5 Scariest Horror Movies About Exorcism That Will Keep You Up At Night
No The Exorcist.
Exorcism movies are a unique horror genre that both terrifies and captivates viewers. These films explore the darker side of religious beliefs, often depicting the struggle between good and evil through the lens of possession, demons, and spiritual rituals.
We've selected five of the best exorcism films that have left their mark on the genre and continue to terrify audiences around the world.
1. The Blackcoat's Daughter, 2015
The directorial debut of Osgood Perkins, director of the 2024 summer horror hit Longlegs with Nicolas Cage.
This is a slow paced detective horror film with an unsettling and dark atmosphere that seeks to confuse the viewer and only reveals its secrets at the end. The movie is divided into three parts, each dedicated to different female characters: Rose, Joan and Kat.
Rose and Kat are spending the winter holidays at a closed Catholic boarding school, and the third girl, Joan, is picked up by a couple who have lost their daughter. At first glance, the connections between the stories are not that important, but in the end, the plots intertwine.
2. The Priests, 2015
Father Kim is convinced that a demon has entered the body of a schoolgirl who survived an accident. To perform the exorcism, the experienced priest needs an assistant. The choice falls on Deacon Choi, a skeptical young man with the looks of a K-pop idol.
The Priests is Jang Jae-hyun's debut feature, based on his own short film. Despite his lack of experience, the young filmmaker has created a movie that keeps you in suspense from the first frame to the last. Jae-hyun relied less on the Hollywood clichés and more on national folklore to offer the audience something new.
3. The Assent, 2019
Joel's life has hit a rough patch. First, his wife died under mysterious circumstances, causing his schizophrenia to worsen. On top of that, it is impossible to find work in the outback, so Joel is one step away from bankruptcy.
The widower has to prove to the psychiatrist and the guardianship authorities that he can pay his bills as a single father. The situation worsens when his son begins to show signs of mental illness. The doctors insist on treatment, but the local priest claims that the boy's soul is possessed by the devil.
The director and screenwriter of the film is Pearry Reginald Teo, a director who specializes in low-budget horror films. Despite the modest budget and the lack of big names in the credits, the author managed to create a tense atmosphere and bring something new to the familiar plot.
4. The Last Exorcism, 2010
Marcus Cotton is a showman who has used his talent in a most unusual way: after inheriting the priesthood, he ran a parish in Baton Rouge.
Cotton does not believe in demons, which he openly tells the TV crews filming a documentary about him. Cotton hopes to prove that exorcism is not only useless, but can be harmful, because these people really need medical help.
Pretending to be a horror movie, this film is actually a witty comedy that uses the found footage format to mock the clichés of exorcism movies. A real find for anyone tired of the same old horror movies about possession.
5. The Exorcism of Emily Rose, 2005
1976, preparations are underway for a murder trial: Father Moore performed an exorcism that resulted in the death of a girl named Emily Rose. The prosecution offers a plea bargain, but the priest refuses. The exorcist is determined to prove the existence of otherworldly forces, and he is aided by rising legal star Erin Bruner.
The plot of the film is based on real events described in Felicitas D. Goodman's book The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel. The key feature of Scott Derrickson's film is an atypical genre mix of horror and courtroom drama.
Another important factor in its success was the performance of Jennifer Carpenter – her Emily is perhaps the most frightening possessed character in the genre. Derrickson's film has become a modern classic, deservedly included in all sorts of top lists of the greatest horror movies of all time.