Folk horror has only recently been recognized as a distinct subgenre, even though some of its most famous works–including Witchfinder General, The Blood on Satan’s Claw, and The Wicker Man–came out in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Many folk horror movies focus on isolated communities that get swept up in dangerous superstitions, while others highlight the darkness in aspects of folk culture, such as music, stories, and rituals. Over the decades, what was once considered a British phenomenon has flourished into a worldwide fascination.

The 2020s, in particular, have seen an explosion of folk horror movies. It’s hard to say exactly what inspired the trend, but the popularity of Ari Aster’s Midsommar (2019) and rising interest in folklore seem to be contributing factors. The folk horror movies of the last few years have proven that the genre is more than just pagans and stone circles; from the glacial valleys of Iceland to the ancestral burial grounds of South Korea, the settings of modern folk horror are more diverse than ever.

They are:

1. The Feast (2021)
2. You Won’t Be Alone (2022)
3. Exhuma (2024)
4. Starve Acre (2023)
5. Enys Men (2022)
6. Lamb (2021)
7. Huesera: The Bone Woman (2022)
8. The Devil’s Bath (2024)
9. Hellbender (2021)
10. All You Need Is Death (2023)