Still Haunted By Sinners? Watch These 10 Indian Folk Horror Movies Next

If you haven’t caught Ryan Coogler's gore-and-blues-soaked vampire thriller Sinners yet, grab a ticket while you can. Thanks to its genre-bending plot and near-perfect 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this southern horror musical has been making waves everywhere. And in case you have already seen it, chances are it has left you craving for more folk horror, which is why, here's a list of 10 chilling Indian folk horror movies that you need to watch next.

1. Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)

Bhool Bhulaiyaa, the first film in a now-declining horror franchise, blends comedy and terror as an NRI and his wife return to his ancestral haveli after the death of the family patriarch. With themes of depression, mental illness, and identity, the film uses its supernatural elements not just to scare, but to explore deeper human struggles.

2. Stree (2018)

In a twist on traditional horror, Stree flips the script by having the men of Chanderi take precautions to protect themselves from the vengeful spirit of a woman. This movie is inspired by the 'Nale Ba' urban legend from ’90s Karnataka. The film cleverly blends horror and satire, delivering a sharp critique of patriarchal norms.

3. Tumbbad (2018)

This movie follows Vinayak Rao (Sohum Shah) on a quest for ancestral treasure that ultimately leads to his downfall. More than just a chilling tale, the film uses the grotesque figure of Hastar to explore greed and inner darkness. With its haunting score, stunning visuals, and rich atmosphere, Tumbbad earned its place as the first Indian film to open the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week.

4. Pari (2018)

Set against Bengal’s rain-soaked backdrop, Pari delivers subtle, unsettling horror. When a kind man frees a chained woman he believes to be abused, he unknowingly invites in something far darker. Anushka Sharma’s haunting performance, combined with tales of the Ifrit and a Bangladeshi cult, grounds the supernatural in unnatural realism. 

5. Jallikattu (2019)

Set against the backdrop of Tamil Nadu’s Jallikattu tradition, Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Jallikattu blurs the line between man and beast. Here, the true horror lies not in the bull but in the villagers themselves. With its frenzied pace and kinetic editing, the film captures the wild, unstoppable spirit of human nature.

6. Bulbbul (2020)

Made by a woman for women, Bulbbul bathes its story in simmering female rage. Set against a backdrop of strange village deaths, it explores patriarchal oppression and child marriage.

Through the dazzling OTT debut of Tripti Dimri, Anvita Dutt powerfully contrasts childhood innocence with the dark consequences of repressed trauma.

7. Kantara (2022)

Greed once again drives disaster in Kantara, Rishab Shetty’s Kannada-language folk epic where he plays both Kantara and Kaadubettu Shiva. 

Set against tensions of man vs. nature and tradition vs. modernity, the film offers a visceral reflection on identity, belonging, and the cost of losing one’s roots.

8. Bhoothakaalam (2022)

In Bhoothakaalam, the past haunts Asha and her son Vinu, but it’s unclear if the ghosts are real or figments of their unravelling minds.

This Malayalam psychological horror ditches jump scares for a deeper, quieter dread, exploring themes of substance abuse, mental illness, and isolation.

9. Munjya (2024)

Munjya follows Bittu, a timid hairdresser from Pune, haunted by visions tied to a cursed peepal tree in his ancestral village. He soon uncovers a dark family secret: his ancestor’s twisted love and black magic birthed the vengeful spirit Munjya.

Now, Bittu must protect Bela, the descendant of Munjya’s lost love, from the spirit’s deadly obsession.

10. Bokshi (2025)

Premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Bhargav Saikia’s Bokshi crafts a dark, lyrical coming-of-age story. As Anahita, grieving her mother’s disappearance, grows close to her mystical teacher Shalini, the film reimagines the ‘witch’ (bokshi in Nepali) as a symbol of empowerment.