Midsommar, a horror film released in 2019, has gained a lot of popularity among fans of the genre. The movie follows a group of American graduate students who visit Sweden under the guise of interning with a Swedish family. However, they soon realize that they are members of a cult of pagans, and the killing rituals have already begun. The film is not recommended for children or those easily disturbed by graphic violence.
For those who enjoyed Midsommar and are looking for similar films to watch, here is a list of the top 10 movies like Midsommar:
10. The Believers
The Believers is a 1987 film starring Martin Sheen, Robert Loggia, and Jimmy Smits. The film explores the terrifying Brujeria cult, which engages in a sinister form of South American witchcraft. An NYPD psychiatrist named Cal Jamison is called in to speak with Detective Tom Lopez, who is having a nervous breakdown after discovering the body of a child who had been murdered in a ritualistic ceremony at a deserted movie theatre. The film is both a procedural crime drama and a horror flick about a cult.
9. The Witch
The Witch, directed by Robert Eggers, follows the story of Thomasin, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, a teen who turns to paganism for solace and freedom from abusive relationships. Thomasin and her family are exiled from the colony due to religious disputes, forcing them to relocate to a secluded section of New England in the 1630s. Thomasin’s little brother goes missing after being stolen by a witch one day while they were playing at the forest’s edge. Thomasin’s religious parents accuse her of bringing bad luck upon them. After the death of their firstborn son from a fever, their situation worsens, and they become more devout.
8. Men
Men is an English folk horror picture directed by Alex Garland. The film’s refusal to fully explain or even admit its strangeness forces the audience to draw their conclusions and challenge the protagonist’s perspective. Men’s themes are intriguing and will appeal to readers who enjoy the obtuseness of Midsommar.
7. The Empty Man
The Empty Man, directed by David Prior, is more than just a plain supernatural chiller; it’s also wrapped in a standard detective mystery technique and provides a fascinating look into the mind of a nihilistic cult. The primary character in The Empty Man is a detective who stumbles upon a sinister cult while investigating the disappearance of a young woman.
6. Bodies Bodies Bodies
Bodies Bodies Bodies is a horror movie that takes place at a mansion during a hurricane party where the cutting remarks made by the guests swiftly lead to a horrific murder mystery. Compared to Midsommar, the tone of Bodies Bodies Bodies is more comic.
5. The Wicker Man
The Wicker Man, directed by Robin Hardy in 1973, features an electric guitar-heavy original score that is a prime example of folk horror and experimental filmmaking during the free-love era. After a young woman named Rowan Morrison goes missing in the little Scottish town of Summerisle, a Christian police officer named Sergeant Howie arrives there to look into the case.
4. A Tale of Two Sisters
A Tale of Two Sisters is a Korean movie directed by Kim Jee-Woon. The story follows one family as they endure a series of unfortunate events within their own household. It takes a more traditional approach than the typical East Asian psycho-horror films we were exposed to as children.
3. Rosemary’s Baby
Rosemary’s Baby, directed by Roman Polanski, is regarded by many as one of the best horror films of all time. The story opens with Rosemary and Guy, a young couple, moving into an apartment building with a shady history of witchcraft rumors.
2. Hereditary
Hereditary, starring Toni Collette, is another horror movie that fans of Midsommar will enjoy. The film follows the story of a family who uncovers terrifying secrets about their ancestry after the death of their grandmother.
1. Mother!
Mother!, directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Jennifer Lawrence, is about a couple who invites a family to stay in their Victorian mansion in the countryside. Things begin to go wrong for them when unexpected guests arrive.
In conclusion, if you enjoyed Midsommar and are looking for similar movies to watch, these ten films are sure to satisfy your craving for horror and suspense.