The thriller genre is unique in many ways because it’s often paired with something else. Thrillers are designed to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, rather than just assaulting them with jump scares or shocking scenes. It’s a genre that pairs well with psychological horror, as those tales often hide a deeper mystery for audiences to put together.
Naturally, the suspense thrillers generate make them the ideal pairing with horror, and some of the most beloved movies in the category are so influential that they transcend genres. Seven, for example, is a gritty psychological thriller with a twist so astounding that fans still discuss it today. The Silence of the Lambs features Anthony Hopkins at his most disturbing, introducing viewers to the terrifying Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
Those movies feature villains that are flesh and blood, and we call similar titles with an otherworldly antagonist supernatural thriller movies instead. They offer the same gripping stories you’d expect from a regular thriller, but often with a mysterious entity at its core.
Most general audiences know of the popular supernatural thrillers, like The Sixth Sense or The Others. However, many fall out of discussions over time or never made it there to begin with. Horror savants will likely know of more than a few titles on this list, but those dipping their toes into the genre may find multiple movies they’ve never heard of before.
Whether you’re a supernatural thriller expert or just want a chilling ghost movie with a gripping story, here’s a selection of praiseworthy supernatural thrillers that are rarely talked about today.
10
Malevolent (2018)
Malevolent tells a frightening mystery story about a group of scam artists who orchestrate ‘paranormal activity’ for their grieving victims. However, they may just find more than they bargained for as they accept a job in a massive country estate.
Angela (Florence Pugh) is the group’s medium. She’s used to playing up for the camera, though it quickly becomes obvious to her that something isn’t right at the estate. The building has a dark past, with secrets that some people would rather stay hidden.
Malevolent offers a great spin on the typical ghost hunter story that’s oddly alluring as audiences realize some of the unexplained phenomena may actually be real.
9
The Ritual (2017)
The Ritual is a chilling supernatural thriller set in a remote forest in Sweden. A group goes on a hiking trip to honor a friend’s sudden passing. However, they opt to take a shortcut back, becoming hopelessly lost in the process.
The group seeks shelter in an ominous abandoned cabin in the woods as night draws in. Their luck goes from bad to worse when they leave and realize they should never have deviated from the path. Infighting begins, but the friends quickly realize they must work together if they are to survive against something far more sinister.
The Ritual had a limited theatrical run before finding a home on Netflix. It ranks lower on the list because it’s a strong movie on the platform, though far less known among general audiences.
8
Deliver Us From Evil (2014)
Deliver Us from Evil is quite different from other movies on this list because it’s more of a gritty cop thriller with supernatural elements. The movie stars Eric Bana as Sarchie, a veteran detective. He doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but may have to question his beliefs to crack a case.
Sarchie investigates a series of bizarre, grisly crimes with no logical explanation. He eventually teams up with a priest, Mendoza (Edgar Ramírez), who explains he may be looking for clues in the wrong place, and that the incidents may be influenced by dark forces.
Deliver Us from Evil has some terrifying moments, though the focus is primarily on the investigation and the toll Sarchie’s job takes on his family. Many moviegoers know who Eric Bana is, though the 2014 movie comes up far less in conversation outside horror circles.
7
Oculus (2013)
Oculus is a tense horror movie with some grisly scenes starring Karen Gillan and Brenton Thwaites as Kaylie and Tim. They are siblings and have a traumatic upbringing where a strange mirror may be involved.
The movie jumps between Kaylie and Tim’s childhood and the present day, telling a story where it’s hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t. Kaylie believes the mirror is responsible for a horrendous family tragedy from earlier in her life, and tries to prove it as an adult.
I’m being purposely vague with the story of Oculus because the mystery around the mirror is what makes the movie so enjoyable. The title also has some particularly shocking scenes, even if you’re used to blood and gore.
6
The Changeling (1980)
The Changeling is very well-known among horror fans as a quintessential supernatural horror/thriller classic. However, it’s certainly not as popular among mainstream audiences as The Exorcist or The Blair Witch Project, for example, and many may have missed it owing to its age.
The movie stars George C. Scott as John Russell. He’s a talented composer with a tragic past. He moves to an isolated mansion after losing his wife and child in a car crash, hoping for a fresh start. Unfortunately for John, his new abode has a dark history, and unexplained events start happening almost immediately.
The Changeling is still incredibly effective at building tension, as John endures so much on his own. It makes the story feel quite personal as he pieces together clues about his new home.
5
The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
The Taking of Deborah Logan is a frightening horror/thriller starring Jill Larson as Deborah Logan. She’s an elderly woman battling Alzheimer’s and agrees to let a film crew into her house to document her life with the condition.
The crew set up cameras around the house, but quickly realize there may be more to Deborah’s condition than meets the eye. They capture several bouts of bizarre, unexplained behavior, and not what the crew would expect from Alzheimer’s. A tense investigation unfolds, as the team suddenly feel unequipped for what’s going on.
Larson is exceptional as Deborah Logan, and her performance elevates the entire movie into something much more terrifying. The movie arguably leans more into horror, but with a thriller element in the investigation.
4
Lake Mungo (2008)
Lake Mungo is a unique title on this list as it’s a found footage movie, shot in a faux documentary (mockumentary) format. That mockumentary is focused on the Palmer family and their daughter Alice’s sudden disappearance.
We learn that Alice drowned in Lake Mungo. The tragedy is taking its toll on the family, but they start to notice unexplained phenomena around the house in light of Alice’s death. It sounds like a typical ghost story, but the investigation reveals so much more about the event.
Lake Mungo is a slow-burning supernatural thriller that takes time to draw audiences in. The delivery won’t be for everyone, but the investigation is surprisingly complex with many moving parts and a relatable family at its core.
3
The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
The Mothman Prophecies is an early 2000s supernatural thriller starring Richard Gere as John Klein. He and his wife, Mary (Debra Messing), are involved in a car accident where she claims to see a disturbing winged figure in the road. She later passes away.
John is a reporter and experiences unexplained phenomena on the way to an assignment. He ends up hundreds of miles away from his destination and meets other people who have noticed the same, with no idea what happened. A mystery starts to unfold as ties between these phenomena become too strong to ignore.
The Mothman Prophecies tells a gripping story as John slowly pieces together what he believes is happening and how events link together. The title is arguably more well-known if you’re a fan of Richard Gere’s filmography or 2000s movies. Nevertheless, it’s a superb, often overlooked supernatural thriller.
2
The Autopsy Of Jane Doe (2016)
The Autopsy of Jane Doe is better known among horror fans, but less so among general audiences. Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch star as Tommy and Austin. They are a father and son working in a morgue. However, there’s something wrong with their newest arrival that may threaten their lives.
Authorities bring in a woman’s body for the duo to examine, explaining some of its disturbing origins. An officer describes a grisly crime scene, though it leaves Tommy and Austin perplexed as it doesn’t match the condition of the body.
The allure of The Autopsy of Jane Doe is its grand mystery that unfolds, which I won’t spoil here. It’s hard not to be drawn in by the story, as Tommy and Austin make discoveries with the audience and try to piece seemingly impossible clues together.
1
Stir Of Echoes (1999)
Stir of Echoes is a chilling supernatural thriller with plenty of scary moments and a shocking mystery at its core. The movie stars Kevin Bacon as Tom, and he volunteers to be hypnotized at a house gathering. It’s supposed to be a fun party trick, but it changes his life forever.
Tom starts to see and hear things, including what appears to be the ghost of a young woman. He doesn’t believe in the occult, but is forced to take what he sees at face value as he searches for the truth and a resolution, no matter what that may be.
Stir of Echoes is remarkable as Bacon plays a different role from usual, yet it’s rarely discussed. The movie is well-acted, with a great ghost story, and it explores how Tom’s sudden changes start to take their toll on his family.