The Best Folk Horror Movies

I've struggled with defining folk horror, and I think the difficulty is trying to fit all the pieces neatly into a box. Just when I think I've grasped it, another folk horror film comes along and breaks my understanding. It's one of those "I can't explain it, but I'll know it when I see it". But since we're making a top folk horror list, that's not good enough so I'll attempt to make a framework for what constitutes a folk horror film.

Unlike "slashers" or "creature-feature" subgenres, folk horror isn't self-explanatory nor is it as prevalent. You may have heard "The Witch" and "Midsommar" are (modern) examples — but why? They're outdoorsy? They lack traditional jump scares? They're "slower" paced? I think the best way to define folk horror is coming up with prevalent themes that occur naturally in these films and contribute to that "folk horror feeling".

Rural location, often in the countryside. This could be a dark, looming forest, or sweeping plains far outside the reaches of the city (The Witch, The Wicker Man).

Isolation. A lot of times the characters may be trapped or cut off from reaching the "safety" of urban areas. This fuels paranoia and a sense of unease. Think Midsommar: the visiting students are brought to a remote rural commune in Sweden, where they're socially and physically cut off from the outside world. The Blair Witch Project is another good example; the group cannot escape their current location, despite their increasingly desperate attempts.

Rituals. These are supported by a skewed moral/belief system. They live differently; there may be a sense of lawlessness, and/or alien traditions and customs. These rituals can be paranormal in nature. In Midsommar, Spoiler In other films, sacrifices are sometimes made to appease an ancient deity or evil entity.

Outsider vs. Insider. A clash between social groups where tension is felt, sometimes spilling into violence. This could be old values vs. new values, or generational differences, or even systemic racism (think Get Out). None of these factors by themselves guarantee inclusion, but each contributing element can suggest (sometimes strongly) that you're in folk horror territory.

TL;DR — Folk horror films at minimum have one or two of the following elements (more elements make a strong case): a rural setting (often countryside); isolation of central characters; ritualistic practices rooted in a twisted moral/belief system (sometimes paranormal); and an outsider vs. insider dynamic that builds tension, often escalating to violence.