Supernatural Horror Movies

But with the exception of a few later Friday the 13th and Halloween movies, and films such as The Sixth Sense (1999), and The Blair Witch Project (1999), it has been a long time since the supernatural sub-genre has made a lasting impact. That has all changed. The past 10 years has seen the rise of atmospheric and eerie horror, including witches, ghosts and killers that all bring an element of the supernatural.

This boom in modern supernatural horror should without a doubt be accredited to the release and subsequent runaway success of Paranormal Activity (2007); the first of what would become a six-movie mega franchise, and one that would establish Blumhouse Productions as a major player in the horror film industry. Paranormal Activity afforded Blumhouse the opportunity to make a name for themselves as producers of low-budget (often supernatural) horror movies. The following years saw the release of Insidious (2011), Sinister (2012), Oculus (2014), and Unfriended (2015) to name a select few.

These films have a lot in common: they all benefit from ultra low budgets that highlight the eerie and unnerving environment that often accompanies supernatural horror films, and from the immense talent that is working behind the camera. This sub-genre has the distinct advantage of employing some of the greatest directors working in horror today, including Scott Derrickson, Mike Flanagan, and James Wan.

These three directors have among them some of the very best supernatural films, including The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005), Absentia (2011), Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), and The Conjuring (2013). But it doesn’t stop there. It Follows (2015) made a splash upon release by becoming one of the best-reviewed horror films of all time, and it's already on its way to becoming a genre classic.

Given the immense influx of supernatural horror, and its long history in horror in general, it’s impossible to give due credit to every movie but some honorable mentions include: House (1977), Session 9 (2001), The Devil’s Backbone (2001), and Lake Mungo (2008).

Not all of these movies are universally loved, but that’s the fun of horror movies, there’s always something for everyone, and here at HorrorRated we want to help you find something that fits your tastes! Let us know what you think of the movies highlighted here by rating them on the website, and browse our selection of supernatural movies to find your next favorite!