Some may believe it and some don’t but the idea of being inflicted by a curse sure makes for a terrifying thought. And these movies are here to put these horrific jinxes to the big screen; whether it be a cursed item or a cursed person, you’re guaranteed a great time.
Now, it’s time to take a look at the Top 25 Best Horror Movies About Curses.
25. One Missed Call (2003)
Starting off the list is this Japanese horror flick, One Missed Call. Following a group of friends as they start receiving mysterious voicemail messages which seem to foreshadow their deaths.
Released when curse films such as Ringu and Ju-On were popular, One Missed Call has everything that you expect from the sub-genre. A creepy-looking ghost, an inventive method of passing the curse, and a group of unsuspecting victims. However, what separates the movie from the others is Takashi Miike’s directorial flair.
He succeeds in making every scene so unsettling to watch and making it stand out from the rest, most notably the opening kill and the exorcism scene.
24. Clown (2016)
A loving father finds a clown suit for his son's birthday party, only to realize that it's cursed and slowly takes control of him.
If clowns don’t scare you, then perhaps this movie will. It’s got so many shocking moments that will stay with you for days. It’s also a surprisingly dark film considering its otherwise pretty tame premise, so if you want something a bit dark then Clown might just be what you need.
23. Cursed (2005)
A werewolf loose in Los Angeles changes the lives of three young adults who, after being mauled by the beast, learn they must kill it to avoid becoming werewolves themselves.
Wes Craven sure knows how to keep his viewers engaged with his films. Cursed has an amazing cast with great acting, as well as a pretty intriguing mystery concerning a werewolf curse. The atmosphere is also quite eerie, making the film such a blast for horror fans.
22. In Fabric (2019)
In Fabric is a bizarre yet enchanting tale of Sheila after buying an alluring red dress with a mysterious aura that may or may not be alive.
This film manages to harken back to odd and unique 70s and 80s flicks while still creating its own flavor of style and terror. The curse here is a killer dress that haunts anyone who wears it and it alone already makes for somewhat hypnotizing visuals. And on top of a unique premise, it’s also got a bold plot twist that changes the narrative of the film which will surely keep you by surprise.
21. Christine (1983)
Based on the novel by Stephen King, Christine follows a nerdish boy who buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it.
Now you might think a cursed car may seem ludicrous, and it is, but this Stephen King movie adaptation sure knows how to have fun with the concept and terrify its viewers as well. It’s a beautifully directed film thanks to John Carpenter, and it also has a pretty intriguing story to keep you on the edge of your seat.
20. Dolls (1987)
In this underrated gem, a family including a young girl named Judy takes shelter owned by two elderly toy makers. Soon, she discovers that the dolls are alive and kills everyone in the house one by one.
Dolls are already creepy enough but if witches’ magics are also included well, you might just be traumatized forever, and that’s what this 1987 tries to achieve. It’s a film that combines the innocence of a family-friendly film with the over-the-top nature of 80s mature horror film to create one of the most fun and bizarre horror film you’ll ever watch.
19. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
On Halloween 1968, Stella and her two friends meet a mysterious drifter, Ramón, and uncover a sinister notebook of stories.
If you loved the novels and their horrific illustrations then this live-action adaptation might just be what you’re looking for. It’s a fun film that will touch on your nostalgia as it displays its many creative monsters in an 80s setting, as well as featuring a rather likable group of friends. It’s also got many scares that will undoubtedly bring shivers down your spine.
18. The Conjuring (2013)
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse.
The Conjuring franchise has had many sequels and spin-offs but the first film will remain to be one of the most refreshing supernatural films of the modern era. It’s got plenty of scares that are filled with so much tension build-up that will make you jump out of your seat. As well as a likable cast of characters that you’ll want to root for.
17. Cigarette Burns (2005)
A movie theatre owner is hired to search for the only existing print of a film so notorious that its single screening caused the viewers to become homicidally insane.
The Masters of Horror anthology series had provided us with many forgotten classics and Cigarette Burns is no exception. This entry from John Carpenter is a vivid nightmare come to life, as it showcases many disturbing imageries that will undoubtedly haunt you. It even stars The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus as Kirby, which will surely please every TWD fan.
If you want a surreal film that holds no punches when it comes to imageries then John Carpenter’s Cigarette Burn is the one to watch.
16. Antrum (2019)
A young boy and girl enter the forest to dig a hole to hell. Said to be a cursed film from the late 1970s, Antrum examines the horrifying power of storytelling.
Antrum provides a rather entertaining concept of if you watch it then you will die in real life, and if this concept doesn’t hook you in, well I don’t even know what will. It’s a devilish throwback to classic 70s films like The Wicker Man, and it also has a killer soundtrack to boot.
15. Child’s Play (1988)
A single mother gives her son, Andy a buddi doll for his birthday, only to discover that it is possessed by the soul of a serial killer.
While Chucky’s franchise may always be synonymous with the slasher sub-genre, we must not forget that none of this would ever happen without the voodoo curse that Charles Lee Ray inflicted on himself. And this subplot is ever more prevalent in this very first entry which is filled with suspicion and mystery that will keep you on your toes.
14. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
A loan officer who evicts an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.
Drag Me to Hell is definitely the one to watch if you’re looking for a fun but intense film that will entertain you from start to finish. It’s filled to the brim with jump-out-of-your-seat moments as well as some pretty shocking scenes heightened by Sam Raimi’s unique vision. It also has a pretty likable protagonist, Christine Brown, who will make you want to root for her as she tries to survive the curse.
13. Silent Hill (2006)
In this movie adaptation of one of the best horror games of all time, Rose goes in search of her adopted daughter within the confines of a strange, desolate town called Silent Hill.
Considered as the best horror video game movie adaption of all time, Silent Hill will bring you on a bleak and haunting journey through the foggy town. It takes many of the iconic moments and characters of the video games and adapts them into their most terrifying iteration yet. Each of the characters is cursed to live in a dimension filled with monsters and is filled with a depressing atmosphere.
While it may take a few liberties with the game’s stories, this adaptation of one of the scariest video games of all time is a sure-time classic that you definitely deserve to watch.
12. Oculus (2014)
A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon.
Oculus is one of the most surprising movies on the list, as not only did it provide a unique premise but it's also filled to the brim with psychological scares that will sure to leave an impact on you and will make you question what you’re seeing. Its cursed mirror also makes for a rather intriguing mystery.
11. Pet Sematary (1989)
After tragedy strikes, a grieving father discovers an ancient burial ground behind his home with the power to raise the dead.
Pet Sematary provided so many iconic and horrific moments that are still being talked about to this day, which speaks volumes of how great the film is despite being just an adaptation of a novel by Stephen King. Although the film may take a few liberties, it’s definitely a film that will make you scared of ancient burial ground curses.
10. The Ring (2002)
A journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape that seems to cause the death of anyone who watches it a week later.
The curse that terrified anyone who watched it, The Ring not only traumatized its viewers thanks to some of the most creative scares but also paved the way for Asian horror remakes. This film starring Naomi Watts provides a creepy and somewhat stylized film filled with atmosphere. Along with some intriguing mystery that puts you on edge.
9. Hellraiser (1987)
Julia discovers the newly resurrected, partially formed body of her brother-in-law. She starts killing for him to revitalize his body so he can escape the demonic beings that are pursuing him after he escaped their sadistic underworld.
Clive Barker’s classic remains to be one of the best thanks to its terrifying use of practical effects that border on being disturbing. It’s also got a group of inventive monsters named Cenobites, most notably Pinhead played by Dough Bradley who steals the show. The movie provides enough shocking imagery which will make you feel glad that you aren’t part of its puzzle curse.
8. The Evil Dead (1981)
Sam Raimi once again makes it onto the list with his 1981 film, Evil Dead. It follows five friends who travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.
Evil Dead may not be your typical curse film as instead of having its own characters cursed, the movie instead focuses on a single book named Necronomicon. And what follows is a shlocky bloody film that will not only make you chuckle but shiver in terror. It may not be as polished as its sequel but the movie’s look and budget actually somewhat contribute to its eerieness.
7. Evil Dead (2013)
A remake of the original Evil Dead. Five friends head to a remote cabin, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads them to unwittingly summon up demons living in the nearby woods.
This remake of Sam Raimi’s classic improved upon its original in almost every aspect and as a result, we a got a more terrifying film that will give you nightmares. It retells the same basic story of the original but amplified the gore so much that it can sometimes be stomach-turning to watch. The film also proved that the Evil Dead franchise can still scare its viewers despite the franchise being synonymous with the horror-comedy genre.
6. It Follows (2015)
A young woman is followed by an unknown supernatural force that takes on the form of a human that she can only see after a sexual encounter.
It Follows is a metaphorical take on horror, as it personifies the dread of having a sexually transmitted disease. Seeing the unknown creature as it slowly walks across a hallway and takes on the form of a human makes for such an eerie watch. This film not only provided a subversion to horror tropes but also created a unique film in the process.
5. The Lighthouse (2019)
Two lighthouse keepers try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.
The Lighthouse is an enchantingly dark film that will put you on a bizarre journey. Its black and white presentation makes for an effectively moody atmosphere, and its acting will truly immerse you in its stranded world. If you like the VVitch from A24, then The Lighthouse is a no-brainer.
4. Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
Rika finds herself cursed, along with the other people living inside the home where the Saeki family were murdered, after stepping into the cursed house.
The Ju-On franchise has had many sequels, spin-offs, remakes, and reboot yet these Japanese Grudge entries (including the next on the list) remains to be one of the creepiest and most disturbing films to date. Its concept of a cursed house that kills anyone who enters it makes for such a captivating watch, and it's made even better by the intriguing nonchronological storytelling.
The film provided us with so many memorable and scarring moments that even to this day, remains in our mind. Ju-On: The Grudge isn’t just a film about a curse but it's also a disturbingly scary film that you will want to check out.
3. Ju-On: The Grudge 2 (2003)
As their curse spreads on, the vengeful ghosts of Sadako and Toshio find their chance to live once again through the pregnancy of a cursed woman.
You can’t really mention the first Ju-On: The Grudge film without ever mentioning its superior sequel The Grudge 2. It takes many of the formulas of the first Grudge film to create a more terrifying film that will give you goosebumps. Its story structure is even more polished as its cast of characters has a clearer connection to each other, while still retaining the intriguing nonchronological storytelling.
2. Ringu (1998)
A reporter and her ex-husband investigate a cursed video tape that is rumored to kill the viewer seven days after watching it.
Unlike the American remake, this Japanese original has a more somber tone, making each scare and reveal of the mystery such an impactful experience. Its curse was also very much unique compared to other films which made it very creepy. It’s also got a rather clever plot twist that you undoubtedly surprise you even if you might have known it already.
Sure the Japanese Ringu franchise has seen dozens of stumbles with its failed sequels and reboots but this original is still an effective film that will make your skin crawl.
1. Noroi: The Curse (2005)
A prominent paranormal journalist named Kobayashi goes missing shortly after completing a documentary. What begins as an investigation into strange noises soon evolves into the chilling mystery of a demonic entity named Kagutaba.
Noroi is not like any other found footage and curse film out there, as it implements every single supernatural trope of the genre to create one of the most mysterious and scariest films to date. What makes many of its scares effective is its great use of subtlety and dedication to feel like genuine found footage.
This is a film that will creep under your skin and is definitely deserving every minute of your time.
