10 More Great Horror Movies Over 2 Hours Long
9. Apostle
Apostle opens with Thomas Richardson (Dan Stevens) infiltrating a cult to rescue his kidnapped sister. While searching for his sibling, Thomas discovers the origins behind the zealous commune are more disturbing than he could've ever imagined.
Even though Gareth Evans defined his career with the action-oriented Raid films, Apostle proves the Welsh filmmaker has a knack for folktale horror. Though viewers will wish certain scenes were shorter, it's because they're unbearably unnerving rather than boring (especially the head-drilling sequence). Instead of leaving anything to the imagination, Apostle gives the audience a front-row seat to the most barbaric aspects of humanity.
The tension builds slowly, but there's enough intrigue from the beginning to enrapture anyone. And when the cult's dark secrets start spilling from the seams, viewers will be unable to look away.
Even though Gareth Evans draws inspiration from The Wicker Man, Apostle is also blended with Lovecraftian elements and the director's personal touch, so it never feels like a rehash of another property. This sort of story is nothing new, but few films in the genre have ever been this brutal and visceral.