12 Best Horror Movies About Demonic Possession

Ok, let’s get right up to date. Ari Aster is the best thing to happen to horror or any cinematic genre for years. It’s amazing to have a director making standalone, original movies in a mainstream setting. This was something that was desperately needed.

Hereditary is so smart it’s untrue. It’s shot beautifully, Toni Collette is on form, as is Byrne. But the real stand out performances come from both Milly Shapiro and Alex Wolff, the young targets of the demon. Shapiro’s performance is as the subtly possessed Charlie is so spot-on, she is almost otherworldly. She embodies the character with such commitment that it’s hard to believe she’s acting. Likewise, Wolff’s grief and emotional agony are so visceral, it could send the viewer into a panic.

It’s a film that is crafted with care and attention. There are all sorts of hidden clues as to what is going on, lots of blink and you miss it moments. Some of these you wouldn’t see unless they are pointed out; others dawn on you as you watch the scene and feel the hairs on your neck bristle as you gasp.

The sound design is phenomenal. It’s an anxiety-inducing assault on the senses. In moments, silence speaks volumes, in others, volume speaks louder. (This is also very much the case in Aster’s Midsommar.)

To top things off, and unlike any other entry here, the demon wins. It was present throughout, it was finessed, it knew what it was doing. There is no exorcism, no fight. By the time the family saw it coming, it was already too late, they never stood a chance.