Enjoy Supernatural Terror? You’ll Love These 10 Horror Films Based on Folklore

Based on the British horror novel by Adam Nevill of the same name, The Ritual is a Netflix original film that is rooted in Norse mythology. The movie follows a group of friends that wander into the woods of Sweden, only to get lost. During their journey, hallucinations of their greatest fears plague them as they find odd occult symbols and dead animals strung up in trees. While the original monster of the book is tied more closely to Odin, it’s revealed that the creature stalking the protagonists through the woods is none other than Moder, the bastard daughter of Loki.

Based on the manga and anime series of the same name, Netflix’s Death Note is a Westernised reimagining of the franchise. The film follows a young man who finds a supernatural notebook that is able to kill anyone whose name is written in it. Each death note has a Shinigami – a Japanese death god – bound to it that carries out the instructions written in the book by its owner.

The Conjuring is based on a real-life paranormal investigation led by Ed and Lorraine Warren. Set in Harrisville, Rhode Island, a family moves into a home that is haunted by the spirit of an evil witch named Bathsheba Sherman. Although it is unknown if Bathsheba was an actual person, a documentary titled Bathsheba: Search for Evil explores this legend more thoroughly.

Sinister is a supernatural horror movie that follows Ellison Oswalt, a true crime author who believes moving his entire family into a home where an infamous murder happened will inspire his next novel. In the home, Ellison finds a box of super 8 reels, each one depicting a violent murder performed by the cameraman. However, upon closer inspection, each film has a looming figure somewhere in the background. This unknown entity is later revealed to be Bagul, a pagan deity that feasts on the souls of children. While Bagul isn’t exactly from any specific folklore tale, this creature does share a lot of similarities with the Boogeyman, an infamous child-eating monster that many kids are familiar with and fear.

While it’s up for debate if Pan’s Labyrinth is an actual horror film, there’s so much unsettling imagery and creatures from various folklore tales that it’s hard not to include it on this list. The film is centered on Ofelia, an 11-year-old girl who runs away from her sadistic stepfather after she meets a fairy that introduces her to a faun. The faun tells her that she is royalty and whisks her away to Pan’s Labyrinth, a magical world full of mystical creatures and monsters. However, in order to prove her worth, she must undergo three terrifying tasks that put her face-to-face with some of the scariest creatures in cinema history.

Considering vampires are one of the most notorious creatures of all time, it’s inevitable that a movie centring on these monsters would also be included in this list. 30 Days of Night is set in the town of Barrow, Alaska, right before the region faces a 30-day night. Unlike other vampire films, 30 Days of Night creates an environment in which vampires can roam as freely as they like, setting the stage for some uniquely terrifying scenarios.

Gretel & Hansel offers a refreshing take on the Grimm Fairytale. The story of two children being lured into the home of a witch who wishes to eat them has been retold through literature, television, and film alike, but Gretel & Hansel focuses on Gretel’s personal growth. As an audience, we join Gretel on her journey of self-discovery as she learns the witch’s guidance.

Hereditary is a deeply unsettling horror film that deals with loss and the supernatural. The film follows the Grahams, a family of four who experience serious trauma when their 13-year-old daughter, Charlie, is accidentally killed. Charlie’s brother Peter, and their mother Annie begin experiencing odd hallucinations that they chalk up to grief. However, as the incidents grow more violent, the family eventually uncovers that a demon king named Paimon is linked to the Grahams, and he has no plans of letting them go.

Similar to our previous entry about vampires, it would be difficult not to mention at least one werewolf film. Blood Moon is a recent entry in Hulu’s television film series, Into the Dark. The movie follows Esme and her son as they move to a small town in the middle of the desert. Harboring a serious secret, Esme searches for a safe place to protect her son while they await the next full moon.

Ju-On: The Grudge is probably the most recognizable of the many Japanese horror films that have come out over the years. The film is based on the urban legend of Kayoko, a Japanese folk tale that focuses on the idea that a curse is born when someone is murdered in a jealous rage. This movie was eventually remade as The Grudge in 2004, however, nothing beats the original.