The Ring (2002)
Seven days. That’s how long it takes for the curse in The Ring to kill you. But it’ll likely take a lot longer than that to get over nightmares induced by the movie. Based on Hideo Nakata’s Ringu (1998), the film centers around a videotape that kills its viewer a week after they watch it. Oh, and the tape itself plays in full during The Ring, in case that premise didn’t freak you out enough!
So come for The Ring’s horrifying premise, its chilling atmosphere, or its general rave reviews. Whatever draws you to the film, though, one thing is for sure: it’s pretty much guaranteed that you won’t be able to peel your eyes away from the screen before it’s too late.
Available to stream on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Pluto TV, and Paramount+.
1408 (2004)
Did you really think we were gonna leave Stephen King off of this list? Not. A. Chance. Based on his short story of the same name, 1408 is definitely up there among the scariest movie adaptations from King’s sick and twisted mind. The film follows Mike (John Cusack), a cynical writer on a search, following the tragic death of his young daughter, for proof of any paranormal activity.
Mike ends up checking out a notoriously haunted hotel room (room 1408, to be exact), and gasp-worthy horror proceeds. When it comes to going all out on supernatural fantasy, director Mikael Håfström does not shy away. He plays with time, space, and psyche in the most creative and terrifying ways possible. And fans of The Conjuring, if there’s one thing we know about you, it’s that that is right up your alley.
Available to rent.
Insidious (2011)
For all of the Conjuring junkies out there, Insidious is the perfect horror franchise to dive into. And not just because both have the same creative mind — James Wan — behind them.
Insidious follows a young couple, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne), who suspect that their young son has been possessed by the devil. But then it turns out that they’re mistaken, and everyone lives happily ever after. Just kidding! From that moment on, we are subjected to an onslaught of hideous demons, parallel dimensions, and terrifying possession scenes. It’s like Poltergeist meets The Exorcist meets The Conjuring. So, yeah. You’re not gonna wanna miss this one.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Sinister (2012)
Alongside The Conjuring and Insidious, Sinister is often praised as one of the best modern paranormal horror movies — and rightly so. The film follows washed-up writer Ellison (Ethan Hawke), who moves to a house where a family was murdered in the hope of finding inspiration for his next novel. Great idea, Ellison! We totally can’t see any flaws in that plan!
Soon after he moves in, Ellison finds some tapes of families being murdered in various creative ways. And then, things get weird. (Or, rather, they get weirder). Ellison’s curiosity gets the better of him, and he gets himself involved in cults, spirits, and a whole lot of shady characters. So if you’ve learned anything from this list so far, we hope it’s that if you come across a creepy old tape, you should just go ahead and not watch it.
Available to stream on Showtime.
The Nun (2018)
If you’re looking for a recommendation that belongs to the Conjuring Universe, look no further. The Nun serves as a spooky prequel to The Conjuring and Annabelle (2014) and will definitely discourage you from joining a convent anytime soon.
Set in Romania in 1952, the film follows a nun, Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga), who is sent by the Vatican to a monastery where some spooky stuff is allegedly going on. And, indeed, a whole lot of spookiness commences.
Indeed, if you’re a fan of The Conjuring, watching The Nun is a must; and not just because it is downright terrifying. The Nun will help you understand where the Conjuring curse comes from and is guaranteed to help you appreciate your favorite franchise even more.
Available to stream on HBO Max.
The House of the Devil (2009)
Ti West’s The House of the Devil is a perfect testament to the fact that you don’t need a big budget to create a top-tier supernatural horror movie. The film is set during the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and follows Samantha (Jocelin Donahue), a college student desperate for money who takes a high-paying, one-night babysitting gig at a creepy old mansion. But there’s a catch. The couple who hired her doesn’t actually have a kid. Samantha mulls it over and decides that that isn’t that big of a red flag. So, she sticks it out for the night. Silly, silly Samantha.
What follows is a tense, highly entertaining occult bloodbath. Adventurous Conjuring fans who want to branch out into different areas of the supernatural will surely like exploring the sinister world of the Satanic cult.
Available to stream on Shudder and Tubi.
It Follows (2015)
It Follows takes two terrifying entities — deadly curses and STDs — and blends them into one. Indeed, It Follows’ curse is an STD. The film follows Jay (Maika Monroe), a teen girl whose life is turned upside down after she goes on what can only be classified as a really, really bad date. She sleeps with a guy, and the next thing she knows, she’s being hunted by a curse that disguises itself as ordinary people. The curse is literally passed on through sex, and the only way she can get rid of it is to give it to someone else. It Follows is a perfect companion piece to the Conjuring Universe, as it takes many creative liberties in its interpretation of the supernatural.
Available to stream on Shudder, Tubi, and Pluto TV.
Related Topics: Beat The Algorithm, Horror, The Conjuring
