12 Movies Like Heretic You Need to Watch
Craving tense horror-thrillers? Discover 12 unsettling picks with faith, mystery, and crime-driven suspense, including Heretic, The First Omen, and Longlegs.
If you want movies like Heretic, this list leans into the same uneasy mix of faith, fear, and slow-burn dread that keeps you thinking long after the credits. We’ve gathered titles such as Heretic (2024), The First Omen (2024), Immaculate (2024), Longlegs (2024), and Cuckoo (2024), all of which twist horror in different directions. Some push harder into mystery and psychological tension, while others add crime-thriller energy or a more grounded sense of menace. You’ll also find newer picks like Dead Whisper (2024), Humane (2024), and Bystanders (2024), which bring their own bleak, unsettling angles. Whether you want religious horror, sinister investigations, or something quietly disturbing, this roundup should help you find your next watch.
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01
The First Omen
horror
When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.
Directed by Arkasha StevensonCast Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson, Sonia Braga, Tawfeek Barhom, Maria CaballeroAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
02
Cuckoo
horror · mystery · thriller
After reluctantly moving to the German Alps with her father and his new family, Gretchen discovers that their new town hides sinister secrets, as she's plagued by strange noises and frightening visions of a woman pursuing her.
Directed by Tilman SingerCast Hunter Schafer, Jan Bluthardt, Marton Csokas, Jessica Henwick, Dan StevensHuluMore details on IMDb → -
03
Immaculate
horror · thriller
An American nun embarks on a new journey when she joins a remote convent in the Italian countryside. However, her warm welcome quickly turns into a living nightmare when she discovers her new home harbours a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.
Directed by Michael MohanCast Sydney Sweeney, Álvaro Morte, Simona Tabasco, Benedetta Porcaroli, Giorgio ColangeliNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
04
Humane
horror · thriller
In the wake of an environmental collapse that has forced humanity to shed 20% of its population, a family dinner erupts into chaos when a father's plan to enlist in the government's new euthanasia program goes horribly awry.
Directed by Caitlin CronenbergCast Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Peter Gallagher, Enrico Colantoni, Sebastian ChaconHuluMore details on IMDb → -
05
Bystanders
horror · thriller
Abby and her friends attend a frat party, but it turns into a nightmare when they are drugged and hunted for sport. As Abby escapes, a mysterious couple arrives and they’re ready to turn the tables on the predators.
Directed by Mary Beth McAndrewsCast Jamie Alvey, Brandi Botkin, John Conners, Erica Dodt, Hannah FiermanAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
06
Longlegs
crime · horror · mystery · thriller
FBI Agent Lee Harker is a gifted new recruit assigned to the unsolved case of an elusive serial killer. As the case takes complex turns, unearthing evidence of the occult, Harker discovers a personal connection to the merciless killer and must race against time to stop him before he claims the lives of another innocent family.
Directed by Osgood PerkinsCast Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Michelle Choi-LeeHuluMore details on IMDb → -
07
Sheeps Clothing
thriller
A man suffering from a traumatic brain injury is coerced by his pastor to help cover up a murder in their church.
Directed by Kyle McConaghyCast Aaron Phifer, Nick Heyman, Sterling Macer Jr., Sean Heyman, Erin LeShawn WileyAmazon Prime VideoFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
08
The Demon Disorder
horror · thriller
Tells the story of Graham, Jake and Phillip Reilly and their deceased father. Their pasts collide when a family secret is discovered, leading their father's garage to become the site of revenge from beyond the grave.
Directed by Steve BoyleCast Charles Cottier, Dirk Hunter, Amy Ingram, John Noble, Michael TuahineAMC+More details on IMDb → -
09
Sumala
horror · thriller
Sumala, a name that is feared by people in a village in Semarang Regency from the past until now. No one dares to go out when night falls because Sumala will come to kill.
Directed by Rizal MantovaniCast Luna Maya, Darius Sinathrya, Makayla Rose Hilli, Ivonne Dahler, Denino BasrialNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
10
Shelby Oaks
horror · thriller
A woman's obsessive search for her missing sister leads her into a terrifying mystery at the hands of an unknown evil.
Directed by Chris StuckmannCast Sarah Durn, Mason Heidger, Joe Quinn, Mariah Burks, Rebecca DeMarcoHuluMore details on IMDb → -
11
The Severed Sun
horror
Magpie lives in an isolated church community ruled over by her father, The Pastor. When a man is murdered, paranoia sets in and people start to whisper about a strange 'Beast' that lives in the forest.
Directed by Dean PuckettCast Toby Stephens, Emma Appleton, Barney Harris, Lewis Gribben, Oliver MaltmanAmazon Prime VideoAMC+More details on IMDb → -
12
Azrael
action · horror
In a world where no one speaks, a devout female hunts down a young woman who has escaped her imprisonment. Recaptured by its ruthless leaders, Azrael is due to be sacrificed to pacify an ancient evil deep within the surrounding wilderness.
Directed by E.L. KatzCast Vic Carmen Sonne, Samara Weaving, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Johhan Rosenberg, Eero MilonoffHuluAMC+More details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This selection brings together 12 tense, unsettling films that capture the same eerie mood, moral pressure, and psychological discomfort that made Heretic stand out. From supernatural dread to crime-tinged suspense, each pick offers a different path into horror, thriller, and mystery territory. Bookmark this page if you like having a reliable place to return to when you want something dark, smart, and off-balance. We update it regularly as new releases and standout streaming options arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Heretic?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.