Of all the different types of horror movies out there, those that focus on demonic possession have proven continually popular over the years. Regardless of whether one believes in the supernatural, the idea of a demonic entity or some kind of spirit entering one’s body is a frightening one. This kind of horror works because losing control of oneself is inherently scary, and when it’s a demon doing the possessing, chances are their reasons for taking control aren’t going to help the person in question.
Demonic possession movies are also notable for being popular throughout the world, with this kind of horror being mixed with various cultures and folklore, which keeps such films interesting and from feeling stale. It also shows that the idea of being possessed is an unsettling one on a global scale, with the following best possession movies—ranked below from worst to best—demonstrating the various ways this kind of supernatural terror has been portrayed in cinema. Possession horror movies and films about exorcisms aren’t going out of style anytime soon, and any time is the perfect time to dive into some of the best ones.
35
‘Evil Dead’ (2013)
If you want to read about good possession movies, you’re going to have to get used to seeing the films from the Evil Dead series keep popping up. Most of these are reliably scary and gross (well, Army of the Darkness aside, given that one is pretty much just a comedy), and 2013’s Evil Dead is no exception, with the Fede Álvarez-directed remake (of sorts) being especially grimy and graphic.
The premise here involves a young woman trying to kick a drug habit, which involves spending time in an isolated cabin with friends while going cold turkey. But this is an Evil Dead movie, so the cabin has some horrific stuff inside, and then people start behaving oddly, and then violence ensues. Like, it’s the usual sort of thing, but it gets especially intense and gory here, which makes it stand out, to some extent.
34
‘Alucarda’ (1977)
Alucarda is a deeply unstable and bizarre film, but that’s perhaps more of a feature than a bug. It’s about a young girl who goes to live in a convent following the deaths of both her parents, but then when she’s there, weird things keep happening, and the interactions she has with another girl who initially seems to be a friend grow in intensity, in more ways than one.
Eventually, Alucarda explodes into something borderline incomprehensible, but it’s a ride worth taking. It’s an odd and feverish sort of film in ways that feel unique, even among other horror movies that deal with psychological stuff and demonic possession. Even calling it just a demonic possession movie feels like underselling it, given Alucarda—despite its brief runtime—intends to be a good deal more, and arguably pulls it off, by and large.
33
‘When Evil Lurks’ (2023)
Though recent, When Evil Lurks already feels like it could be some kind of (minor) modern classic, because it’s at least bold enough to make a mark alongside so many other horror films released in recent years. Mostly, the plot here involves people in a small town reacting to the revelation that there is about to be some kind of demon born in their midst.
Evil does indeed lurk and affect their behavior, with the impending disaster creating a lot of dread that stands out, and is complemented by some more in-your-face horror elements, namely, a fair bit of grisly violence. When Evil Lurks doesn’t reinvent the brand of horror it explores, but it takes on the idea of demonic possession with style and confidence that make it easy to get wrapped up in.
32
‘Saint Maud’ (2019)
Saint Maud is a fairly slow film, but it’s slow with a purpose, working as a character study first and then a possession-related horror movie second. That might mean it’s not for everyone, but it’s still worth taking a chance on if you like supernatural horror, since if you give it the chance to get under your skin, it probably will.
Given it’s simple and also pretty short, it’s best not to go into too much depth about the plot of Saint Maud, but broadly, it centers on a young woman working as a carer for an older woman. Gradually, the younger woman unravels, and then things get gradually more horrific and surreal. It’s odd, but it is also effective, and it works well as a stripped-back and psychological sort of horror film.
31
‘The Blackcoat’s Daughter’ (2015)
Before he directed one of 2024’s best thrillers (Longlegs), Osgood Perkins made The Blackcoat’s Daughter, which centers on young women in the same manner that so many solid demonic possession movies seem to do. Both are isolated during winter break, and this makes them extra vulnerable to some sort of dangerous spirit that preys on them and ensures that both their lives start to fall apart.
It’s another slow and offbeat sort of horror movie, too, but it’s effectively cold and desolate, using its setting and aesthetics to add immensely to the scare factor already present in such a premise. The Blackcoat’s Daughter ends up doing quite a lot, as a film, with relatively little by way of narrative and scale. It’s intimate, intense, and eerie, and also served as a promising sign of greater things to come for its director.
30
‘Evil Dead Rise’ (2023)
While it’s not the best movie to carry the Evil Dead name, Evil Dead Rise is still a good deal better than you’d expect it to be, and an arguable improvement on the other non-Sam Raimi Evil Dead movie from 2013. Rather than a cabin in the woods, Evil Dead Rise mixes things up by taking place largely inside an apartment complex, which proves to be often just as claustrophobic as a cabin would.
There are people getting possessed, jump scares, and some sequences of very gnarly violence and bloodshed; all things you’d expect from an Evil Dead movie that isn’t Army of Darkness. Evil Dead Rise keeps things simple but ultimately satisfies, feeling so familiar and satisfying that it’s the closest a demonic possession movie will probably ever come to being like a warm hug.
29
‘Immaculate’ (2024)
Plenty of movies about demonic possession also happen to be movies that deal with religious themes, and Immaculate belongs in such a camp. It’s about possession, and it also deals with religious horror pretty full-on, given it’s mostly set in a convent in Italy, with the main characters being the nuns who live there.
The central character is a newcomer to said convent, and while there, unusual things keep happening to her and around her, eventually suggesting that something fishy is going on within this isolated and seemingly peaceful countryside location. The premise of Immaculate is one that very easily gives way to horror of a particular flavor, meaning it’s hard to praise the film necessarily for being original. Then again, some conventions often get followed when it comes to movies about demonic possession, and at least Immaculate follows such conventions, perhaps not immaculately, but fairly well.
28
‘Event Horizon’ (1997)
Demonic possessions alongside religious horror? That can be fairly expected stuff. But a demonic possession movie with a sci-fi spin? That’s something more novel, and a big reason why Event Horizon – despite its flaws – proves so memorable. It’s set in the future and in space, following astronauts as they travel to a ship that went missing several years earlier.
Uncovering what made it disappear leads to some unsettling discoveries, with Event Horizon being at its best when it’s at its most brazen. Some parts are genuinely quite shocking, and there’s a certain creative spark to the whole thing; a thrill in seeing this kind of horror take place in such a setting. Other parts of Event Horizon don’t work quite as well, but it’s an ambitious movie – and a minor cult classic of sorts – where the strengths outweigh the weaknesses.
27
‘Constantine’ (2005)
Constantine, like Event Horizon, also earns some points for being a unique take on demonic possession-related horror. This Keanu Reeves-starring movie also works as a fantasy/action flick, and technically counts as a superhero movie of sorts, too, as it follows a man who’s able to travel between Hell and Earth while also having the ability to battle demons.
It’s fairly mild as far as demonic possession movies go, watering things down enough to make it broadly appealing—and only slightly scary—to not alienate those more interested in seeing a Keanu Reeves action movie. Constantine‘s a film that’s become a little more appreciated as time has gone on, being perhaps a little too young to be a full-on cult classic in the traditional sense, but certainly feeling as though it’s on its way to attaining such a label.
26
‘Late Night with the Devil’ (2023)
While it wasn’t the first movie to combine a found footage format with demonic possession-related horror, Late Night with the Devil does have enough novelty to its presentation to be a distinctive viewing experience. The premise is nice and simple, being about a late-night talk show that has various guests related to paranormal activities on one night, which eventually leads to genuine terror and possible possessions.
Late Night with the Devil is one of the more exciting and interesting horror movies of the 2020s so far, not hitting it out of the park entirely but taking enough risks that pay off to make it an engaging and memorable watch. It does a great deal with a modest budget and a confined setting, and has an approach that makes it more than worthwhile for anyone who feels a bit burnt out by films about demonic possession and/or the found footage sub-genre.