The Best Horror Movies Inspired by True Occult Practices
From ancient rituals to modern-day witchcraft, horror films inspired by real occult practices tap into some of our deepest fears and fascinations. This curated list of the best occult horror movies explores films drawn from genuine magical traditions, demonology, esoteric rites, and pagan beliefs. Whether it’s ceremonial magick, Satanic cults, or pagan rituals, these films don’t just scare. They reflect real-world practices and philosophies that have captivated occultists for centuries. If you’re a horror fan with a taste for the arcane, these 10 movies offer a chilling glimpse into the darker side of spiritual reality.
10. The Ninth Gate (1999)
Loosely inspired by real grimoires like The Three Books of Occult Philosophy, this film follows a rare book dealer on a hunt for a Satanic tome rumored to summon the Devil. It’s full of authentic occult symbolism and alchemical references. Fair warning, this one is pretty cheesy and is comically serious, but it's still worth watching.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, Frank Langella
Watch on: Peacock, Prime Video, Apple TV (rent/buy)
9. Pyewacket (2017)
A teenage girl, grieving and angry, performs a real-life-inspired ritual to summon a demon from occult lore, Pyewacket, hoping to curse her mother. The film leans heavily into authentic ceremonial magick practices, referencing actual grimoires and invocation methods. Its realistic portrayal of adolescents dabbling in the occult captures both the emotional vulnerability and genuine danger of invoking forces beyond one's understanding.
Cast: Nicole Muñoz, Laurie Holden, Chloe Rose
Where to Watch: Prime Video, Hulu, Shudder, Apple TV (rent/buy)
8. The Devil Rides Out (1968)
Based on the novel by Dennis Wheatley and heavily influenced by actual ceremonial magic, this film portrays occult rituals with eerie accuracy, especially the invocation scenes and protective magic.
Cast: Christopher Lee, Charles Gray, Nike Arrighi
Watch on: Prime Video, Apple TV (rent/buy)
7. Nosferatu (2024)
This reimagining of the 1922 classic ties vampire mythos back to actual occult practices involving blood magic and the life force. It explores vampirism as an esoteric tradition rather than just folklore.
Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe
Watch on: Peacock, Prime Video, Apple TV (rent/buy)
6. Suspiria (2018)
This reimagining of Dario Argento’s 1977 cult classic explores an ancient coven of witches embedded within a dance academy in Berlin. Inspired by real-life occult figures like Helena Blavatsky and esoteric traditions surrounding the Three Mothers mythos, Suspiria taps deeply into feminine mysticism, sacred geometry, and ritual magick. The layered narrative and symbolic visuals make it a chilling homage to real occult belief systems.
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth
Watch on: Prime Video, Apple TV (rent/buy)
5. The Wicker Man (1973)
A cult classic that portrays a remote island community practicing ancient Celtic pagan rituals. While fictional, it’s heavily inspired by anthropological accounts of human sacrifice and fertility rites.
Cast: Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland
Watch on: AMC+, Prime Video, Apple TV (rent/buy)
4. A Dark Song (2016)
Based on the real-life Abramelin ritual, this slow-burn horror film explores the dangers and intensity of ceremonial magick. Its depiction of isolation, ritualistic detail, and emotional torment is one of the most accurate and respectful portrayals of occult practice in film.
Cast: Catherine Walker, Steve Oram
Watch on: Prime Video, Tubi (free), Apple TV (rent/buy)
3. Midsommar (2019)
Though fictional, Midsommar is rooted in genuine pagan and Norse traditions. Its rituals reflect a deep understanding of pre-Christian fertility rites and sacrificial customs.
Cast: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper
Watch on: Prime Video, Apple TV (rent/buy)
2. The VVitch (2015)
Set in Puritan New England, The VVitch draws on real historical documents and folktales about witchcraft and Satanic panic. Its eerie authenticity and attention to detail capture the spiritual paranoia of the 1600s.
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
Watch on: Max, Prime Video, Apple TV (rent/buy)
1. Hereditary (2018)
Deeply unsettling, Hereditary centers around Paimon, a real demon from The Lesser Key of Solomon. The film's cult subplot pulls directly from ceremonial magic and demonology texts, adding layers of realism to its horror.
Cast: Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne
Watch on: Max, Paramount+, Apple TV (rent/buy)