10 Folk Horror Movies To Lead You Astray

Here, we’re focusing on the 2018 version of Suspiria, which is based on the 1977 giallo horror of the same name.

It’s surprising that this film doesn’t come up more on the theme of folk horror, considering it revolves around a cult of witches. Perhaps this was because the original film was part of its own specific sub-genre.

Suspiria is a beautiful, aesthetically-pleasing addition to this list that will impress horror and arthouse fans alike.

The connection with family and folk horror has already been discussed in this list when referring to Midsommar. Suspiria also uses this theme, but focuses on a specific aspect of it: motherhood. The cult, that fronts itself as a ballet company, is entirely made up of women who worship three ancient witches called The Three Mothers.

Motherhood and horror are often seen together. The nurturing nature of a mother is frightening when reversed: the person who should care for you ends up becoming dangerous. This is what we see in Suspiria – the ballet company (the mothers) that should be nurturing the young women (the children) end up torturing and maiming them in the name of their strange cult.

It might not scream folk horror in style, but the message of community and family is bang on.

Also, Thom Yorke’s score for this movie is fantastic, and adds another layer of beauty to an already gorgeous film.