20 Chilling Movies About Cults For True Crime Aficionados

While a movie from the '60s may not be your first choice when deciding on a cult movie, don't count out "Rosemary's Baby". It's a psychological horror movie that takes place in New York City — more specifically, Central Park. The film follows Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and Guy (John Cassavetes), a young couple that move to an outdated apartment and are trying to conceive. When Rosemary becomes pregnant, she learns that a satanic coven is after her baby, and her fear is palpable. Farrow's character experiences paranoia, and the famous actress's performance is more than convincing. This film's oppressive atmosphere is sure to keep viewers awake at night.

This film is known for depicting pagan rites and its representation of life on a remote, Scottish island. "The Wicker Man" follows police sergeant Neil Howie on his journey to the isolated island to investigate a missing person case. Sergeant Howie, played by Edward Woodward, is a devout Christian and extremely surprised when he finds the islanders paying homage to their Celtic god ancestors. They engage in cult-like behaviors and celebrations, all in an attempt to thwart his investigation of the missing girl. A remake of this film featuring Nicholas Cage was released in 2006, but nothing beats the original.

Released in 2011 and starring famous actors like Elizabeth Olsen and Sarah Paulson, "Martha Marcy May Marlene" is a story about a 22-year old woman named Martha (Olsen) who finally escapes a cult in the Catskill Mountains. However, she starts exhibiting strange behavior after being taken in by her sister and brother-in-law. Throughout the film, Martha suffers from wild delusions and paranoia, as the cult she escaped from was incredibly abusive and coercive. This distinctive psychological drama that shows the struggles people experience after escaping a cult lifestyle makes for a chilling watch, making it a truly unforgettable viewing experience.

"Helter Skelter" is a chilling film based on the 1974 book "Helter Skelter: The True Story of The Manson Murders". The film recounts the Manson Family murders, the investigation, and the trial between 1970 and 1971. Manson was the leader of a strange cult, which, under his direction and control, committed numerous murders. According to one theory from the trial prosecutors, Manson used the phrase "Helter Skelter" (the title of a Beatles song) to describe an anticipated race war. The term was written in blood on the refrigerator door in one of Manson's victim's homes. This film is one fans of true crime surely don't want to miss.

"Sound of My Voice" is a 2011 psychological thriller that follows two documentary filmmakers looking to expose a cult. The cult is led by Maggie, a charismatic leader, who is mysterious, secretive, and goes to drastic lengths to keep her group under wraps. The two filmmakers looking to expose Maggie end up enduring strange practices, such as showering thoroughly and putting on white surgical gowns. Eventually, they're driven blindfolded to a secret location to learn more about the cult itself. If you're looking for a pulse-pounding thriller, consider watching "Sound of My Voice" for your next movie night — you'll be on the edge of your seat.

Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, and Will Poulter star in this chilling 2019 film. Dani (Pugh) and her boyfriend Christian (Reynor) are a young couple with a relationship on the brink of falling apart. Dani is traumatized by a recent tragic family event, which may be the only thing keeping Christian around. Eventually, Christian invites grieving Dani on a trip with him and his friends to a midsummer festival in a remote Swedish village. What starts as a carefree vacation slowly turns into something more sinister. The group's fear is palpable, and the scenes in this movie are viscerally disturbing — they may even be too much for some viewers, so beware!

Starring Matt Smith as Charles Manson and Hannah Murray as Leslie Van Houten, "Charlie Says" is a 2018 biographical drama centered around the infamous cult leader and killer. In addition to this, the film focuses on Karlene Faith (Merritt Weaver), the author of "The Long Prison Journey of Leslie Van Houten", and her attempts to deprogram Van Houten and her sisters. Faith tries her best to get the young, imprisoned girls to understand the magnitude of their crimes and relearn who they were before they met Charles Manson. It's an interesting film that offers a unique perspective, as the girls who committed these heinous crimes are unusually gentle and kind, a stark contrast from what viewers would expect.

Starring Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne, and Alex Wolff, "Hereditary" starts with a seemingly normal depiction of a grieving family. Annie (Collette), loses her mentally ill mother, Ellen, and the entire family struggles with the aftermath of her loss. However, it doesn't take long for each family member to experience supernatural disturbances.

Annie's daughter, Charlie, who shared a "special" bond with Ellen, begins exhibiting strange behavior — which sets off a series of mysterious and terrible events. Meanwhile, Annie turns to a support group to process her grief, but she doesn't realize the chilling connection between her mother, her children, and a dark cult that could be closer than she thinks. If you plan on watching "Hereditary," you may need a blanket to cover your eyes.

"My Scientology" is a 2015 British documentary that follows Louis Theroux and his investigation into the infamous Church of Scientology. To uncover the truth behind this popular cult, Theroux teams up with former senior church official, Mark Rathburn, after the church refuses to film the documentary. The film dramatically reconstructs incidents within the church, based on information from Rathburn and others who've disengaged themselves from Scientology. The film focuses on violent behavior from the church's leader, David Miscavige, at the secret GoldBase facility located in California. While some of the other movies on this list are quite horrifying, this film has a bit of a lighthearted tone to it.

Starring Raffey Cassidy, Michiel Huisman, and Denise Gough, "The Other Lamb" zeroes in on a teenage girl named Selah who was born into an all-female cult. She lives in a remote compound that belongs to a polygamist cult, and the Shepherd is the leader. The cult is comprised of two groups of women: the younger Sisters who dress in blue, and the older Wives, dressed in red. After police force the Shepherd to leave the compound, the leader announces that he is taking all of the women to a new location. Soon, Selah starts questioning the Shepherd and what she grew up believing.

"The Ritual" is based on the book of the same name written in 2011 by Adam Nevill. It was adapted for Netflix, and it stars Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Sam Troughton, and Robert James-Collier. The film starts with five college friends reuniting at a pub to plan a vacation. After deciding to visit a remote forest in Sweden, the group starts to feel a menacing presence in their midst. Things begin to go awry for the five men, as they begin to lose themselves in the woods. As terrifying events unfold, the men find themselves trapped in a game of cat-and-mouse with a cult and a supernatural creature.

This science-fiction horror drama film follows two brothers who, after receiving a mysterious cassette tape in the mail, revisit Camp Arcadia, a cult they formerly belonged to as children. Oddly, each brother has a different recollection of events — Justin says they belonged to a UFO death cult, while Aaron remembers the cult as a friendly, peaceful commune. With his more disturbing memories of the cult, Justin is hesitant to return, but Aaron convinces him they have nothing to lose. While they receive a warm welcome back, they notice that none of the other members have aged. To add to this, the brothers begin to experience supernatural events that spiral out of control.

While "Apostle" was released in 2018, the film is set in 1905 on a remote Welsh island. Thomas Richardson (Dan Stevens) is on a mission to rescue his missing sister, who was kidnapped by a mysterious cult. The cult has contacted Thomas, demanding a ransom for her safe return. To gain the trust of the cult leaders and members, Thomas appears to be a newcomer interested in joining. However, as he works his way deeper into the isolated society, he uncovers primitive and disturbing clues pointing to the presence of an island deity, blood sacrifice, and a power struggle within the community. Can he save his sister — and himself?

Starring Rebecca Henderson and William Jackson Harper, this slow-burn thriller based on "-30-", a short story by Laird Barron, follows a couple, both of whom are scientists. Intrigued by the mysterious and gruesome events that occurred in the woods not long ago, Jessica (Henderson) and Keith (Harper) conduct a chilling investigation into some unnatural, startling animal behavior centered on the site of a Manson Family-style cult compound. Keith starts experiencing paranoia and strange visions after unearthing a mysterious artifact, and events unravel from there. The longer the couple stays in this isolated area, the stranger their reality becomes. Are things spiraling out of control, or are they losing their grip on reality?

"Red State" is an independent horror-thriller film starring John Goodman, Michael Parks, Melissa Leo, Stephen Root, and Michael Angarano. The movie follows three teenage boys who accept an invitation to have group sex with an older woman. After the woman spikes their beers, they wake up to find they're trapped in the Five Points Trinity Church, which is home to a conservative, homophobic cult based on the Westboro Baptist Church. Forced to witness and participate in the ritualistic punishment of captive gay men, the teens become part of a fight between Church and State as they fight for their lives and their freedom.