Cults have been a staple of human fascination for a long time. These little pockets of dogmatic societies reveal a lot about the human condition from our weaknesses to our motivations. In the world of cinema and fictional stories, cults certainly have their place.
In stories, cults can take many forms. Most often, they take the role of a mysterious and antagonistic force. Genres that have cults are typically horror and thriller as well. In terms of what the cults actually believe in, that part can be all over the place. Satanic cults have been quite popular in the past, but films of today are taking on newer approaches with fantasy and science fiction twists. A particular movie that stirred up the cult movie scene again is Midsommar (2019). The movie, directed by Ari Aster, really showed how the cinematic world is not yet done with the discussion of cults and what they can show about the human condition.
The Other Lamb (2019): Score 5.2
Coming out the same year as Midsommar, The Other Lamb (2019) is a horror movie that has a female protagonist. Unlike Midsommar though, this woman was born within a cult. The mostly female cult is overseen by a man named Shepard. The main character, Selah, unveils the plot as she begins to question the cult and its way of living.
In terms of IMDb reviews, The Other Lamb falls short in comparison to other cult movies and has mixed reviews. However, all reviews have agreed that the film's cinematography is gorgeous.
Children Of The Corn (1984): Score 5.7
Based on Stephen King's short story of the same name, Children of the Corn is a bit of a pop culture icon. It has been referenced in media such as South Park and even Disney's Wreck-it-Ralph (2012). Like Midsommar, it falls into the category of "Folk Horror." The story is set in a rural town where children have murdered all adults for a mysterious entity.
The acting is in-between good and overdone, making the movie quite entertaining.
The Ritual (2017): Score 6.3
The Ritual serves as a horror story of a Sweden-based hiking trip gone wrong. The cult aspect of the film does not reveal itself except towards the end, which actually can be common in horror films about cults. This particular movie is based on a novel of the same name, so it had rich source material to work with.
Many fans agree that the creature reveal in this movie has one of the most unique designs. Before the creature reveal though, the movie has a great atmosphere and mystery.
The Endless (2017): Score 6.5
The cult in The Endless is not exactly antagonistic, making the movie more unique from other sci-fi horror films. The story is about two brothers, one who fondly remembers the cult they grew up in and the other who remembers it as a place he never wishes to return to. Through the wishes of the optimistic brother, they both come back to the cult to find that nothing has changed at all.
The movie slowly unwrapped the science fiction elements of the story and it offers a pretty cool time-warping narrative.
Sound Of My Voice (2011): Score 6.6
This psychological thriller follows documentary filmmakers as they cover a cult that centers on a woman who claims to be from the future. The movie was made with a low-budget, making it all the more worth a look at for what it accomplished. Much of the movie is left open-ended with audiences typically being left with questions.
However, that is a common trend of movies about cults. Such endings can ruin a movie for certain people, while others enjoy being left with an unfinished puzzle.
The Seventh Victim (1943): Score 6.8
This black and white noir movie from the early 40s goes into full Satanic cult mode. Anyone could fill a library on films and books about Satanic cults, and The Seventh Victim would be among the shelves.
Many audiences describe the plot of this movie to be confusing. The basis of the story is about a woman looking for her missing sister. The movie has been often analyzed for its themes of nihilism and queer undertones.
Midsommar (2019): Score 7.1
Like The Ritual, Midsommar mostly takes place in Sweden. The horror story follows a woman with her boyfriend and his schoolmates. It becomes quickly apparent that the woman is an outcast in the group and her relationship with her boyfriend is slowly deteriorating.
The folk horror movie is amazing for its development as the main protagonist becomes more at ease with the cult than her fellow outsiders. The ending is especially memorable for her flower dress in a contrast to the horror that has happened around her.
Hereditary (2018): Score 7.3
Hereditary is made by the same director as Midsommar, Ari Aster. It is quite similar in its exploration of a cult but also very different in how it does so. The reveal of a cult does not occur until the last moments of the film. The movie keeps its audience mostly in the dark so that they can feel the same sense of horror and confusion as the cults' ritual victims.
Unlike Midsommar, the genre is not folk horror. It is supernatural horror instead. The movie also won a ton of awards such as Best Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and more.
The Wicker Man (1973): Score 7.5
The Wicker Man is the most influential folk horror movie of all time. It was based on a book called Ritual, and the story follows a policeman investigating a small community for a missing girl. The community all practice paganism, which puts the Christian protagonist at immediate unease.
The atmosphere of the film is pretty unforgettable, as the community is quite secretive and mysterious. The movie also has a slow build-up to a shocking end that has earned it its legacy.
Rosemary's Baby (1968): Score 8.0
One of the most famous depictions of Satanic cults were from this movie, Rosemary's Baby. The psychological horror is still unique to this day for its oddly domestic story.
The story is about a woman, Rosemary, who gets pregnant and prepares to have her baby with her husband. However, their neighbors are getting a little too close for comfort. Rosemary begins to worry that they want to steal her baby. The truth that is revealed at the end is even more buck wild than a simple baby-kidnapping.