Plot: A spacecraft destined for Mars veers off course leading the passengers to question their mortality.

KBZ’s Take: Based on the 1956 Swedish poem by Harry Martinson, Aniara is a thoughtful yet depressing film. It’s ultimately about the human condition as people being to lose hope and devolve into cult-like behavior. It’s a tamer (and less violent) version of Lord of the Flies that has people questioning their own mortality and existence in the universe. Highly recommended film for fans of the subgenre.

Additional Lists: Top Films Set in Space You Haven’t Seen #10

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3JqUeEV

Plot: When Angela refuses to leave her planned-parenthood clinic after it is shut down by the state, a family of fanatical evangelists vow to make her pay.

KBZ’s Take: Despite the low budget for this film, it’s surprisingly suspenseful and has a great third act. Reviews are divided on the film as some evangelicals took offense to their portrayal in the film, but from a pure subgenre film perspective, it’s one of the better subgenre films to come out in the 2010’s. Recommended for fans of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3HcaGWM

Plot: A journalist and his girlfriend get pulled in while they investigate a cult whose leader claims to be from the future.

KBZ’s Take: This film won’t be for everybody as it has just as many people praising the film as those who bash it. This is primarily to the somewhat ambiguous ending of the film. As for the film itself, it’s a slow film yet has some great suspense and great performances from Christopher Denham and Brit Marling. Though the film isn’t a classic of the subgenre, fans of the subgenre will likely enjoy it for it’s unabashed look at indoctrination into a cult.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3GqYSzL

Plot: A hopeful young starlet uncovers the ominous origins of the Hollywood elite and enters into a deadly agreement in exchange for fame and fortune.

KBZ’s Take: This film falls within the Horror and Satanic Cult spectrum of Cult films and it’s of the best Cult Horror films out there. Though it’s relatively unknown, it’s almost a satirical look at the film industry and the lengths an aspiring actress will take to make it in the industry. This is a dark and bleak film, but it shouldn’t be missed by fans of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/40bdkoy

Plot: Claire is under the grip of a mysterious new cult called Faults. Desperate to be reunited with their daughter, Claire’s parents recruit one of the world’s foremost experts on mind control, Ansel Roth.

KBZ’s Take: Unlike other films on this list, this is primarily a Drama-based film about Cults. Though it starts off as a Black Comedy (and a very, very funny opening in a restaurant), it quickly delves into Dark Thriller territory as Ansel (Leland Orser) tries to deprogram Claire (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). This is a great film though some people might have questions at the end of the film. It’s worth googling “Faults ending explained” to get more deeper insight into the entire film which will make you respect the intricate layers and setups throughout the script. One of the best films of the subgenre that shouldn’t be missed.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3DsDlWy

Plot: Pastor Park is head of a religious investigation center that exposes cults and cult leaders. While looking into a suspicious new religion called ‘Deer Mount’, he slowly uncovers clues that connect this cult to a series of mysterious cases of missing teenage girls when a body is found inside damaged tunnel beams. He begins to uncover dark secrets surrounding this cult and its enforcer Na-han.

KBZ’s Take: This Korean film starts off in one direction but goes into an entirely different direction by the third act. What starts off as almost a Demonic possession film, quickly veers into Serial Killer and Detective subgenre themes with a religious bent. That’s not to take anything away from the film as the first two acts are filled with suspense and a great performance by Lee Jung-jae as Pastor Park. You will almost recognize Lee from his role as Seong Gi-hun from Squid Game. Though the ending of the film doesn’t measure up to everything that comes before it, it’s still a worthy entry to the Cult subgenre and shouldn’t be missed by subgenre fans.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://www.netflix.com/title/81010699

Plot: Two brothers return to the cult they escaped from years ago.

KBZ’s Take: Directors’ Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson are becoming the leading Time Loop and Time Travel filmmakers with The Endless and the more recent Synchronic (2020). While Synchronic deals with more straightforward Time Travel convention, The Endless explores the dynamics of cults and the ‘what if’ aspect of a cults’ beliefs actually being correct. Unlike other Time Loop films, this film portrays others stuck in Time Loop as experienced by the main characters.

Additional Lists: Top Time Loop Films You Haven’t Seen #6

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3HHBO1v

Plot: A fashion photographer is traveling to meet his sister at Eden Parish. Once there, his friends begin to film interviews with the Eden Parish inhabitants, all of whom speak of the commune in glowing terms. However, they soon discover that there is a sinister edge to the commune that belies the seemingly peaceful setting.

KBZ’s Take: Ti West has a cult following of his own within the Horror genre with some amazing films such as The Roost (2005), The House of the Devil (2009) and X (2022). This is also one of his best films though it differs from the others as it utilizes the Found Footage format. The Found Footage format mostly works in this case as a first-person perspective on a Jonestown-like Cult. The film was also inspired by Jonestown so it gives the viewer a different perspective of the events that you don’t necessarily get in Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980).

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Rjqr30

Plot: Man goes on a bloody vengeance rampage after his wife is killed by a cult.

KBZ’s Take: If you are a fan of the revenge subgenre and still haven’t see Mandy, you need to stop reading this and watch it now. Panos Cosmatos brings violence, gore and weirdness to this Dark Fantasy tale (much like he did with his even weirder previous effort Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)). The film can slow down at times but Nicholas Cage’s performance as a man descending into madness anchors the film throughout. It also has one of the more unique Cults in film and their otherworldly origins.

Additional Lists: Top Dark Fantasy Films You Haven’t Seen 2010 – 2022 #2, Top Films About Revenge You Haven’t Seen #6

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Y1jaHe

Plot: Will and his new girlfriend Kira are invited to a dinner with old friends at the house of Will’s ex Eden and her new partner David. Although the evening appears to be relaxed, Will soon gets a creeping suspicion that their charming host David is up to something.

KBZ’s Take: There’s not a lot you can say about this film without ruining it. However, it’s one of a handful of films we always recommend to others if they’re looking for a different kind of Horror film. It’s also on our list of the Top Scariest Films to Watch on Halloween (for Adults) You Haven’t Seen.

Though the film is much more of a Mystery Thriller / Psychological Thriller hybrid than a straight up Horror film, the Horror comes from Will (Logan Marshall-Green) slowly realizing what’s wrong with the dinner party and certain participants. That’s really all we can say about the ‘plot’ though we will say it’s one of the best films of the subgenre and is even a film you can watch with others (who don’t necessarily like Horror movies).

Additional Lists: Top Scariest Films to Watch on Halloween (for Adults) You Haven’t Seen #8

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3OTjrZm