The Conjuring: Last Rites has brought the billion-dollar horror saga back into the conversation, and people are re-watching most of its previous installments. If you’ve also recently tuned in to view the very first part, where it all began, and can’t shake off the feeling of wanting something more, we get you!
After all, The Conjuring set the benchmark in modern horror for many people. It’s hard to come by a film that will push the genre to darker and disturbing heights, but if you’re brave enough to go beyond the familiar, these eight films will pull you in for a heightened experience, filled with unpredictability and unease.
So, here are 8 horror movies that can make The Conjuring feel somewhat tame in comparison!
1. Hereditary (2018)
Hereditary will make you fear the sound of a tongue click! The supernatural horror follows the story of Annie, her husband Steve, and their children Peter and Charlie. Ari Aster, now a renowned director of the genre, shows family trauma through horrifying occurrences like deaths, visions, and accidents. The movie’s true terror lies in its slow-building dread and how it taps into our primal fears of helplessness.
Hereditary is available to rent and buy on Amazon (USA).
2. Sinister (2012)
Sinister features Ethan Hawke as Ellison, a true-crime writer who moves into a new home and hopes that it will inspire his next book. But soon, he discovers a box of movies that depict brutal footage of killings. He then learns about an entity that is connected to the murders and has now set its sights on Ellison’s family! Sinister is a masterclass in building psychological tension and giving its audience a haunting, edge-of-the-seat experience.
Sinister is available to stream on Fubo and Philo (USA).
3. Orphan (2009)
Orphan might not be scary like The Conjuring, but it’s unsettling in inexplicable ways. The 2009 dark psychological horror revolves around a family that adopts a young girl after the loss of their unborn child. But soon, it becomes increasingly clear that Esther, their adopted daughter, is harboring sinister secrets. Orphan plays on your fear of being deceived and not noticing the danger, even when it lurks in plain sight.
Orphan is available to rent and buy on Apple TV+ (USA).
4. Insidious (2011)
Insidious stars Patrick Wilson, who we’ve all come to love from The Conjuring movies. Many are under the impression that these two movies are connected due to Wilson’s presence; however, that is not the case at all, despite both spawning several movies within their universe. Insidious follows a completely different set of characters and revolves around the Lamberts, whose son Dalton suddenly falls into a coma.
After hauntings, unseen figures, and ghostly whispers, they learn the truth about Dalton’s state. If you loved James Wan directing the Warrens saga, you’re really in for a treat with this one!
Insidious is available to stream on HBO Max (USA).
5. The Ring (2002)
The Ring is a remake of the Japanese Ringu and is an all-time horror classic about a deeply unsettling curse. We follow Rachel Keller, a journalist who investigates mysterious videotapes that are rumored to kill the ones who watch them after seven days. Throughout The Ring’s runtime, you’ll be haunted by its disturbing imagery, shocking visuals, and the slow-burning terror of it all!
The Ring is available to stream on Paramount+ and Kanopy (USA).
6. Under the Shadow (2016)
Under the Shadow is unlike any horror movie you’ll come across. The Iranian feature is set in 1980s Tehran during the war between Iran and Iraq. The narrative revolves around Shideh, a struggling mother, and her daughter, Dorsa, who are living in an apartment, shaken by the bombings. After a missile lands on their building, but doesn’t explode, strange events start to occur, and Dora claims to be haunted by Djinns, i.e, strange and evil spirits.
Under the Shadow is available to stream on Netflix and Hoopla (USA).
7. The Wailing (2016)
The Wailing is one of South Korea’s masterpieces, and it terrifies its viewers with supernatural terror and folklore. The film features a small rural village that breaks into chaos after murders and an unknown illness spreads like wildfire. A police officer finds the connection behind the deaths and disease, and then we spiral into a chaos of paranoia, grotesque imagery, exorcism, and more!
The Wailing is available to stream on Prime Video and Hulu (USA).
8. His House (2020)
His House explores trauma, guilt, and displacement like no other movie. We see the journeys of Bol and Rial, who are refugees from South Sudan, and are granted permission to move to England, into a decaying house.
But soon they experience the presence of an unknown force that feeds on their guilt and secrets in the worst way possible. If you’re looking for more than just a haunted house story, then His House is the perfect movie, as it explores trauma, suffering, war, and most importantly, survivor’s guilt.
His House is available to stream on Netflix (USA).
Here’s an overview of all the movies in the list and their Rotten Tomatoes rating
| Movies | Rotten Tomatoes (critic score | audience score) |
| Hereditary (2018) | 90% | 71% |
| Sinister (2012) | 64% | 62% |
| Orphan (2009) | 59% | 63% |
| Insidious (2011) | 66% | 62% |
| The Ring (2002) | 71% | 48% |
| Under the Shadow (2016) | 99% | 71% |
| The Wailing (2016) | 99% | 82% |
| His House (2020) | 100% | 73% |
And there you have it! Each of these movies brings something unsettling through its themes. Horror was never about mindless jump scares and disfigured faces popping up on screen once in a while. Though that has its own place, it’s usually the creeping dread and deranged revelations that trouble you long after the credits roll, and these eight movies will deliver just that!
So, which of these movies are you planning to put on your watchlist?
