This is the fourth in a series of articles where we’ll be covering the Top Folk Horror films. Folk Horror films typically feature folklore and cultural beliefs or religion within their narratives. Most films of this subgenre feature a rural setting and themes of isolation, religion, the occult and cults. Folk Horror primarily overlaps with the Films About Cults and Dark Fantasy Films subgenres but also heavily influences (or is influenced by) other horror subgenres including Films About the Devil, Demons & Hell, Gothic Horror Films, Films About the Occult & Witches, Films About Urban Legends, Films About Vampires and Films About Werewolves. Folk Horror also will feature Supernatural or Paranormal elements, but the focus of these films usually involves people’s beliefs in relation to any supernatural forces.
Folk Horror emerged as a horror subgenre in the late 1960’s and 1970’s and increased in popularity in the 2010’s. Popular Folk Horror films over the decades include The Wicker Man (1973), The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), The Blair Witch Project (1999), The Witch (2015), Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019).
This fourth article will cover the Top Folk Horror Films You Haven’t Seen from the 2000’s and you can check out additional articles by decade below. We are also going to include a Best Of subgenre article as a grand finale. There are so many great Folk Horror films over the last 60 years that we felt it best to break down some of the subgenre’s forgotten and lesser-known gems by decade before we give you the Best Of list which will likely feature many films you’ve already heard of or have seen.
- Top Folk Horror Films You Haven’t Seen – 1970’s
- Top Folk Horror Films You Haven’t Seen – 1980’s
- Top Folk Horror Films You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s
- Top Folk Horror Films You Haven’t Seen – 2000’s
- Top Folk Horror Films You Haven’t Seen – 2010’s
- Best Recent Folk Horror Films
- Best Films About Folk Horror
The 2000’s were another down decade for Folk Horror as most films were forgettable with only a few subgenre classics. However, the latter half of the decade would lay the groundwork for the 2010’s which would become arguably the best decade for the Folk Horror subgenre. We’ll cover the 2010’s in our next article, and as for the 2000’s, there were the usual subgenre remakes and sequels, various Folk Horror films based on mythology and folklore from around the world and a growing number of subgenre films using themes of fairy tales in a dark and unique manner.
For this decade, we’ll start off with the bad. We can’t think of another horror subgenre where the remakes of promising Folk Horror films were increasingly horrible. One of the best films of the previous decade in Wishmaster (1997) would be followed by almost unwatchable sequels in Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001) and Wishmaster 4: The Prophecy Fulfilled (2002). Pumpkinhead (1988) didn’t fare any better with one of its worst sequels in Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes (2006). But arguably the greatest sin of the decade would materialize in the universally panned remake of The Wicker Man (1973). It’s a film that is noted as one of the worst horror films of all time and doesn’t come close to recapturing the greatness of the original.
Various mythologies and folklore were again explored during this decade with some unique and obscure legends of eras past. Chinese folklore of the Seventh Month (where the Gates of Hell open) was featured in the Singaporean film The Maid (2005). The Dark (2006) would center around the Welsh mythology of the Annwn (Otherworld or Afterlife). Medieval pagan traditions and themes of reincarnation transposed to a contemporary Antwerp would appear in the underrated Belgian horror film Left Bank (2008). And Strigoi (2009) would focus on Romanian mythology of the same name which are spirits feeding on the blood of their victims. Strigoi folklore would inspire the modern version of vampires found in the Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
And finally, dark versions of fairy tales would continue and become a more prominent theme of the subgenre during this decade. Wild Flowers (2000) was a Czech film featuring various vignettes based on Karel Jaromir Erben’s collection of poems called Kytice. Erben would also have his fairy tale Otesánek, adapted into the film Little Otik (2001), which told the tale of a couple yearning for a child who ‘adopt’ a log of wood which takes on human characteristics (and develops an insatiable appetite for humans). The Terry Gilliam film, The Brothers Grimm (2005), was a fictionalized tale of the real Brothers Grimm which incorporated some of their dark fairy tales within the film’s narrative. And the best film of the subgenre during the decade, Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), was heavily influenced by fairy tales and incorporated themes of the Greek myth of Cronus in it’s coming-of-age story.
Our complete list of Films About Folk Horror features over 178+ films from 1964 – 2024. This collection features almost every film featuring witchcraft, the occult, cults and folklore set in a rural environment. If you don’t see a film in our collection, it is likely in other collections such as Dark Fantasy Films, Films About Cults, Films About the Devil, Demons & Hell, Gothic Horror Films, Films About the Occult & Witches, Films About Urban Legends, Films About Vampires and Films About Werewolves. Also, as we’re always updating our collections and will be releasing additional articles of great Folk Horror Films, subscribe to our newsletter for our latest updates as we post them.
Classic Folk Horror Films from the 2000’s: Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001), Little Otik (2001) and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Folk Horror Films from the 2000’s that didn’t make our list: Wild Flowers (2000), The Brothers Grimm (2005), The Maid (2005), The Wicker Man (2006), KM 31 (2006), Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes (2006) and Strigoi (2009).
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Here is our list of the Top Folk Horror Films You Haven’t Seen – 2000’s:
#10
The Dark
Plot: Adelle (Maria Bello) makes the journey from New York City to Wales with her daughter, Sarah (Sophie Stuckey). There, Adelle attempts to patch things up with Sarah’s father, James (Sean Bean). The visit turns tragic when Sarah disappears in the ocean. But then a young girl named Ebril (Abigail Stone) shows up who, eerily, seems to have died in a mass suicide half a century earlier. Ebril claims that Adelle’s daughter has been taken to the Welsh underworld.
KBZ’s Take: As we noted earlier in this article, there weren’t many great Folk Horror films in the 2000’s and most of the films listed here will likely only be enjoyed by fans and completists of the subgenre.
With that said, The Dark isn’t that bad of a film as it does feature some obscure Welsh mythology that hasn’t been seen in film before. We also wouldn’t call the film horror per say as the scares are few and far between. Despite a somewhat confusing script, it’s still a film worth seeing for the mythology, cinematography and solid performances from Sean Bean and Maria Bello.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#9
Wendigo
Plot: A family from the city decides to spend a weekend away at a friend’s country farmhouse. But a fluke accident sets off a chain of events that alters their lives forever and conjures up the ferocious spirit of the Wendigo.
KBZ’s Take: Another film on our list that we wouldn’t necessarily categorize as horror. The film’s poster and cover art are a bit misleading as Wendigo is much more of an abstract drama about families.
The film has very divided reviews with most people expecting a horror movie greatly let down by the film. But, if you go into the film not expecting typical horror scares, you’ll likely be surprised by an intelligent and thoughtful film with a unique take on Wendigo folklore.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Takut was born from the Komodo Films, and is a compilation of short horror films from seven directors who produced six film segments in one anthology. The short film was directed sequentially by Rako Prijanto, Riri Riza, Ray Nayoan, Robby Ertanto, Raditya Sidharta, and The Mo Brothers (Kimo Stamboel & Timo Tjahjanto).
KBZ’s Take: We had an internal debate at KBZ if we should list this film but ultimately decided to include it given the lack of quality subgenre films from the decade. This is a low budget horror anthology film from Indonesia that mostly misses but has a few hidden gems that subgenre fans should enjoy.
You’ll have to be patient with the anthology as the first segment is very low budget, not at all scary and very predictable. But the 2nd segment, Titisan Naya, and 4th segment, The List, are the best of the bunch and feature some well done takes on Indonesian folklore.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#7
Arang
Plot: Detective and rookie cop investigate a murder where acid kills the person from the inside.
KBZ’s Take: If you’ve seen quite a few J-Horror films (primarily Ringu (1998) and Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)) and the Thai horror film, Shutter (2004), Arang might seem very familiar. This Korean horror film heavily borrows from previous J-Horror classics but does enough to differentiate itself within the subgenre by focusing on the investigative aspects of its narrative.
The film is also based on Korean folklore of Arang, a tale of ghostly revenge, that subgenre fans should enjoy.
Where to Stream / Buy: YouTube
Plot: A documentary filmmaker explores seemingly unrelated paranormal incidents connected by the legend of an ancient demon called the kagutaba.
KBZ’s Take: Even if you’re not fond of the Found Footage format, Noroi is a subgenre film still worth checking out. It is one of the better examples of how the format can be used effectively to create both a creepy atmosphere and shocking scares.
As for the folklore found in the film, we don’t want to give anything away, but the film involves rituals, psychic powers, demonic possession and a curse. How those all fit together is slowly revealed in this underappreciated gem of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Films About Ghosts & Hauntings You Haven’t Seen – 2005 – 2009 #10
Where to Stream / Buy: Internet Archive
#5
Lake Mungo
Plot: After 16-year-old Alice Palmer drowns in a local dam, her family experiences a series of strange, inexplicable events centered in and around their home. Unsettled, the Palmers seek the help of a psychic and parapsychologist, who discovers that Alice led a secret, double life. At Lake Mungo, Alice’s secret past emerges.
KBZ’s Take: This is another Found Footage film on our list as the format was starting to dominate the horror genre in the late 2000’s. While we would technically classify the film as more of a Film About The Paranormal, Hauntings and Ghosts with some Psychological Horror elements, there is a bit of folklore found in the film.
However, this Australian film won’t be for everyone as it has equal amounts of praise and condemnation. Most of the condemnation comes from horror fans expecting a full-on scare fest that this film does not provide. It’s a slow film focused on grief and loss with a documentary-type feel. But it’s also an effective film that subgenre fans might enjoy (with expectations set ahead of time).
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: In 18th century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his Native American friend Mani are sent by the King to the Gevaudan province to investigate the killings of hundreds by a mysterious beast.
KBZ’s Take: Most of the films on our list (and from the decade) feature Folk Horror in a contemporary setting. Brotherhood of the Wolf is a subgenre film that is anchored in some of the more expected tenets of Folk Horror with a rural 18th Century setting.
While the film is generally associated with the Films About Werewolves subgenre, it’s much more of a combination of Martial Arts Action, Gothic Horror, Dark Fantasy and Mystery film subgenres. And though the film is very loosely based on the historical Beast of Gévaudan (and not actual myth-based folklore), it’s still one of the best subgenre films of the decade that no fan should miss.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#3
Left Bank
Plot: A chilling thriller about a woman, who upon moving in with her new boyfriend, becomes obsessed with the fate of the previous tenant and descends into madness.
KBZ’s Take: We’re ranking this film higher than it probably should be as we think it’s one of the underrated and underappreciated films of the subgenre. Left Bank (or Linkeroever) effectively brings medieval folklore to a contemporary setting.
The film does take awhile to get to the folklore aspects within the film as its first act is primarily about the emerging relationship (with quite a bit of nudity) between Marie (Eline Kuppens) and Bob (Matthias Schoenaerts). But, once the second act arrives, it’s a suspenseful ride filled with everything from Body Horror to the Occult.
It’s a film no fan of Folk Horror should miss with one of the better endings within the entire subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: YouTube
#2
Sauna
Plot: In 16th-century Finland, a merciless warrior and his brother encounter vengeful ghosts.
KBZ’s Take: Another period Folk Horror film on our list that might be too slow and abstract for some subgenre fans. And while it’s true that the film takes quite a while to get to any ‘horror’ elements, it’s most effective as a slow burn that builds a sense of dread between Eerik (Ville Virtanen) and Knut (Tommi Eronen) and the ‘sauna’ they discover in a rural village.
We would equate this film to other subgenre horror such as The Witch (2015) and Lamb (2021) that similarly aren’t chock full of scares but take their time creeping you out. If you enjoyed those films, there’s a great chance you’ll enjoy the mystery of the Sauna.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#1
Little Otik
Plot: When a childless couple learn that they cannot have children, it causes great distress. To ease his wife’s pain, the man finds a piece of root in the backyard and chops it and varnishes it into the shape of a child. However, the woman takes the root as her baby and starts to pretend that it is real.
KBZ’s Take: There’s a good chance fans of this subgenre have already seen Little Otik (Greedy Guts) as it’s considered a classic film of the subgenre. However, we wanted to list it here for younger viewers just getting into Folk Horror or for older fans that might have missed this very demented and strange film.
To say Little Otik is a weird and bizarre film would be an understatement. There’s not much we can add about a couple that substitute a tree stump for a child, that then starts acting like a human child and eventually grows into an even larger tree with an insatiable appetite for human flesh.
And while the film is based on the Czech fairy tale of Otesánek, Jan Švankmajer and Eva Švankmajerová create a dark and twisted film in the vein of Peter Jackson’s Braindead (1992) – sans the gore.
Little Otik is the very definition of a “WTF” type of film that provides equal amounts of shock and humor that will eventually and surprisingly grow on you (pun intended).
Where to Stream / Buy: Eastern European Movies
