This is the second 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 second article will cover the Top Folk Horror Films You Haven’t Seen from the 1980’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 1980’s saw a shift of themes from the previous decade’s focus on folk horror-based occult and witchcraft themes. Folklore would become the predominant theme of the subgenre in the 80’s with various films utilizing dark versions of fairy tales and mythology. In addition, some of the most popular Folk Horror films of the decade were Films About Werewolves that explored folklore in relation to the lycanthrope legend.
Though there were an abundance of Werewolf films in the 80’s, such as the subgenre classic The Howling (1981), a few of these subgenre films emphasized themes of Folk Horror. Wolfen (1981) involved Native American folklore at the center of a noir detective thriller. And An American Werewolf in London (1981) would feature Folk Horror elements set within the English Moors in Yorkshire.
Dark fairy tales would also emerge within the subgenre this decade with various films using popular versions of children’s stories with adult-themed horror. The Company of Wolves (1984) was the most famous of these types of films with its Folk Horror-themed Little Red Riding Hood tale. And Deadtime Stories (1986) would feature a different dark variation of Little Red Riding Hood and a horror comedy-inspired retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
And various subgenre films would explore the darker side of mythology. Born of Fire (1987) would feature Islamic mythology centered around Djinns, Shaytan (devil) and apocalyptic themes. Irish mythology would be the focus of Rawhead Rex (1986) with its creature based on the Bloody Bones legend. And Q (1982), though not set in a typical Folk Horror rural setting, involved Aztec mythology with Quetzalcoatl reimagined as a winged serpent that terrorizes modern day New York City.
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 1980’s: Wolfen (1981), An American Werewolf in London (1981), The Company of Wolves (1984), The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), Pumpkinhead (1988) and Pet Sematary (1989).
Folk Horror Films from the 1980’s that didn’t make our list: Mystics in Bali (1981), The Appointment (1981), Satan’s Slave (1982), The Wolf (1983), Eyes of Fire (1983), The Devonsville Terror (1983), Troll (1986), Deadtime Stories (1986), The Cellar (1989) and Laurin (1989).
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Here is our list of the Top Folk Horror Films You Haven’t Seen – 1980’s:
Plot: On her 16th birthday, Alison Findlay and two of her friends make contact with a spirit, who warns Alison of impending doom on her 19th birthday. Three years later, on the eve of turning 19, Alison returns home and makes a strange discovery in her family’s backyard.
KBZ’s Take: This Australian film focuses on Folk Horror and cults. While it’s not particularly scary (especially nowadays), it does have a great buildup of dread as details of Alison’s life are revealed and she gets closer to her ‘destiny’.
This is a film you’ll have to stick with as takes a while to get to its great third act and even better ending. Recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#9
Rawhead Rex
Plot: A U.S. historian (David Dukes) takes his wife (Kelly Piper) and son to an Irish town where the oozing devil incarnate dwells.
KBZ’s Take: Clive Barker’s Rawhead Rex was a much-anticipated horror film in the mid-80’s primarily due to Barker’s emergence as a pre-eminent horror author and Fangoria magazine’s coverage of the Rawhead Rex creature design prior to the film’s release. Though the film overall was disappointing and the special effects even more so, it still builds upon Irish mythology which hadn’t been a focus of the subgenre to that point.
As with any Barker film, you can expect a good amount of splatter and gore. Most older fans of this subgenre have likely seen the film, and we would only recommend the film for younger completists of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: In a remote corner of England’s Peak District, a mysterious skull is unearthed. But even weirder is that Lady Sylvia steals the skull for use in worshiping – very erotically – her pagan god, The White Worm, who hungers for the taste of virginal flesh.
KBZ’s Take: If you’re familiar with Ken Russell’s films, you’ll know they almost always have his unique style of sexual imagery and undertones. And Lair of the White Worm is no different.
Based on the Bram Stoker novella, the film is filled with extreme psychedelic, religious and sexual sequences that have to pretty much be seen to be believed. There’s also a fair amount of ‘tongue-in-cheek’ humor in the film that makes it enjoyable to watch (as it doesn’t take itself too seriously).
Though the film still has Folk Horror elements involving a mythical snake creature, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to take your eyes off Amanda Donohoe or Hugh Grant (in one of his earlier starring roles). Not one of the best Folk Horror films of the decade, but definitely one you’ll never forget.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#7
Celia
Plot: In 1950’s Australia, nine-year-old Celia navigates a plague of rabbits, cruel childhood friends and monstrous creatures stalking her dreams by night.
KBZ’s Take: This Australian film is part Dark Fantasy and part Coming-of-Age Drama. We’re not sure which portions of the film are scarier. The Dark Fantasy elements involve the monsters that Celia sees at night (and eventually in other people). But an argument could be made that the political strife (via communism) impacting the community and children was just as frightening. Highly recommended film for fans of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Dark Fantasy Films You Haven’t Seen – 1970 – 1989 #5
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: In 1965 Mexico City, Fabiola, a wealthy yet lonely schoolgirl, befriends Graciela, a young orphan girl who has an unhealthy fascination with witchcraft. Fabiola is convinced that she, herself, is a witch by Graciela, who then uses the fear that she’s put into her new friend to get Fabiola to carry out her orders. As their games grow more serious, the two girls find themselves involved in murder.
KBZ’s Take: Poison for the Fairies is an excellent subgenre film but it’s not in any way a horror film. There are some light horror elements in the film, but the film is much more about the psychological breakdown between two girls.
With that said, it’s still a film that will hold your attention throughout as the girls get closer to creating their ‘magic potion’ that leads to a very devastating ending. Highly recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#5
Litan
Plot: A couple arrive in the strange village of Litan during the Festival of the Dead.
KBZ’s Take: This film is like watching a nightmare slowly unfold. While it shares many elements with Survival Horror and Folk Horror films, it’s the outright creepy and Dark Fantasy elements that make it a highly recommended watch.
It is a French film, but even if you are averse to subtitles, you can still follow along as it’s basically the couple trying to escape the strange town while surrounded by residents in Festival of the Dead masks.
Additional Lists: Top Dark Fantasy Films You Haven’t Seen – 1970 – 1989 #8
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#4
Born of Fire
Plot: A musician searches for the Master Flautist, a supernatural creature planning to blow up the world.
KBZ’s Take: We’re not sure where to begin with this film. It’s one the first Islamic “Horror” films that is based on the Qur’an and Arabic Mythology. But it also stars English leads with Peter Firth and Suzan Crowley.
While the plot is very convoluted and hard to follow at times, you’ll still be engaged by the amazing visuals throughout the film. There are some very strange Dark Fantasy elements in this film that most fans of the subgenre have probably not seen yet. Though we enjoyed the film, we would only recommend it for fans of both Dark Fantasy and Folk Horror.
Additional Lists: Top Dark Fantasy Films You Haven’t Seen – 1970 – 1989 #6
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#3
Q
Plot: New York police are bemused by reports of a giant flying lizard that has been spotted around the rooftops of New York, until the lizard starts to eat people. An out-of-work ex-con is the only person who knows the location of the monster’s nest and is determined to turn the knowledge to his advantage, but will his gamble pay off or will he end up as lizard food?
KBZ’s Take: Q is a film where the somewhat ridiculous plot might make you think of a low budget and low-grade monster film. While the film is on the lower budget side, it still has some great effects while balancing a briskly paced story, a satire on everything from politics to the media and one of the best performances of B-movie legend Michael Moriarty.
This is also a film that doesn’t feature a typical Folk Horror rural setting as it’s set in New York City. But the other core subgenre elements are there for one of the more humorously frightening films of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Wolves and werewolves lurk throughout the dreams of young Rosaleen (Sarah Patterson), who imagines that she must journey through a dark forest to live with her grandmother (Angela Lansbury). When Rosaleen meets a rugged hunter in the woods, she discovers that she has an animal-like attraction to him, leading to a macabre turn of events. The lupine-centric film also features stories within the main tale, told by both Rosaleen and her grandma, all of which have a supernatural bent.
KBZ’s Take: Older fans of the subgenre are likely familiar with this film as it was one of the more prominent Werewolf films of the 1980’s. However, though the film is centered around werewolves, it’s also a Matryoshka doll of dark fairy tales nestled within each other.
Neil Jordan would go on to direct other Dark Fantasy films based on mythology and folklore with the popular Interview with the Vampire (1994), mermaid-based Ondine (2009) and vampire-based Byzantium (2012), but none of those films could capture the nightmarish and surreal darkness of The Company of Wolves. It’s a unique film and one of the best of the subgenre to tap into dark folklore hidden within innocent fairy tales.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#1
Pumpkinhead
Plot: After a tragic accident, a man conjures up a towering, vengeful demon called Pumpkinhead to destroy a group of unsuspecting teenagers.
KBZ’s Take: Dripping in Southern Gothic atmosphere, what this film lacks in plot it more than makes up for with a chilling demonic creature summoned for revenge in the Appalachia region of the U.S. If you grew up in the 80’s and read Fangoria magazine regularly, you knew this was one of the most anticipated creature designs from Stan Winston (and would be his directorial debut).
While the film isn’t a horror classic, it’s still one of the better subgenre films that explores folklore and themes of vengeance. The film also has four sequels with only its first sequel, Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1994), worth checking out.
Pumkpinhead has developed a much-deserved cult following over the years so if you’re a fan of Lance Henriksen or dark gothic folklore, it’s one of the best lesser-known subgenre films from the 80’s you shouldn’t miss.
Additional Lists: Top Films About The Devil, Demons & Hell You Haven’t Seen – 1970 – 1989 #8
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
