2022 has been a particularly strong year for horror movies with demons, with new releases such as Allegoria and The Harbinger hitting screens. Of course, these movies are part of a long and venerable tradition within the movies of showing demons in various forms, usually as a being that possesses the body of another, with predictably horrifying results.
Though there are many such movies that have been released over the years, the users of Reddit have helpfully identified just which of these should be regarded as the best that this particular horror sub-genre has to offer.
Demons (1985)
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The 1980s was a great time for horror movies, particularly those that immersed viewers in a dark and brutally violent world. Such is the case with Demons, an Italian movie that focuses on a group of people who find themselves trapped in a theater filled with ravenous demons.
groovyhorrorscifi writes: “The first one that springs to mind is the italian gorefest that is Demons . It's a great film, a true classic 80s horror.”It is typical shlock, but it’s the gore and violence that remain key to its appeal to viewers today. It is the very definition of a guilty pleasure.
Hell House LLC (2015)
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The found footage film is one of the most popular in the horror genre, and there are many outstanding examples of this particular subgenre of horror. Hell House LLC tells the story of a group of haunted house creators who are killed by a mysterious presence in their house.
GreyWind999 calls it “one of my favorite found footage movies.” Its found footage aesthetic allows it to immerse the viewer in a dark and sinister world, one in which the essential mystery of who or what is responsible for the deaths keeps the viewer guessing.
The Cleansing Hour (2019)
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The Cleansing Hour deserves credit for being one of the best movies based on a short movie. In it, a televised exorcism quickly turns serious when the person in question proves to be actually possessed by a demon. It features a number of strong performances, as well as practical effects that allow it to stand out from the crowd of other similar movies.
In that sense, it is something of an answer to both movies like The Exorcist as well as a commentary on contemporary culture’s fixation on the new. Small wonder that Dr_Downvote_ says: “It was so much better than I was expecting. Couldn't recommend it enough.”
The Possession Of Michael King (2014)
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Unsurprisingly, many demon movies focus on the possession of a person by this supernatural being. This is certainly the case with The Possession of Michael King, in which a young skeptic, determined to prove that demons and other forces don’t exist, volunteers himself for possession.
Things quickly turn sinister, however, and the movie forces the viewer to inhabit his mind as he slowly loses control of himself to a demonic force. NemoSHill writes: “The Possession of Michael King is kinda cool and unique.” It certainly stands out in that it focuses so rigorously on the person being possessed rather than those trying to rescue them.
Night Of The Demon (1957)
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The 1950s was a very strong period for horror movies of various types, and there is much to recommend Night of the Demon. Dana Andrews stars as a man investigating a cult and their potential culpability in a series of murders.
As MovieMike007 explains: “If you like dark and moody horror pieces you can't go too far wrong with Jacques Tourneur's Night of the Demon.” It has a broody and sinister atmosphere very similar to the director’s other horror movies, Cat People and I Walked with A Zombie and, as such, makes the most out of its premise and its actors.
Deliver Us From Evil (2014)
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The idea of possession is one that has preoccupied many movies, including Deliver Us From Evil. Though its plot is a bit derivative–focusing as it does on the attempts of several people to keep demons from making their way into the real world–it also has its fair share of dark and sinister scares.
What’s more, PurnimaTitha says: “the exorcism scene is absolutely brutal.” The movie knows that its primary job as a demon movie is to show the perils associated with attempting to exorcize a demon and, seen in this light, it is very entertaining and frightening.
Fallen (1998)
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Though Fallen might not always be regarded as one of Denzel Washington’s best movies, it is nevertheless notable for the way that it manages to do some new and interesting things with its demonic figure, Azazel.
Big_Face_9726 puts it this way: “Fallen always creeped me out with how the demon could jump bodies by touch. The street scene where the demon is singing as it jumps from person to person still gets me.” It is a movie that has developed a bit of a cult following and, as this comment reveals, there are elements of it that are frightening enough to stick with the viewer.
Lo (2008)
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Lo focuses on a young man who converses with demons about love and his girlfriend, (who he discovers was a demon all along) it is one of those horror movies that actually asks startling deep questions.
Sharlstuffing has this to say: “Lo (2009) is a weird but fun movie, I haven't heard anyone talk about it, but I really love it.” Though often overlooked, it still deserves a viewing from those who love demon movies. It is arguably one of the more unique movies to focus on a demon, and in large part, this stems from its experimental nature, as it plays fast and loose with the normal rules governing cinema.
Evil Dead II (1987)
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Though technically about demons, as GreyWind999 writes: “They feel more like zombie movies to me, even tho they quite clearly aren't.” Sam Raimi is a director with a unique artistic vision, and this has been much in evidence throughout his career, including in the Evil Dead movies.
Focusing once again on a group of individuals who have to confront a demonic force in a cabin in the woods and filled with the same gore as the original, it nevertheless shows a level of polish and finesse that makes it a very good horror sequel. Clearly, Raimi knows how to make the most out of both the demonic and zombie genres of horror.
The Taking Of Deborah Logan (2014)
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The Taking of Deborah Logan, as is the case with many demon movies, focuses on possession. In this case, an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s is determined to be the host of a sinister doctor who seeks immortality.
It is the ideal example of the found footage film, and there is a particular sting to the end which makes it well worth a watch. Johnnythehobo writes: “Possession of Debra Logan is a really good possession film,” going on to call it “a great piece of cinema.” The movie demonstrates that there is still a great deal of life in this particular subgenre of horror.