Demain Rugna’sWhen Evil Lurksintroduced many fans to the often-overlooked Argentinian horror scene. With the uncompromising violence, themes of superstition and the supernatural, and an oppressively bleak approach to the genre, the Shudder Original’s popularity has steadily grown through word of mouth. The unique approach of Rugna’s visions of horror makes it difficult to draw direct comparisons to other works. Still, there are many films out there that work in the same extreme territory while delivering an engaging story of ethereal terror.
Here are ten films to watch if you loved Shudder’sWhen Evil Lurks.So bundle up and be prepared to embrace the horrors.
10Terrified (2017)
Agroup of paranormal investigatorsaccompanied by a forensic analyst and a police commissioner take to a small community that has been experiencing extreme cases of violence. The town considers the catalyst for the supernatural happening revolving around the death of a child and the return of his corpse. This becomes the focus of the group investigating, but they have no clue just how sinister the evil that lurks inside the home where they launch their investigation.
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What Makes It Great
Terrifiedis the otherShudder Original filmdirected by Demian Rugna, making this an easy suggestion for those who likedWhen Evil Lurks. The extreme gore and perverse darkness in the story are very similar, and there are plenty of moments that will leave a lasting mark. Moreover, the film utilizes the same pacing asWhen Evil Lurks, staying consistently chaotic and gross throughout. While it is difficult to pick between the two from Demian Rugna, both cement the Argentinian filmmaker as one of the most exciting emerging talents of this generation.
Stream on Shudder
9The Unburied (2020)
The 2020Spanish horror filmfrom director Alejandro Cohen Arazi, explores the ripples left after the patriarch of a family made rich from a slaughterhouse passes away, leaving a void among the family and the surrounding town. One of his adoptive sons (Demián Salomón, who also stars inWhen Evil Lurks) returns to deal with family matters and the estate. Still, the horrors of dark family traditions begin to draw him into truths about his father’s legacy. This all culminates in one of the most depraved and evil family reunions ever committed to film.
A mystery that slowly unravels into a chaotic horror story,The Unburiedconveys a uniquely evil form of nepotism unlike anything else. Thick with atmosphere, Alejandro Cohen Arazi never gives his audience a moment of respite as the sensation of getting dragged deeper and deeper into the sinister secrets of his family and community determined to stay prosperous by whatever devious means necessary. The film is so drenched in dread around the consequence of actions that worked so brilliantly well inWhen Evil Lurksthat the two films are excellent companion pieces.
Stream on Tubi
8Blood Flower (2023)
Blood Flower
Read Our Review:Blood Flower Review: Shudder Delivers a Creepy, Demonic, Malaysian Tale
Inheriting his mother’s abilities as a medium, a teenager, Iqbal, can see visions of the dead along with the creatures that act as harbingers of a person’s impending demise. When his father purchases a rare corpse plant, something sinister is tied to it, and Iqbal and his friends become the target of a malicious entity. Toexorcise the creature, Iqbal and his father must bring themselves closer to the ghastly apparition and figure out the meaning behind its anger.
Blood Flower, for those outside of Malaysia, is a peak into the lore and superstitions of Malaysia presented in an intriguing and easily accessible way by director Dain Said. This not only makes for a unique plot that deals with themes of supernatural, possession, and death, but it also presents a unique monster to make for theperfect modern-day creature feature. Similar toWhen Evil Lurks, the film pushes the boundaries regarding violence. The closing moments of the film are profoundly haunting and disturbing — perfect for the hardened horror fan.
7Soul (2019)
Taking place in an unspecified past, a family living in the forest takes in a young girl who seems to be lost and injured. However, their kindness is not paid back as the child brings a curse onto the family, drawing an evil entity that lives deep in the forest into their home. The family has until the next full moon to break the curse, their every moment leading up to that night being filled with terror and paranoia.
Another Malaysian feature that deals withelements of folklore and religion,Soulexplores the relationship of ‘the devil’ in the context of Malaysian religion and spirituality while leaning heavily into the supernatural. This becomes a frightening mix, especially after the curse is brought to the family in one of the most unsettling sequences committed to the horror genre. Visually striking anda wonderful slow-burninter-spliced with extreme moments,Soulrepresents the best of Malaysian horror.
6The Dark and the Wicked (2020)
Two siblings, played by Marin Ireland and Michael Abbott Jr., return to the family farm after the death of their mother, who was taking care of their ailing father. However, as soon as the two return, they start to notice bizarre occurrences in the home brought on by an evil entity that looms over the farm. Causing chaos and hallucinations to befall the family, they become seemingly trapped in the house and the nefarious force that rules over it.
What bothWhen Evil LurksandThe Dark and the Wickedunderstand is the true chaotic nature of evil. The scariest things that can happen to us are beyond our control or reason, and the events that befall the Straker family are unavoidable and caused by their mere presence. The film thrives in this ambiguity, leaving much open to the audience’s interpretation. Critics also loved Bryan Bertino’s shocking tale of a family succumbing to evil, sitting at a 91% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes with 108 reviews.
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5Nirvana Inn (2019)
Vijay Jayapal’sHindi-language psychological horror,Nirvana Inn, follows the story of a boatman Jogiraj (Adil Hussain) who comes to a small secluded inn to find new work as a caretaker. He soon becomes haunted by bizarre sounds and visions that only become more complex as some of the inhabitants at the sleepy hillside inn begin acting bizarrely. Jogiraj must face his past traumas and mistakes to quell the dark forces and his mind before he loses his sanity.
What Makes it Great
Actor Adil Hussain is a fantastic talent from India, and his involvement in a character-driven horror film is a true treat. The film itself plays out as a redemption story shrouded in mystery and death that questions whether everyone deserves a second chance when their past is filled with the ghosts of others.Fans of A24should love the approach director Vijay Jayapal takes with the film, as there are a lot of abstract storytelling elements and a heavy atmosphere. Ultimately,Nirvana Inncaptures the same sense of uncertainty as to reality versus dark forces that play out so well inWhen Evil Lurks, but takes a slightly more nuanced approach that fans of abstract andslow-burn horrorwill enjoy.
4Satanic Hispanics (2022)
Read Our Review:Satanic Hispanics Review: A Spooky Anthology Film That Celebrates Latino CultureBringing together Alejandro Brugues, Mike Mendez, Demian Rugna, Gigi Saul Guerrero, and Eduardo Sanchez,Satanic Hispanicsisa horror anthologyfocused on shining light on some of the best Spanish directors in horror. The movie presents four shorts wrapped around the main story of ‘The Traveler,’ where the sole survivor (played by Efren Ramirez) of a slaughter tells police stories he has collected in his travels. Each story has a different plot with no connections between each, offering four tales varying in tone and content.
Demian Rugna kicks off the anthology with a memorable short incorporatingbody horror with fantastic practical effects. The director’s entry into the anthology is enough of a draw for those who lovedWhen Evil Lurksand want to see more of his work. However, the rest of the entries don’t disappoint. The lack of connection between shorts may bother some, but the unrestricted format of the anthology allows each filmmaker to highlight what they do best.
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3Relic (2020)
TheAustralian horror filmRelicfollows two sisters, played by Emily Mortimer and Bella Heathcote, who return to their family home when they learn their mother, Edna (Robyn Nevin), has gone missing. Upon entering the house, they find black mold everywhere, along with a series of notes their mother left for herself. After Edna’s return, the two begin to dig deeper into what has happened, but their search seems impeded by adark force within the housethat is affecting their mother.
Relicis a clever exploration of the effect of dementia on a family that manages to pull at the heartstrings while presenting a disturbing, nightmarish horror film with notes of the supernatural. The house itself is also well utilized in the movie; it feels alive, and the way it draws the family into secret rooms and dark truths is wonderfully unnerving. It is a well-rounded horror film that has the same family focus as highlighted inWhen Evil Lurks.
Stream on AMC+
2Here Comes The Devil (2012)
From Mexican directorAdrian Garcia Bogliano,Here Comes the Devilchronicles the downfall of a family who lost their kids in a cave while hiking through Tijuana. The kids return the day after, but something changes in their behavior, and the parents begin to investigate what may have happened while they were missing. They are soon confronted with the fact that their children were exposed to something evil or that perhaps what came back was not even theirs.
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Less about shock and more about creating a consistent sense of dread and uncertainty around a peculiar incident,Here Comes the Devilexceptionally captures the unease of family transforming under an evil presence, as seen inWhen Evil Lurks. The movie is also open to speculation and interpretation, a fact which seemed to frustrate and thrill fans and critics in equal measure. However,those who value atmosphereand exploration of the complexities of familial relationships through the horror genre will be enamored by what Adrian Garcia Bogliano has crafted withHere Comes the Devil.
Rent on Apple TV+
1Der Samurai (2014)
German horror filmDer Samuraifollows a shy, small-town police officer named Jakob who is confronted by a samurai wielding a sword and going on a killing spree. Always one step behind, Jakob starts to bear witness to the samurai’s brutality and his possible motives as the two draw closer. Reality begins to blur as the cop learns more about the Samurai, and he feels an odd connection to the vicious killer as he takes out the bullies of his past.
Till Kleinert’sDer Samuraiis a challenging yet rewarding horror mystery that deals with themes of insecurity, sexual orientation, and the potential toxicity of insular thinking. With stylized violence, sleek visuals, and an unforgettable performance from Pit Bukowski, who plays the brutally skilled samurai, there is a charismatic and hypnotic element toDer Samuraithat makes it memorable.
