10 Movies and Shows Similar to The Rites of May (1976)

Description: Similar to 'The Rites of May', 'The Company of Wolves' delves into folklore and the horror of transformation. Both films use fairy tale elements to explore darker, more primal fears, with a focus on the grotesque and the surreal. The visual style is rich and symbolic, enhancing the nightmarish quality.

Fact: The film is based on Angela Carter's short stories. It was one of the first films to use animatronic werewolves. Director Neil Jordan later won an Oscar for 'The Crying Game'.

Description: A spiritual successor to 'The Wicker Man', 'The Wicker Tree' shares with 'The Rites of May' a focus on pagan rituals and the horror of outsiders confronting ancient, insular communities. Both films use folk horror elements to explore themes of sacrifice and belief.

Fact: The film was originally titled 'The Wicker Man 2'. It was based on a novel by the same director, Robin Hardy. The movie features cameos from several 'Wicker Man' (197actors.

Description: 'Kill List' shares with 'The Rites of May' a descent into madness fueled by pagan rituals and violence. Both films blur the line between reality and nightmare, with a gritty, visceral approach to horror. The storytelling is nonlinear, leaving audiences unsettled and questioning what is real.

Fact: The film's ending was kept secret from the actors until filming. Director Ben Wheatley shot the film in just 16 days. The movie was initially marketed as a crime thriller, hiding its horror elements.

Description: This film, like 'The Rites of May', explores the psychological and supernatural horrors of rural settings and historical periods. Both films use surreal imagery and a disjointed narrative to create an atmosphere of dread and confusion, focusing on the breakdown of sanity under extreme circumstances.

Fact: The film was shot in just 12 days. It was released simultaneously in cinemas, DVD, and VOD, a first for a UK film. The script was heavily influenced by 17th-century alchemical texts.

Description: This film shares with 'The Rites of May' a focus on rural horror and the terror of ancient, malevolent forces. Both films use the natural environment as a source of dread, with folklore and mythology playing key roles in the narrative. The visual style is dark and foreboding.

Fact: The creatures in the film are based on Irish folklore. Director Corin Hardy later directed 'The Nun'. The movie was shot in a real, remote forest in Ireland.

Description: Similar to 'The Rites of May', 'The Autopsy of Jane Doe' explores the horror of uncovering dark secrets through ritualistic means. Both films build tension through meticulous, almost clinical processes that reveal supernatural horrors. The atmosphere is claustrophobic and intense.

Fact: The film was shot in just 20 days. The titular character was played by a real actress who had to remain perfectly still for hours. Director André Øvredal also directed 'Trollhunter'.

Description: Like 'The Rites of May', 'A Dark Song' centers on occult rituals and the psychological toll they take. Both films are deeply atmospheric, with a focus on the meticulous, often grueling process of summoning supernatural forces. The emotional tone is one of desperation and isolation.

Fact: The film's rituals are based on real occult practices. It was shot in a single, isolated house in Ireland. Director Liam Gavin spent years researching the occult for the script.

Description: Like 'The Rites of May', 'The Devil's Doorway' deals with the horror of religious and pagan rituals. Both films use found footage and documentary-style storytelling to create a sense of realism and immediacy. The themes of faith, doubt, and supernatural evil are central to both.

Fact: The film was shot in a real, abandoned Magdalene laundry in Ireland. It was inspired by actual reports of paranormal activity. The director, Aislinn Clarke, is the first woman to direct a horror film in Northern Ireland.

Description: Like 'The Rites of May', 'Hereditary' deals with the horror of inherited trauma and the occult. Both films feature family dynamics unraveling under supernatural pressures, with a slow-burn tension that escalates into visceral horror. The emotional tone is deeply unsettling, focusing on grief and the breakdown of sanity.

Fact: Toni Collette's performance in 'Hereditary' is often cited as one of the best in modern horror. The film's miniature models were created by the director's father. The script was partially inspired by the director's own family history of mental illness.

Description: Similar to 'The Rites of May' (1976), 'Midsommar' explores pagan rituals and the horror of communal traditions. Both films delve into the psychological and physical terror of ancient ceremonies, with a focus on the unsettling beauty of these rituals. The visual aesthetics of both films are striking, using bright, natural light to contrast with the dark themes.

Fact: 'Midsommar' was inspired by director Ari Aster's own breakup, channeling personal grief into the film's narrative. The film's script was written in just six weeks. Florence Pugh, the lead actress, learned Swedish for her role.