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Séances are a staple in the horror movie genre, bridging the eerie gap between the living and the dead.
From ancient demons to possessed hands, these horror movies deliver a wide range of terrifying spiritual encounters.
Horror movies captivate audiences with mysteries, and séances allow viewers to see what’s on the ‘other side’. Imagine sitting at a table, touching a planchette, your heart racing as the boundary between our world and the next blurs.
Now, let’s explore 10 of the most memorable séances in recent horror movie history. But remember, you might want to keep the lights on…
1. Hereditary (2019)
Plot:
Annie is a wealthy model maker with a family history of mental instability. After her elderly mother passes away, Annie, her disturbed daughter and her teenage son Peter begin to experience strange visions and compulsions, much to the distress of her sceptical husband, Steve.
The seance:
The séance scene occurs when Annie (Toni Collette) seeks help from a medium (Ann Dowd) to communicate with a deceased family member.
Hereditary is a movie that surprised audiences and reinforced A24’s place as a horror powerhouse.
While the marketing set the stage for an unnerving elevated horror thrill ride, Hereditary went above and beyond, delivering twists and scares beyond our wildest imaginations.
With another killer performance by icon Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense), this film delves deep into generational family trauma and the deep scars that mental health can leave on your loved ones.
Hereditary is a horror movie that is not for the faint of heart and will leave you utterly speechless by the end of the climax.
🔪 Horror Trivia
The film’s director, Ari Aster, liked Utah as the backdrop of the film because its mountains were beautiful but also menacing and ominous.
2. Host (2020)
Plot:
Six friends hire a medium to hold a séance via Zoom during lockdown, but they get far more than they bargained for as things quickly go wrong.
The seance:
Led by an online medium, the Zoom group create an astral connection with the spirit world. Unfortunately, their lack of respect for the practice leads to malevolent consequences as an evil spirit invades their homes.
Host is a 2020 Shudder original horror movie that uses the unique framing device of a Zoom call to create a new genre of technological dread.
The host was filmed during the COVID pandemic, which made a group video call the perfect setting for this Zoom horror movie. This gave the film a level of realism that wouldn’t have been possible without the world events occurring at the time.
In addition to Host, director Rob Savage has worked on other horror projects, such as the found footage style Dashcam (2021) and the Stephen King short story adaptation The Boogeyman (2023).
🔪 Horror Trivia
Due to the nature of the film and the ongoing pandemic at the time, the crew had to get creative when filming.
Because of this, most scenes were shot on iPhones that were simply taped to the laptops the cast members were using.
3. Talk To Me (2022)
Plot:
When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill… until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
The seance:
Mia, the protagonist, finds herself in a dimly lit room surrounded by her friends. As she reaches out to touch an ancient, embalmed hand. Whispers from the beyond echo through the air, revealing secrets that will forever alter her reality.
Talk To Me was a milestone as the directorial debut of brothers Michael and Danny Philippou and the feature film debut of Sophie Wilde, who played Mia in the film.
Despite Talk To Me being made by ‘green’ talent, this demonic Australian horror movie was an instant hit with audiences and critics alike.
Distributed by the iconic production company A24, this elevated horror movie fits perfectly among the studio’s other films, such as Hereditary and The Lighthouse.
The studio has already greenlit a sequel, currently titled Talk 2 Me, which is hopefully due to release in 2024/2025!
🔪 Horror Trivia
Talk To Me received major financial support from the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) and Screen Australia. The Adelaide Film Festival and several other sources also contributed to its financing.
Interested in other demonic horror movies like Talk To Me? Check out the upcoming Australian body horror movie ‘The Demon Disorder’!
4. The Others (2001)
Plot:
In 1945, immediately following the end of the Second World War, a woman who lives with her two photosensitive children on her darkened old family estate in the Channel Islands becomes convinced that their home is haunted.
The seance:
Grace, the protagonist, participates in a séance to communicate with the ghosts haunting her home. When she realises the truth about the haunting, she uncovers more than she bargained for.
Loosely based on the classic Henry James horror novella published in 1898, The Turn of the Screw, The Others is a 2001 gothic horror ghost movie that takes you on a terrifying journey through the lives of a struggling family living on a remote estate.
The novella was also the basis for the terrifying 2020 Netflix series directed by Mike Flannagan, titled The Haunting of Bly Manor.
The film’s cast includes Nicole Kidman and several horror stars such as Christopher Eccleston (28 Weeks Later), Elaine Cassidy (Harper’s Island), and Eric Sykes (Theatre of Blood).
The director, Alejandro Amenábar, also wrote and directed Thesis, a 1996 snuff film thriller from Spain.
Prepare for a slow-burn that surprises you with twists and turns you won’t see coming. The Others is a beautifully haunting film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
🔪 Horror Trivia
The Others earned over $200 million, making it one of the highest-grossing horror movies ever. It has since been dethroned, barely staying in the top 50 grosses by the 2020s.
5. Drag Me To Hell (2009)
Plot:
A loan officer who evicts an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.
The seance:
Desperate to break a curse, Christine attends a séance led by a psychic. The spirit of Lamia is forced to possess a goat but unexpectedly inhabits another person instead, leading to terrifying consequences.
Sam Raimi brings a genuinely chaotic and genre-defining experience to the screen in this demonic horror movie.
Drag Me To Hell delivers subtle scares and some downright violent sequences; Raimi performs at his peak with this story.
Alison Lohman and Justin Long star as Christine and Clay, a happy couple who face an insurmountable demonic threat.
Actress Lorna Raver gives an authentic and ominous performance as the mystic who curses Lohman’s character.
Lohman and Long still keep in touch 15 years after the release of the film!
🔪 Horror Trivia
The demon in this film, the “lamia,” is actually an entity from Greek mythology.
In old tales, lamia is said to stalk the countryside looking for children to devour, and it was used as a story to get young children into their beds at bedtime.
6. What Lies Beneath (2000)
Plot:
The wife of a university research scientist believes that her lakeside Vermont home is haunted by a ghost – or that she is losing her mind.
The seance:
Claire Spencer (Michelle Pfeiffer) invites her best friend Jody (Diana Scarwid) to join her for a séance in her bathroom. During the séance, the women contact the spirit world, but do they know who they are talking to?
This murder mystery ghost story feels like a parody of Rear Window at first but becomes so much more.
What Lies Beneath follows Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer) as she investigates a disappearance in her neighbourhood. Her journey also uncovered secrets in her own home that led her to believe that her picture-perfect life may be in danger.
This film, also starring Harrison Ford, was directed by Robert Zemeckis. Zemeckis is a prolific horror producer who has directed several horror classics.
Films produced by Zemeckis include:
- The Frighteners (1996)
- Ghost Ship (2002)
- Gothika (2003)
Although it burns slowly at times, What Lies Beneath doesn’t hold back once the scares start.
As we learn more about the bubbling mystery at the heart of the story, the tensions start to rise… and so does the bath water.
🔪 Horror Trivia
Five versions of the bathroom set had to be constructed to allow parts of the same scene to be filmed at different times on opposite coasts due to the schedule of the cast members.
7. Ouija (2014)
Plot:
A group of friends must confront their most terrifying fears when they awaken the dark powers of an ancient spirit board.
The seance:
After the tragic death of her friend, Laine (Olivia Cooke) and her friends decide to use a Ouija board to communicate with the spirit world.
As they ask questions, the room becomes charged with supernatural energy, and the friends soon realise they’ve opened the door to something evil.
Ouija and its 2016 sequel, Ouija: Origin of Evil, make extensive use of the terrifying titular spirit board.
Lighting some candles and waiting for the spirits to call is a favourite pastime for many. Anybody who has ever been to a spooky slumber party knows that Ouija boards are a staple for a fun night at home with friends.
The film features a wide range of iconic horror faces, such as:
- Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel)
- Douglas Smith (Antiviral, The Bye-Bye Man)
- Shelley Hennig (Unfriended)
- Sierra Hawkins (Truth or Dare)
Lin Shaye, who has over 60 horror credits, also joined the cast of this film. Shaye has worked on horror projects such as Insidious (2010) and A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) and appeared as a character in the 2022 Supermassive Games video game The Quarry.
While Ouija (2014) received a lukewarm reception, the 2016 Ouija: Origin of Evil sequel has become an essential flick to many horror fans and quickly surpassed the first film as a fan favourite.
🔪 Horror Trivia
Ouija was the first-ever horror film based on a Hasbro product.
Contrary to popular belief that Ouija boards are ancient spiritual communication tools, the Ouija Board was actually patented by businessman Elijah Bond in May 1890.
8. Alison’s Birthday (1981)
Plot:
As her 19th birthday approaches, a young girl experiences a series of odd occurrences, only to slowly realise the sinister intentions behind the birthday celebrations that have been arranged for her.
The seance:
The séance occurs very early in the film, as a group of teenage girls find themselves sitting around a homemade spirit board after school. They successfully contact the spirit world and are faced with deadly consequences.
Australia is known for making excellent horror movies, and Alison’s Birthday is no exception.
A classic Ozploitation film, Alison’s Birthday delivers on the scares.
From the opening scene featuring a deadly séance to the occultists who terrorise our protagonist, Alison, be prepared for something different.
Though this horror movie suffers from some tropes of 1970s Australian cinema, its vintage nature is all part of the charm.
The titular character Alison is played by Australian actress Joanne Samuel, who also appeared in Mad Max (1979).
🔪 Horror Trivia
Alison’s Birthday was filmed in early 1979 in Sydney, Australia, but the movie was not released until its theatrical premiere in late 1981.
Want more Australian horror movies? Check out our other Aussie horror news and lists!
9. Séance (2021)
Plot:
Camille, a young woman who arrives at the Edelvine Academy following one of the student’s untimely and violent death.
The seance:
A group of girls at Edelvine Academy for Girls conducts a séance to contact their deceased classmate, Kerrie.
Unexpectedly, they make real contact with a spirit that warns them of impending danger, leading to a series of mysterious deaths and chilling events.
This horror movie, produced by Dark Castle Entertainment, takes a different approach to supernatural entities and the consequences of contacting the spirit realm.
Starring Suki Waterhouse, Séance features a cast of actors who have appeared in many horror movies, including:
- Stephanie Sy (Channel Zero, Orphan: First Kill)
- Megan Best (Dark Harvest, Bring It On: Cheer or Die)
- Seamus Patterson (Books of Blood, From)
- Marina Stephenson Kerr (Cult of Chucky, The Grudge)
Several cast members from Séance also appear in the Netflix horror comedy Time Cut, which Christopher Landon produced.
Prolific horror movie writer Simon Barrett also produced Séance. He has written horror movies such as:
- You’re Next (2011)
- Blair Witch (2016)
- Segments for V/H/S, V/H/S 2, and V/H/S/94
🔪 Horror Trivia
No school would allow production to film on their campus.
The campus featured in the movie was cobbled together from 8 shooting locations, including an abandoned bank building, a private residential home, and constructed sets.
10. Beetlejuice (1988)
Plot:
The spirits of a recently deceased couple are harassed by an unbearable family that has moved into their home, and hire a malicious spirit to drive them out.
The seance:
Otho (Glenn Shadix) conducts a séance using the Handbook for the Recently Deceased. Unexpectedly, he unwittingly performs an exorcism instead.
As a result, the friendly homebound ghosts, Adam and Barbara Maitland (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis), begin to age and decay…
The supernatural doesn’t always have to terrify you; sometimes it tries to kill you with laughter.
Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice is one of the quirky director’s best movies, and it helped catapult Winona Ryder to international stardom in the 1980s.
The film follows an eccentric cast of characters, both living and dead, as they try to find harmony when the veil between the afterlife and the mortal realm is lifted.
Although short on scares, the comedic visual gags in this film give us plenty to scream about. From terrifying sandworms to horrific ghostly tri, there is something for everyone.
Jenna Ortega is set to star in the sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), with returning cast members including Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton.
🔪 Horror Trivia
The original idea for a sequel was Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, which would have seen the titular character and Lydia Deetz go on a supernatural (and sandy) adventure together.
Whether through a laptop screen or around a grand table in a dimly lit room, these séances highlight our fascination with the spiritual unknown.
Seeing characters communicate with spirits always delivers suspense and horror, and sometimes even unexpected laughs. Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, there’s no denying the excitement that comes with a good séance.
Just don’t upset the spirits…
Which horror movie séance left you trembling with fear? Let us know in the comments below!
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