A Bloody Good Time: Top 10 Horror Films About Cults

Opening Logo courtesy of Benjamin J. Colón (Soul Exodus)

You know what’s really scary? Cults. They’re scary because they’re real and some people can get absolutely fanatical about what they believe. You’d think it doesn’t get as crazy as it does in the movies, but then you get stories like what happened with Allison Mack and you see that yeah, real life cults can also have real life crazies. So that means that horror films with cults, if well-made, can be exceptionally creepy because outside of supernatural elements, some of that can and probably has happened.

So this week, with no major movies to otherwise tie my column into, I thought I’d look at the top horror films involving cults. Is that good with anyone? I promise you won’t have to drink any kool-aid.

#10: V/H/S/2 (2013)

This one is at the bottom because only one segment is dedicated to a cult. But if you’ve seen “Safe Haven,” then you know it’s on hell of a segment. While the rest of the film is hit or miss, “Safe Haven” was the segment that left people talking after it was over, stunned by the insanity. It’s really something that both could have used a full movie and is perfect the way it is.

The story follows a news crew that infiltrates an Indonesian cult of Satan worshipers. It starts out typically creepy for a cult story, when you see how into it everyone is. Then one of the people explores the basement and from that moment things get nuts. There’s blood, monsters, demons and everything running around and it’s probably one of the most intense fifteen minutes in a horror film. Obviously the monsters and demons aren’t real, but the stuff before hand definitely could be and it adds to that.

#9: Baskin (2015)

This may be cheating a little, because it’s never really stated if this is an actual cult or some bizarre Hellish nightmare or what. But I love Baskin and think that more people need to see this underrated Turkish horror film. What I do know is that regardless of what exactly our main characters stumble upon, it is horrifying. As I said before, it might be the most accurate attempt at capturing a nightmare on film. Nothing really makes sense (by design) and there’s just feelings of dread throughout.

It’s gory, it’s nasty, there’s a lot of sex, blood and dirt in various combinations. It’s hard to look at but also hard to look away from. And at the center of it all is this bizarre group of people who may or may not be a cult, but are definitely not people you want to spend time with. Baskin isn’t going to be for everyone, but those who have open minds should really enjoy the world-building and blatant attempts to disturb.

#8: The Void (2017)

This made my list of top horror films last year, so it’s still very fresh in my mind. It’s also hard to talk about without saying the exact same things I did, but I’ll try. The cult aspect in The Void, I feel, is minor. That’s why it’s ranked low on this list. There is a cult and they are really creepy, but this is more about the creature effects and extreme amounts of gore. But the cult that appears shows up in white robes with triangles on the faces and seem to only want to hurt people.

This movie is perfect for those who grew up on John Carpenter movies and really want something similar to The Thing. Not only that, but it also has a bit of The Beyond in it (particularly the ending) and is loaded with practical gore and creature effects that show it can still be a viable tool in horror today. The Void is incredibly fun and a little confusing, but it is definitely great.

#7: The House of the Devil (2009)

This won’t be the last time that Ti West shows up on this list. The first thing you’ll notice about The House of the Devil, if you’re watching it for the first time, is just how much it looks like a lost film from the 1980s. The next thing you’ll notice is how unsettling it is. The way it’s shot, the score, even the story structure make it feel like it came from either the late seventies or the early eighties back when this type of movie was all the rage.

The House of the Devil is a film that was created with a lot of love for the decade it strives to resemble. It looks like it was ripped out of the 80s and that’s certainly a point in it’s favor. While it does have some issues with pacing, It still has great performances (particularly from Tom Noonan and AJ Bowen), a decent amount of bloodletting and a sense of unease that sticks with you.

#6: The Last Exorcism (2010)

Putting this film on the list kind of spoils the ending, but I’m going to assume you’ve had a chance to see a film that’s eight years old and get into it. At the start of the film, The Last Exorcism is about a minister who has become disillusioned with his faith and wants to debunk the idea of exorcisms to expose the fraud of his religion. In spite of that, he’s actually a pretty likable guy and at the very least seems committed to helping the girl he’s “exorcising.”

The cult comes in at the very end, when we find out not only are demons real, but they’re trying to take over the world through this girl. It’s a huge twist that really sold me on the movie after I was already into it for its suspense and the way it played with its audience. I feel like this one has been forgotten over the years but I still see it as one of the gems of its decade. The less said about its sequel, however, the better.

#5: The Sacrement (2014)

I told you that Ti West would show up again! This was my favorite horror film of 2014, mostly because of how realistic it is. It’s hard not to be, considering it’s essentially a fictionalized re-telling of the Jonestown Massacre. In other words, not only could this movie happen, this movie has happened. For those who don’t know what Jonestown is, it was a religious cult that became exposed for killing a reporter, so they organized a mass suicide. I’d recommend checking out a documentary because that’s way too brief a description.

This is also a found footage movie, but at least has a reason for being so as it’s a mockumentary. That explains the polished look, the edits and the fact that they keep filming no matter what the danger. They have been in war torn areas for stories, so what’s this seemingly harmless compound? Gene Jones is amazing as the Jim Jones like “Father”, and the expected climax doesn’t have any less of an impact if you know what’s going to happen. It’s still my favorite Ti West film.

#4: Martyrs (2008)

If you’re not a fan of the so-called “torture porn” subgenre of horror, this may not be the movie for you. It’s probably the best example of what people are talking about when they lump certain movies in together. It’s a bleak, depressing and hard sit about a woman that is tortured relentlessly by a cult that is hoping she has a religious experience and see God. Naturally, as one does, the only way to do that is to skin her alive. Like I said, this isn’t an easy movie to watch.

And yet it somehow never feels exploitive. There’s no enjoyment to be had here, even if the effects are well done. It’s not meant to be fun, like say, a slasher film. It’s disturbing and it’s relentless, and it’s meant to make you feel uneasy as this poor woman is hurt in ways no one should be. All for a cult’s fanatical beliefs. I don’t know if this exact scenario has ever happened, but it definitely could.

#3: Lord of Illusions (1995)

This isn’t going to be just recent movies, as there are a few classics that deserve mention. Up first is the final film directed by Clive Barker, Lord of Illusions. Like The Void, the cult isn’t so much the biggest part of the film but they do play a role, particularly in the end. The cult here worships a man named Nix, who has the ability to use magic. Nix is killed by a group of magicians who then go their seperate ways. Thirteen years later, they start dying and only Harry D’Amour can figure out why.

This movie is best experienced as Barker’s director’s cut, but luckily that seems to be the version most people have seen. When it hit home video, it was only as the unrated cut from what I remember. Scream Factory’s release has both, but I’d rather not see the theatrical again. It’s another example of why Barker has a different way of thinking about horror than the rest of us, but it’s just as effective.

#2: Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

I can see the argument for this being #1. It’s an undisputed classic and remains one of the best of the genre. However, I like my top choice just a little better. Rosemary’s Baby is a movie about a woman who is raped by the devil and spends the rest of the movie trying to defend her unborn baby from what may be a Satanic cult hoping to welcome the Antichrist into the world. If you’ve seen the movie, you know the ending and you know that she ultimately fails. So yes, this is a movie, like The Omen, where Satan wins. Hope you enjoyed your lives!

Rosemary’s Baby is great almost in spite of the fact that it’s about the devil. Personally, I find the cult, and how deeply ingrained they are in Rosemary’s life, to be far more chilling. Perhaps it’s because they’re a more tangible thing. But they infest themselves in every part of her life to the point that those she trusts eventually turn on her for the good of the cult’s beliefs. It’s insane. You almost sympathize with Rosemary’s resignation at the end, in which she basically sticks around just so she can be with her baby.

#1: The Wicker Man (1975)

Here’s a confession for you. I absolutely adore The Wicker Man, but I’ve only seen it once. And yet, I remember it vividly. The weird and somewhat erotic dance scene, the spooky performance from Christopher Lee and the final climactic moments of a pious man praying to his god while he’s burned alive for someone else’s. It’s just one of those movies that sticks with you long after it’s over and the ending remains one of the scariest and most memorable that the genre has to offer.

As classic as The Wicker Man is, it doesn’t seem to get as much love as other horror films of its time. Sure, it might not be as violent as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre or as sleek as Alien (both from the same decade) but I feel it’s just as good, and in some ways better, than both. As I’ve said, cults are scary. And this is the best example of how a seemingly decent group of people can conspire to murder someone just because they believe it’s the right thing to do. It’s all fun and games until you realize you have an appointment with the Wicker Man.

Ending Notes:

That’s it for me. Leave some comments here, on my Twitter or my Facebook.

Closing Logo courtesy of Kyle Morton (get your own custom artwork and commissions at his Etsy account)

A Bloody Good Time: The Store is now officially open! Like this design? You can now find it on most of my merchandise! Click here to find shirts, posters and more!

For those interested in more of my movie reviews, I’ve created a new blog! Check out the brand new Not-So-Bloody Good Time!

See you next week!