### Exploring the Best Folk Horror Movies
Folk horror is a genre of horror films that often incorporates elements of folklore, mythology, and the supernatural. These movies can be unsettling, eerie, and deeply terrifying, making them a fascinating watch for horror enthusiasts. Here are 15 of the best folk horror movies to explore:
1. **The Wicker Man (1973)**
– Directed by Robin Hardy, this classic film follows Sergeant Howie as he investigates the disappearance of a young girl on a secluded Scottish island. The film is known for its eerie atmosphere and iconic final scene where Howie burns to death inside the Wicker Man statue.
2. **Midsommar (2019)**
– Directed by Ari Aster, this film tells the story of a group of American students who travel to a secluded Swedish village for a midsummer festival. The festival soon degrades into a terrifying cult ritual, filled with forced human sacrifices and disturbing traditions.
3. **The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971)**
– Directed by Piers Haggard, this film is set in an early 18th-century country village in England. It follows farmer Ralph Gower as he uncovers a deformed skull that unleashes a demonic force, leading to a series of gruesome and hideous sequences.
4. **Apostle (2018)**
– Directed by Gareth Evans, this slow-burning film follows a man who travels to a remote island to find his missing sister. The film is filled with supernatural occurrences and chilling visions, exploring themes of war, justice, class, race, and gender.
5. **La Llorona (2019)**
– Directed by Jayro Bustamante, this film is an exceptional example of folk horror. It tells the story of a woman who is haunted by the ghost of La Llorona, a legendary figure from Guatemalan folklore. The film is beautifully choreographed and shot, making it one of the most popular recent folklore horror films.
6. **The White Reindeer (1952)**
– Directed by Erik Blomberg, this Finnish film is one of the older examples of folk horror movies. It revolves around a magic potion that makes whoever drinks it more desirable, but with consequences that lead to horror.
7. **Hagazussa (2017)**
– Directed by Lukas Feigelfeld, this film takes place in a remote mountain village in the Alps during the 15th century. It follows a goat-herder who is isolated by most people in the village, and something supernatural soon makes its presence known, leading to a haunting and unsettling experience.
8. **Viy (1967)**
– Directed by Konstantin Yershov and Georgi Kropachyov, this Russian film is based on an iconic horror novella. It follows a young priest tasked with watching over the dead body of a witch, leading to supernatural threats that haunt him.
9. **Lamb (2021)**
– Directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson, this Icelandic film centers on a couple who live on a farm and experience strange occurrences when they find a creature alluded to in the title. The film is haunting and dramatic, exploring the folk horror subgenre.
10. **The Ritual (2017)**
– Directed by David Bruckner, this film follows a group of friends who go on a hiking trip through the forest of Sweden as an act of remembrance for a friend who died there. They encounter witchcraft and an ancient pagan god, making it a perfect example of folk horror themes.
11. **The Witch (2015)**
– Directed by Robert Eggers, this film is set in 17th-century New England and follows a Puritan family struggling to survive in the wilderness. The family’s daughter is accused of witchcraft, leading to a
