15 Films About Possession That Are Scarier Than The Exorcist

1. "Lovely Molly" (2011)

Eduardo Sánchez, one half of the directing team behind "The Blair Witch Project", returns to horror with "Lovely Molly". In this film, newlywed Molly (Gretchen Lodge) moves into her deceased father's house, only to be tormented by lingering spirits and her own past traumas. What sets "Lovely Molly" apart from your run-of-the-mill possession film is its commitment to character development. The possession here isn't immediate or flashy; instead, it's a slow, creeping terror that blurs the line between Molly's psychological state and the supernatural. It's not a film for the faint of heart, and it will leave you questioning where possession ends and madness begins.

2. "The Last Exorcism" (2010)

Starring Patrick Fabian as Reverend Cotton Marcus, a disillusioned evangelical minister who agrees to participate in a documentary about exorcism, this film is terrifying in its depiction of possession. However, when he performs one last exorcism on a girl named Nell (Ashley Bell), things take a turn. As the film unfolds, the audience is kept guessing about whether Nell is genuinely possessed or simply mentally ill. This constant tension, coupled with the movie's shocking conclusion, make it a possession film worth losing sleep over.

3. "The Blackcoat's Daughter" (2015)

Directed by Oz Perkins, "The Blackcoat's Daughter" follows two girls stranded at their prep school during winter break. Things take a turn for the terrifying when they become the targets of an unseen evil force. The possession in "The Blackcoat's Daughter" is slow, creeping, and deliberate, much like the film's unsettling atmosphere. This movie is a slow burn, gradually cranking up the tension until the final, shocking conclusion. So, while you might not see pea soup being spat or heads rotating 360 degrees, you'll be left with a haunting, lingering feeling of dread that's scarier than any special effects.

4. "Hereditary" (2018)

"Hereditary" has been hailed as one of the most terrifying films of the last decade, and for good reason. When Annie's (Toni Collette) mother passes away, strange things begin happening to her family, including her daughter's sudden and gruesome death, leading to the slow unraveling of a dark family secret. Ari Aster's directorial debut managed to turn even the seemingly harmless act of clicking one's tongue into a sound of pure terror. The tension and anxiety build throughout, culminating in a horrifyingly detailed depiction of possession.

5. "The Taking of Deborah Logan" (2014)

In "The Taking of Deborah Logan," what starts as a documentary about Alzheimer's takes a sinister turn when the subject, Deborah Logan (Jill Larson), starts exhibiting bizarre behavior that can't be explained by her diagnosis. The film's plot is a potent mix of the real-life horrors of degenerative disease and the supernatural horror of possession. What makes this film stand out is Larson's exceptional performance and the terrifying final act, which includes an image so disturbing, it might just be seared into your retinas for eternity.

6. "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" (2005)

In "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", possession isn't just a spiritual matter, but a legal one too. This film is a unique blend of courtroom drama and horror, a kind of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" meets "The Exorcist". Laura Linney plays a defense lawyer representing a priest (Tom Wilkinson) charged with negligent homicide following the death of Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter) after an exorcism. The way the film presents Emily's horrifying ordeal through flashbacks, paired with Carpenter's unnervingly convincing performance, makes it a standout in the realm of possession movies. Did you know that Carpenter reportedly dislocated her jaw during filming due to the intensity of her performance?

7. "Paranormal Activity" (2007)

While "Paranormal Activity" is known for kickstarting the 'found footage' horror subgenre, it's easy to forget that at its core, it's a tale of possession. It focuses on a young couple, Katie and Micah, who record their encounters with a malevolent entity in their home. While the scares initially seem to stem from the unseen specter's antics, it's the slow, disturbing descent of Katie into possession that's the film's real nightmare fuel. This film, produced on a shoestring budget of $15,000, earned more than $193 million worldwide.

8. "The Shrine" (2010)

"The Shrine" is an underrated gem in the possession genre. This Canadian horror film follows a group of journalists investigating a series of mysterious disappearances in a small Polish village. Without giving too much away, what they uncover involves a sinister cult, a creepy fog, and a terrifying statue – and that's before the possession even kicks in. "The Shrine" may not have a high Rotten Tomatoes rating or a star-studded cast, but its clever plot twists and intense final act make it a must-watch for any horror fan.

9. "A Dark Song" (2016)

"A Dark Song" is a slow-burn horror film that revolves around a grieving mother who hires an occultist to perform a grueling ritual in the hope of communicating with her deceased son. As the film progresses, the line between the living and the spirit world begins to blur, leading to some truly chilling moments. What's intriguing about this film is how it delves into the psychological ramifications of the ritual on the participants. This is not a fast-paced film, but the slow-building terror culminates in a scene of possession that's as unsettling as it is emotional.

10. "The Possession" (2012)

An innocuous looking box purchased at a yard sale is the source of horror in "The Possession." This film is loosely based on a real item called a dybbuk box, which is said to be haunted by a malicious spirit. In the movie, when a young girl becomes increasingly odd after purchasing the box, her father, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, begins to investigate. Despite its moderate box office success, the film became somewhat of a cult hit. The way it blends traditional possession horror tropes with Jewish folklore is truly chilling.

11. "The Conjuring" (2013)

While "The Conjuring" is such a well-known movie pretty much everyone's seen it, its possession element is scary enough to deserve a spot on this list. The film, based on the real-life experiences of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), focuses on the haunting and subsequent possession of Carolyn Perron (Lili Taylor). The box office hit stood out for its eerie atmosphere, tension-building, and surprisingly character-driven plot, and Farmiga's performance was particularly praised, with a 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes to prove it.

12. "Demon" (2015)

This Polish horror film stands out for its unique blend of cultural folklore and personal tragedy. "Demon" tells the story of a groom who becomes possessed by a dybbuk – a malicious spirit from Jewish mythology – during his wedding. The film explores themes of guilt, memory, and history as it navigates the wedding party's reactions to the increasingly disturbing events. Tragically, the director, Marcin Wrona, committed suicide shortly after the film's premiere, adding an undercurrent of real-world horror to this already chilling film.

13. "Amityville II: The Possession" (1982)

A prequel to "The Amityville Horror," this film delves into the story of the DeFeo family, the real-life victims of the notorious Amityville murders. The plot revolves around the family's son, Sonny (Jack Magner), who becomes possessed by a demonic force residing in their new house. This movie, while not a critical success, manages to surpass its predecessor in terms of sheer creepiness, and Magner's performance as the possessed Sonny is disturbingly effective.

14. "Deliver Us From Evil" (2014)

Inspired by the accounts of former NYPD sergeant Ralph Sarchie, "Deliver Us From Evil" blends the crime and horror genres in a truly terrifying way. Eric Bana plays Sarchie, a cop who, while investigating a series of bizarre crimes, teams up with an unconventional priest (Edgar Ramírez) skilled in exorcisms. Bana's performance as a hardened cop grappling with the reality of demonic possession adds a layer of human complexity to this spine-chilling tale of possession.

15. "Possession" (1981)

"Possession" is a bit of an oddball in this list. It's not your run-of-the-mill horror movie, it's a psychological horror-drama film that follows the disintegrating marriage of Anna and Mark, played by Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill. As Mark becomes increasingly suspicious of Anna's behavior, the audience is taken down a twisted path where it's hard to distinguish between psychological breakdown and demonic possession. Adjani's unhinged performance, especially in the infamous subway scene, earned her the Best Actress award at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival. So, while it might not be your traditional possession film, it's definitely scary in its own right.