100+ Movies like Midsommar
Sacrilege
Both "Sacrilege" and "Midsommar" involve a group of friends visiting a remote village for a ritualistic festival, where they are lured into participating in disturbing and violent pagan rituals. The rituals involve human sacrifice, with the villagers attempting to sacrifice the protagonists. In both cases, the protagonists are initially unaware of the sinister nature of the rituals and are tricked into participating. The rituals are centered around facing and overcoming one's fears, with the protagonists having to confront their deepest fears to survive. There are also parallels in the themes of isolation, the loss of innocence, and the clash between modern society and ancient traditions. The movies explore the idea of being an outsider in a closed community with its own dark customs and beliefs.
The Cabin in the Woods
Both "The Cabin in the Woods" and "Midsommar" involve a group of young people who become trapped in a remote, isolated location where they are manipulated and sacrificed as part of an ancient ritual by a secretive cult or organization. The rituals are carried out to appease powerful, malevolent supernatural entities. The protagonists gradually uncover the truth about the rituals and the forces controlling them, leading to a climactic confrontation where most of the characters are killed in gruesome ways. The rituals require specific archetypes or roles to be filled by the victims, such as the virgin, the fool, and the whore. The movies explore themes of human sacrifice, the clash between modern society and ancient traditions, and the fragility of human life in the face of dark, primordial forces. Both films build tension and dread through the protagonists' growing realization that their situation is not what it seems and that they are being manipulated by unseen forces for sinister purposes.
Lake Dead
Both "Lake Dead" and "Midsommar" involve a group of friends or family members who travel to a remote, isolated location with a strange community that practices disturbing rituals and traditions. The protagonists are initially unaware of the sinister nature of these communities, which are revealed to have dark secrets and engage in horrific acts like human sacrifice and incest. The communities lure in outsiders under false pretenses, with the intention of using them for their twisted rituals. The protagonists witness shocking ceremonies and violence, and some of their friends are brutally killed. There is a sense of the protagonists being trapped and unable to escape the communities' control. Ultimately, the protagonists are forced to make an unthinkable choice or participate in the communities' evil practices in order to survive. The movies explore themes of cult-like behavior, the darkness lurking beneath the surface of seemingly idyllic communities, and the horrors that humans are capable of committing in the name of tradition or beliefs.
The Ritual
Both "The Ritual" and "Midsommar" involve a group of friends traveling to remote, isolated communities in rural Sweden for a ceremonial event. They encounter strange, pagan-like rituals and customs involving human sacrifice and worship of ancient, god-like entities. The protagonists witness disturbing ceremonies where community members commit ritualistic suicide or are violently killed as sacrifices. As outsiders, the friends are lured into participating in the rituals against their will, with some being sacrificed. The movies explore themes of cult indoctrination, the horrors of groupthink mentality, and the clash between modern perspectives and ancient, barbaric traditions. The protagonists are ultimately forced to confront the dark, primal nature lurking beneath the idyllic surface of these isolated communities.
Metalhead
Both "Metalhead" and "Midsommar" center around young women who experience profound trauma and loss, leading them to become deeply involved with isolated, insular communities that practice disturbing rituals and ceremonies. In the "Metalhead", Hera witnesses her brother's gruesome death, which drives her to embrace heavy metal music and culture as a coping mechanism, alienating her from her small village. In the "Midsommar", Dani suffers the devastating loss of her entire family, straining her relationship with her boyfriend Christian. Both Hera and Dani are drawn into closed-off groups - Hera's village and the Hårga commune - that follow ancient traditions involving violence, death, and sacrifice. The movies parallel each other in their depictions of the protagonists' journeys of grief, isolation, and eventual acceptance or assimilation into these disturbing communities. Both Hera and Dani initially resist the groups' practices but gradually become immersed in them, with Hera embracing her metal identity again and Dani being crowned the May Queen. Pivotal scenes in both films involve shocking rituals and ceremonies, such as Hera's black metal arson and the Hårga's human sacrifices. Ultimately, the movies suggest that these communities provide a sense of belonging and purpose for the traumatized protagonists, even as they engage in deeply unsettling acts.
Wither
Both "Wither" and "Midsommar" involve a group of friends visiting a remote, isolated location with an ancient cult or community that practices disturbing rituals and sacrifices. The protagonists witness horrific ceremonies and deaths, and are gradually drawn into the cult's practices against their will. The movies explore themes of the loss of innocence, the fragility of human life, and the seductive power of ancient traditions. In both films, the protagonists are forced to make difficult moral choices, and the endings involve a shocking sacrifice or transformation. The movies use graphic violence and unsettling imagery to create an atmosphere of dread and unease.
The Wicker Man
Both "The Wicker Man" and "Midsommar" involve an outsider being lured into a remote, isolated community that practices ancient pagan rituals and ceremonies. The communities are presented as idyllic at first, but their disturbing traditions are gradually revealed, including human sacrifice. In both films, the protagonist is manipulated and deceived by the community members, who intend to use them as a sacrificial offering in a climactic ritual. The sacrifices are carried out in a brutal, fiery manner, with the protagonist being burned alive in a large structure (a wicker man and a wooden temple, respectively). The movies explore themes of cults, the clash between modern and ancient belief systems, and the horrors that can arise from extreme ideological devotion.
Sami Blood
Both "Sami Blood" and "Midsommar" explore the themes of cultural identity, oppression, and the clash between traditional and modern societies. The protagonists, Elle-Marja/Christina and Dani, experience trauma and alienation from their roots, leading them to seek acceptance elsewhere. They are drawn into isolated, insular communities with disturbing rituals and beliefs, where they witness shocking acts of violence and human sacrifice. The movies depict the protagonists' struggles to reconcile their identities and find belonging, while exposing the dark underbelly of these closed-off societies. Ultimately, both films culminate in brutal, sacrificial rituals that test the protagonists' resolve and force them to confront their true selves.
What Still Remains
Both "What Still Remains" and "Midsommar" involve a young woman being drawn into an isolated, cult-like community with disturbing rituals and beliefs. In each case, the community presents itself as a safe haven but harbors dark secrets and practices human sacrifice. The protagonists, Anna and Dani, are initially lured in by charismatic members of the community, Peter and Pelle, who manipulate them into staying. As the stories progress, the communities' true violent and oppressive natures are revealed through shocking ceremonies and rituals involving death. The protagonists witness their loved ones being killed or betraying them, leaving them alone and vulnerable within the cult. Ultimately, Anna and Dani are faced with the choice of either embracing the community's twisted ways or escaping, with Dani choosing to accept her role as the cult's "May Queen" while Anna rejects the commune's leader Peter and flees.
A Classic Horror Story
Both "A Classic Horror Story" and "Midsommar" involve a group of outsiders being lured into a remote, isolated community that practices disturbing rituals and human sacrifice. The protagonists witness the communities' bizarre and violent ceremonies, including the ritualistic killing of members and outsiders. The communities are presented as cult-like, with their own belief systems and traditions that are foreign and horrifying to the protagonists. The movies build tension and dread as the protagonists become trapped and realize the true nature of the communities, culminating in shocking acts of violence and sacrifice. The protagonists are forced to confront the communities' twisted worldviews and fight for survival against the cult members. Both movies explore themes of isolation, the clash between modern society and ancient traditions, and the horrors that can arise from insular communities with extreme beliefs.
Climax
Both "Climax" and "Midsommar" involve a group of people gathering in a secluded location for a ritualistic event, where they unknowingly consume hallucinogenic substances that induce disturbing behavior and violence. The main characters experience intense psychological trauma and witness horrific acts committed by the group under the influence of drugs. The movies explore themes of cult-like group mentality, the loss of individual identity, and the descent into primal, animalistic behavior when societal norms break down. Ultimately, the protagonists are faced with disturbing sacrificial rituals and human casualties as the groups embrace their drug-fueled psychosis. The "Midsommar" parallels the "Climax"'s depiction of a close-knit community descending into madness and brutality under the influence of mind-altering substances during a ceremonial gathering.
Cthulhu
Both "Cthulhu" and "Midsommar" involve a protagonist who becomes entangled with an isolated cult community that practices disturbing rituals and sacrifices. The cults are presented as ancient groups with roots in pagan beliefs and mythology. The protagonists are initially drawn in by friends or family members who are part of the cult, and they witness increasingly shocking ceremonies and violence as they become more deeply involved. The cults are revealed to have sinister intentions of performing mass sacrifices for their own twisted purposes, with the protagonists' loved ones being targeted as potential victims. The movies build an atmosphere of dread and horror as the protagonists realize the true nature of the cults and the danger they are in. Ultimately, the protagonists are faced with the horrific reality of the cults' final sacrificial rituals, which they are powerless to stop.
Shrooms
Both "Shrooms" and "Midsommar" involve American students visiting remote locations for an experience with ancient cultural rituals involving hallucinogenic substances. The protagonists, Tara and Dani, experience disturbing visions and hallucinations after ingesting psychedelic mushrooms. Their friends are brutally murdered one by one in ritualistic ways by the cult-like communities they visit. The movies explore themes of isolation, the horrors of cults, and the psychological effects of hallucinogens. The protagonists are the sole survivors who witness their friends' gruesome deaths, leaving them traumatized. The climax involves a final sacrificial ritual where the remaining characters are violently killed, with the protagonists either participating or narrowly escaping.
Forever
Both "Forever" and "Midsommar" involve a young woman who becomes involved with an isolated community that practices ritualistic suicide. In the "Forever", Alice infiltrates a commune where the members intend to commit mass suicide, while in Midsommar, Dani and her friends attend a midsummer festival at a Swedish commune where they witness ritualistic elder suicides and are eventually chosen as human sacrifices. The communities offer a sense of belonging and acceptance to the protagonists, who are dealing with personal trauma and loss. However, the dark truth about the communities' practices is gradually revealed, leading to a climactic ritual where the protagonists must decide whether to participate or escape. The movies explore themes of grief, belonging, and the allure of extremist ideologies in the face of personal tragedy.
Hereditary
Both Hereditary and Midsommar involve a family being drawn into a secretive cult with disturbing rituals and beliefs. In each film, a tragic death of a family member early on fractures the family unit and leaves them vulnerable to the cult's influence. The cults practice bizarre ceremonies involving human sacrifice, with the protagonists ultimately being inducted against their will through manipulation and drugs. The films explore themes of grief, the fragility of family bonds, and the allure of finding a sense of belonging in an insular community, even at a horrific cost. The protagonists undergo a disturbing transformation, losing their sense of self as they are subsumed by the cult's sinister agenda and ancient practices.
Antichrist
Both "Antichrist" and "Midsommar" involve a couple who travel to an isolated, rural location with a strange community that practices disturbing rituals and ceremonies. The protagonists witness shocking acts of violence and death, including human sacrifice. The communities are presented as having sinister, cult-like qualities that initially seem benign but become increasingly threatening. The female protagonists experience profound grief and trauma, while the male protagonists become disillusioned and attempt to escape the communities. Ultimately, the female protagonists embrace the communities' ways, while the male protagonists meet gruesome fates as sacrificial victims. The movies explore themes of grief, relationships, the dark side of human nature, and the clash between modern society and ancient, pagan rituals.
Red Dot
Both "Red Dot" and "Midsommar" involve a couple being lured into a remote, isolated location by seemingly friendly locals, only to find themselves trapped and tormented by a sinister cult with disturbing rituals and beliefs. The couples are subjected to psychological and physical trauma, witnessing gruesome acts of violence and death. A key similarity is the betrayal by someone the couple trusted - in the "Red Dot" it's the neighbor Tomas seeking revenge, while in Midsommar it's Pelle who lures them to the cult commune. Both movies explore themes of grief, guilt, and the fragility of relationships under extreme circumstances. The cult members in both films have a detached, almost ritualistic response to violence and death. Ultimately, one member of each couple is left alive but deeply traumatized by their horrific ordeal at the hands of the cult.
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Both "Martha Marcy May Marlene" and "Midsommar" center around young women who become involved with abusive, cult-like groups that subject them to psychological manipulation, sexual assault, and disturbing rituals. Martha in Martha Marcy May Marlene and Dani in Midsommar are drawn into these groups through friends, where they endure trauma and abuse at the hands of the cult leaders (Patrick and the Hårga elders). The cults employ tactics like gaslighting, drugging, and initiation rituals involving rape to indoctrinate new members. The protagonists eventually escape these oppressive environments, but struggle with the psychological aftermath and trauma. Their attempts to reintegrate into normal life are hampered by flashbacks, paranoia, and difficulty trusting others. The movies explore themes of abuse, control, and the lasting impact of trauma through the lens of these cult experiences.
The Convent
Both "The Convent" and "Midsommar" involve a group of young people who become entangled with a sinister cult or religious group. In the "The Convent", college students break into an abandoned convent and encounter a group of Satanists intent on sacrificing a virgin to summon Satan. In Midsommar, a group of friends attend a midsummer festival at a remote Swedish commune and witness disturbing rituals and sacrifices. The cults in both films have dark, violent practices involving human sacrifice and the pursuit of supernatural power. The protagonists are initially unaware of the true nature of the groups they encounter, but gradually realize the horrific reality as their friends are killed off one by one. A key similarity is the idea of being lured into a seemingly harmless situation that turns out to be a trap by a cult with sinister intentions. Both films also explore themes of grief, trauma, and the search for belonging or family. In the "The Convent", the protagonist Christine has a traumatic past involving the convent, while in Midsommar, Dani experiences profound grief over her family's death. The cults present themselves as surrogate families, exploiting the protagonists' vulnerabilities to draw them in before revealing their true malevolent nature.
Kaboom
Both "Kaboom" and "Midsommar" involve a young protagonist who becomes entangled with a secretive cult or commune that practices disturbing rituals and ceremonies. The cults are presented as isolated communities with their own belief systems and traditions that are foreign and shocking to the outsiders. Key similarities include: - The protagonists are lured into the cult under false pretenses, with the cult having ulterior motives for bringing them in. - The cults practice bizarre and violent rituals, including human sacrifice and suicide ceremonies that are portrayed in graphic detail. - The protagonists witness the cults' dark underbelly and are initially horrified, but become desensitized or even accepting of the practices over time. - There are themes of loss of innocence, the fragility of the human psyche, and the allure of finding a sense of belonging even in the most twisted of communities. - Both climax with the protagonists being forced to make an ultimate choice that seals their fate and ties them to the cult, either through participation in a ritual or sacrifice. Overall, the movies parallel each other in their exploration of the depths of human depravity and the seductive power of cults to draw in the vulnerable and disillusioned.