner

Synopsis:

A team of Vatican investigators descend upon a church in a remote area to demystify the unusual happenings, but what they discover is more disturbing than they had first imagined.

A found footage style film that is slow burn, but OMFG, it has the most wild ending I’ve seen in a long time. The back story is interesting, the characters compelling, it has genuine scares throughout… and did I mention the ending? Don’t miss this one.

Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror

Directed by Kier-La Janisse

Synopsis:

A thorough overview and dissection of the subgenre of folk horror, with contributions from many of the major creators and clips from cinema all over the world.

Are you looking for practically every folk horror movie ever? Well then, this is the documentary for you! At just over three hours long, you are sure to find something to watch here! This is absolutely essential viewing for any serious horror fan.

Are there any films I’m missing? Let me know in the comments below.