Witch and Occult Horror

The witch endures as one of horror's most potent figures — feared, persecuted, and powerful. Occult horror draws on centuries of folklore and superstition, from Salem to modern covens. These films explore what happens when forbidden knowledge is unleashed.

20 films — with streaming info

The Witch (2015)

The Witch(2015)

Fits this vibe: witch · folk-horror ritual · isolation

Drama, Fantasy · 92 min · Dir. Robert Eggers

StreamableWell reviewed
witchisolationfolk-horrorsupernatural

New England, 1630: William and Katherine try to lead a devout Christian life, homesteading on the edge of an impassible wilderness, with five children. When their newborn son mysteriously vanishes and

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The Blair Witch Project(1999)

Fits this vibe: witch · urban legend · found footage

Horror, Mystery · 81 min · Dir. Daniel Myrick

StreamableUnder 90 minWell reviewed
witchurban-legendfound-footagepsychological

In search of a local legend, three bold amateur documentarians--director, Heather; cameraman, Josh; sound recorder, Mike--hike into Burkittsville's gloomy Black Hills Forest to find a shadow: the fabl

Curse of the Demon (1957)

Curse of the Demon(1957)

Fits this vibe: occult threat · folk-horror ritual · curse

Fantasy, Horror · 96 min · Dir. Jacques Tourneur

StreamableHidden gem
curseoccultsatanic-cultsupernatural

Dr. John Holden ventures to London to attend a paranormal psychology symposium with the intention to expose devil cult leader Julian Karswell. Holden is a skeptic and does not believe in Karswell's po

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters(2013)

Fits this vibe: witch · witch hunt · action

Action, Fantasy · 88 min · Dir. Tommy Wirkola

StreamableUnder 90 min
witchcannibalismdark-fantasyrevenge

Siblings Hansel and Gretel are left alone in the woods by their father and captured by a dark witch in a candy house, but they kill the witch and escape. Years later, the orphans have become famous wi

The Craft (1996)

The Craft(1996)

Fits this vibe: witch · occult threat · female friendship

Drama, Fantasy · 101 min · Dir. Andrew Fleming

Well reviewed
witchfemale-friendshipoccultteen-scream

In Los Angeles, the teenager Sarah Bailey has just arrived from San Francisco with her father Mr. Bailey and her stepmother to live in an old house. When she goes to the Catholic high school, she is n

A Dark Song (2016)

A Dark Song(2016)

Fits this vibe: occult threat · folk-horror ritual · bleak family trauma

Drama, Horror · 100 min · Dir. Liam Gavin

Streamable
griefritualoccultsupernatural

Sophia Howard rents a house in the countryside of Wales and hires the occultist Joseph Solomon to contact her son that was kidnapped and murdered by teenagers practicing black magic. Along the days, S

Satan's Slave (1976)

Satan's Slave(1976)

Fits this vibe: cult · occult threat · ritual

Drama, Horror · 86 min · Dir. Norman J. Warren

StreamableUnder 90 min
cultritualsatanoccult

A young girl is caught up in a devil cult run by her evil uncle and cousin. She can trust no one and even people she thought were dead comes back to haunt her.

Viy (1967)

Viy(1967)

Fits this vibe: witch · folk-horror ritual · demon

Drama, Fantasy · 77 min · Dir. Konstantin Ershov

StreamableUnder 90 minHidden gem
witchfolk-horrorgothicsupernatural

Getting lost, wandering home whilst on leave from his seminary, novice monk Khoma stays in the barn of an old woman. A scuffle breaks out. Later, he is summoned to stand and pray over a young dead wom

The Witch Files (2018)

The Witch Files(2018)

Horror, Thriller · 87 min · Dir. Kyle Rankin

StreamableUnder 90 min

A coven of young women with incredible powers and difficult pasts discovers that they are able to make their every wish come true. Things, however, take a dangerous turn when they discover that their

The Unholy (2021)

The Unholy(2021)

Fits this vibe: witch · religious horror · demon

Drama, Horror · 99 min · Dir. Evan Spiliotopoulos

witchreligious-horrorpossessionmelancholy

After a supposed visitation from the Virgin Mary, Alice, a young hearing-impaired girl, is inexplicably able to hear, speak and heal the sick. As word spreads and people from near and far flock to wit

Pyewacket (2017)

Pyewacket(2017)

Drama, Horror · 88 min · Dir. Adam MacDonald

StreamableUnder 90 min
occult

A frustrated, angst-ridden teenage girl awakens something in the woods when she naively performs an occult ritual to evoke a witch to kill her mother.

Black Sunday (1960)

Black Sunday(1960)

Fits this vibe: witch · curse · gothic

Horror · 87 min · Dir. Mario Bava

Under 90 minHidden gem
witchcursegothicrevenge

In the Seventeenth Century, in Maldavia, Princess Asa Vajda and her lover Javutich (Arturo Dominici) are killed by the local population, accused of witchcraft. A mask of Satan is attached to their fac

The Devil Rides Out (1968)

The Devil Rides Out(1968)

Fits this vibe: occult threat · folk-horror ritual · satanism

Horror · 95 min · Dir. Terence Fisher

StreamableHidden gem
satanismoccultritual-sacrificesupernatural

In the countryside of England, the Duc de Richleau a.k.a Nicholas welcomes his old friend Rex Van Ryn that has flown to meet him and Simon Aron, who is the son of an old friend of them that had passed

Gretel & Hansel (2020)

Gretel & Hansel(2020)

Fits this vibe: witch · folk-horror ritual · witchcraft

Fantasy, Horror · 87 min · Dir. Osgood Perkins

StreamableUnder 90 min
witchdark-fantasyfolk-horrorsupernatural

Siblings, Gretel and Hansel live in the countryside with their mother. When times are hard and Gretel can't find work, their mother sends them out to fend for themselves. As they journey through the d

The Lords of Salem (2012)

The Lords of Salem(2012)

Fits this vibe: witch · occult threat · satanism

Horror, Thriller · 101 min · Dir. Rob Zombie

Streamable
witchsatanismoccultpsychological

Heidi, a blond rock chick, DJs at a local radio station, and together with the two Hermans (Whitey and Munster) forms part of the "Big H Radio Team." A mysterious wooden box containing a vinyl record

Shaitaan (2024)

Shaitaan(2024)

Fits this vibe: family horror · black magic · trust violation

Drama, Horror · 132 min · Dir. Vikas Bahl

Streamable2+ hoursWell reviewed
occultfamily-horrortrust-violationsupernatural

A family's getaway turns terrifying when an intruder possesses the teen daughter's body, putting her at the mercy of his increasingly sinister commands.

Fear Street: Part Three - 1666 (2021)

Fear Street: Part Three - 1666(2021)

Fits this vibe: witchcraft · witch hunt · historical horror

Horror, Mystery · 114 min · Dir. Leigh Janiak

StreamableWell reviewed
curseoccultwitch-huntteenage-girl

1666. An unspeakable evil has cast its unholy shadow over Union, the original settlement before its division into Sunnyvale and Shadyside, ushering in a new era of misfortune and terror. In the afterm

House of Spoils (2024)

House of Spoils(2024)

Drama, Horror · 101 min · Dir. Bridget Savage Cole

Streamable

It tells the story of a chef who opens her first restaurant where she battles kitchen chaos, a dubious investor and self doubt, but the pressure heats up thanks to the spirit of the estate's previous

Baba Yaga (1973)

Baba Yaga(1973)

Fits this vibe: witch · occult threat · dreams

Drama, Horror · 89 min · Dir. Corrado Farina

StreamableUnder 90 min
witchdreamssupernaturaloccult

Strange things have been happening to Valentina, a young and beautiful professional photographer, ever since she made the acquaintance of Baba Yaga, a mysterious older woman who gave her a lift home l

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Rosemary's Baby(1968)

Fits this vibe: occult threat · satanism · paranoid isolation

Drama, Horror · 137 min · Dir. Roman Polanski

Streamable2+ hoursAcclaimed
satanismoccultpsychologicaldemonic-possession

Desiring to start their family, young Catholic homemaker Rosemary Woodhouse and her struggling-actor husband Guy move into The Bramford: New York City's iconic building that brims with unpleasant stor

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are some must-watch witch horror films?

Some standout witch horror films include 'The Witch,' 'Hereditary,' and 'Suspiria.' Each of these titles explores the eerie intersection of witchcraft, folklore, and psychological terror.

How does occult horror differ from traditional horror?

Occult horror often delves into supernatural themes, rituals, and the dark side of human nature, whereas traditional horror may focus more on physical threats or monsters. This genre invites viewers to confront their fears surrounding the unknown and the supernatural.

Can you recommend films that explore modern covens?

For a glimpse into modern covens, check out 'The Love Witch,' 'The Craft,' and 'Midsommar.' These films blend contemporary settings with ancient practices, showcasing the enduring allure and fear of witchcraft.

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Witch and Occult Horror — 20 Horror Films to Watch | Horrorsight