Occult Throughout Cinema History
Day 23 brought us an extensive look into the impact on haunting films throughout horror history with Lingering Spirits. Day 24 of 31 Days of Horror Movie Challenge: Sinister Rituals, takes us to another extensive exploration with occult-based scares. We couldn’t be too selective with this genre as we narrowed it down to eight unique scares with the following. The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971) directed by Piers Haggard, immerses us in 17th-century rural England, where a mysterious skull triggers a series of malevolent events. In the atmospheric horror Alucarda, teenage orphan Justine befriends the mysterious Alucarda in a convent, unleashing a torrent of demonic possession. Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond thrusts us into a nightmarish realm as a woman inherits a hotel with a portal to hell.
Clive Barker’s Lord Of Illusions introduces us to private investigator Harry D’Amour, entangled in a battle between a fanatical cult and supernatural forces. Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses takes us on a horrifying journey into a sadistic family’s rituals. Sam Raimi’s horror-comedy Drag Me To Hell explores a cursed existence, supernatural retribution, and occult rituals. Jordan Peele’s Get Out ventures into horror with a unique twist, blending social commentary with a form of body-snatching through hypnosis. Lastly, Ari Aster’s Midsommar unfolds a folk horror tale within a seemingly idyllic Swedish community.
These films not only showcase the enduring fascination with sinister rituals but also underline their profound impact on the evolution of horror cinema. Embrace the darkness on Day 24 with these occult-infused nightmares.