10 Great Horror Movies Like Sinners That Are Set in the Past

The horror genre is strong when it comes to creating an unsettling ambiance, and nothing quite captures a choking fear like the weight of history – the past. The remarkable achievement of Ryan Coogler’s movie, “Sinners,” showcases this timeless allure. Debuting in April 2025 with a low-key promotion strategy, “Sinners” quickly rose to become a blockbuster, amassing over $364 million globally on a production budget of roughly $90 million. Not only did it generate substantial profits, but Coogler’s latest work has garnered high praise from critics and is tipped as a strong contender for the Oscars. The film’s success can be attributed to its skillful integration of its historical backdrop. In this movie, Michael B. Jordan portrays twin brothers, and “Sinners” uses the grim reality of the 1930s Jim Crow South to lend authenticity to its supernatural perils.

Following the footsteps of the chilling success of “Sinners,” this compilation honors the cream of the crop in period horror movies. These films whisk audiences away to another time, immersing them in an eerie atmosphere before trapping them in a horrifying dream. The chosen titles are movies where the historical setting plays a crucial role in the horror they portray. By utilizing the era’s superstitions, aesthetics, and inherent sense of isolation, these films effectively amplify fear. From windswept colonial estates to Victorian streets shrouded in fog, this is a list of ten movies that, like “Sinners,” spin captivating tales of terror rooted in the past.

1) The Witch

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but express my awe for Robert Eggers’ remarkable debut film, The Witch, released in 2015. This chilling masterpiece plunges us into the heart of religious anxiety and ancient dread set against the backdrop of 17th-century New England. The narrative unfolds around a Puritan family, who, after being exiled from their colonial settlement, strive to forge a new existence on the outskirts of an ominous forest. Guided by the devout William (Ralph Ineson) and his wife Katherine (Kate Dickie), the family’s beliefs are challenged when their newest addition, a baby boy, mysteriously disappears. As fear and hysteria escalate, the family starts to suspect their eldest child, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), of summoning the malevolent force that haunts them.

The outstanding quality that sets “The Witch” apart as a period horror gem lies in its unwavering dedication to historical accuracy. Robert Eggers, who co-wrote the script, extensively utilized historical documents such as journals, diaries, and court records to craft dialogue authentic to the 17th century. This allows viewers to become fully engrossed within the Puritan mentality, where supernatural occurrences are considered a norm. Moreover, the terror in “The Witch” isn’t solely derived from the ominous forces lurking in the woods but also from the family’s deeply ingrained beliefs, which ultimately pit them against each other. Consequently, “The Witch” is a film where the historical context serves as the primary antagonist.

2) The Lighthouse

Titled “The Lighthouse“, this gripping historical thriller by director Robert Eggers places two lighthouse caretakers – Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe) and Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson) – on a secluded New England island during the 1890s. The narrative delves into the mental deterioration of the seasoned keeper, Thomas Wake, and his novice assistant, Ephraim Winslow, as they confront tempests, solitude, and their own dwindling sanity. Filmed in stark black-and-white with a confining frame, the film is an unsettling exploration of sea folklore, festering grudges, and eerie terror, leaving viewers to ponder between reality and madness-driven illusions.

In a masterful demonstration of cinematic artistry, The Lighthouse stands out as an exceptional period film by immersing viewers in a world devoid of contemporary conveniences or distractions, instead relying on oil lamps and foghorns from the 19th century. This setting, both authentic and strikingly foreign, creates an atmosphere that is both captivating and unsettling. The horror in this film is deeply entrenched in the solitary and harsh reality of the lighthouse keepers’ lives, a life filled with suspicion, madness, and a struggle for power that mirrors many male relationships. Consequently, The Lighthouse serves as a compelling illustration of how a historical backdrop can be utilized to confine characters within a psychological pressure cooker, making their descent into madness seem not only possible but chillingly unavoidable.

3) The Others

Alejandro Amenábar’s movie, titled “The Others“, carries an eerie gothic ambiance. It unfolds in a vast manor on the secluded island of Jersey in 1945, immediately following World War II. The film showcases Nicole Kidman delivering a compelling portrayal as Grace Stewart, a deeply religious mother anticipating her husband’s return from war. Her children, both suffering from a rare condition that makes them sensitive to light, live in near constant darkness. The arrival of three enigmatic servants to help run the house coincides with a string of peculiar and progressively unsettling incidents, causing Grace to suspect that her home may be haunted.

In the aftermath of war, the atmosphere of The Others film is significantly defined by an overwhelming feeling of sorrow and loneliness, making it an outstanding example of horror set in a particular era. The continuous mist enveloping the mansion symbolizes Grace’s doubts and sadness, confining her within a realm of recollections and shadows. The movie skillfully employs its 1940s setting to craft a narrative where faith confronts pain, with terror stemming not from sudden shocks but rather from an unsettling dread. The film’s twist ending and commitment to its historical context demonstrate that the most impactful ghost stories often originate from a specific moment of mourning and anticipation in history.

4) Bram Stoker’s Dracula

The lavish 1992 movie “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” directed by Francis Ford Coppola, offers a cinematic banquet, faithfully adapting the timeless vampire novel into a visually stunning spectacle. The story unfolds in 1897 when the young lawyer Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) ventures to Count Dracula’s (Gary Oldman) castle nestled in the Carpathian Mountains. Upon uncovering his host’s terrifying essence, Harker is held captive, while the Count departs for London to pursue Harker’s fiancée, Mina (Winona Ryder), whom he believes is a reincarnation of his lost love. This sets off an urgent quest led by the eccentric Professor Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins), who teams up with Harker to halt the ancient evil.

Coppola’s adaptation skillfully portrays ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ as a chilling period horror masterpiece by immersing itself in the gothic romance and subdued sensuality of its 19th-century backdrop. The filmmaker opted for an old-school approach, crafting the visual effects on set using techniques from cinema’s infancy to give the movie a genuinely vintage atmosphere. The combination of opulent costumes, a gloomy ambiance, and in-camera effects results in a depiction of 1897 London that is stunningly beautiful yet eerily menacing. This method effectively blends the ancient world, replete with monsters and hidden desires, against the backdrop of the contemporary era, making ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ a tale where the old world clashes brutally with the new.

5) Sleepy Hollow

Tim Burton’s “Sleepy Hollow” is a chilling and captivating gothic fable, unfolding in the year 1799. In this film, Johnny Depp portrays Ichabod Crane, an esteemed New York City detective who relies on science to solve crimes. He is summoned to the eerie hamlet of Sleepy Hollow, nestled in the remote upstate wilderness, to probe into a string of grisly beheadings that the frightened villagers believe are the work of the spectral Headless Horseman, an infamous Hessian soldier. As Ichabod delves deeper into the mystery, assisted by the mysterious Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci), he must grapple with a supernatural realm that challenges his scientific worldview, a central theme that intensifies the horror of the tale.

The captivating power of Sleepy Hollow lies in its meticulous and eerie portrayal of a colonial American town shrouded in superstition during the 1799 era. Tim Burton skillfully juxtaposes Enlightenment-era rationality with deeply entrenched folklore, a struggle that Ichabod Crane personifies. Moreover, the film’s subdued color scheme, contorted trees, and persistent mist contribute to an indelible atmosphere of autumnal apprehension. Sleepy Hollow masterfully combines elements of monster movies with historical enigma, constructing a realm where old campfire tales take on a chilling authenticity.

6) The Devil’s Backbone

In 1939, during the last year of the Spanish Civil War, Guillermo del Toro’s movie “The Devil’s Backbone” unfolds as a poignant ghost story with an emotional resonance rather than scaring the audience. After his father perishes in battle, a boy named Carlos (Fernando Tielve) is relocated to a distant orphanage. It isn’t long before he encounters the spirit of another boy, Santi (Junio Valverde), who met a tragic end on the property. As Carlos delves into the sinister past of the orphanage’s grown-up residents, he learns that human beings, driven by greed and war, can pose a far greater threat than spirits.

The movie ‘The Devil’s Backbone’ stands out as a chilling masterpiece of period horror due to its skillful intertwining of supernatural elements with the grim reality of its historical context, the Spanish Civil War. Guillermo Del Toro refers to it as a ‘sister film’ to his later acclaimed work, ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’, as both delve into the terrors of fascism from a child’s perspective. This is apt, considering the war permeates every moment in ‘The Devil’s Backbone’, weaving an air of deep melancholy throughout the film. In this early work, Del Toro deftly shows how historical events can breed their own specters, making it a period horror that strikes a poignant emotional chord.

7) Apostle

Gareth Evans’ chilling folk-horror film titled “Apostle” is set in 1905 and revolves around an urgent rescue operation. In the movie, Thomas Richardson (Dan Stevens) ventures to a secluded Welsh island to save his abducted sister, who has been held captive by a secretive religious sect demanding ransom. The island’s residents are led by the captivating Prophet Malcolm (Michael Sheen), who claims their community thrives under the protection of a peculiar local deity believed to grant them supernaturally abundant harvests. As Thomas delves deeper into this cult, he unearths a harrowing truth about human sacrifices, pagan ceremonies, and a supernatural entity more terrifying than he could have ever anticipated.

The movie’s 20th-century setting in an isolated world is crucial to its horror, as it portrays a place disconnected from the mainland and any prospect of external aid. Furthermore, the film Apostle employs this historical context to delve into the topic of faith becoming fanaticism, ensnaring its protagonist in a primitive society. The isolation of the island community, along with their pre-modern beliefs, makes the progression into violence and depravity seem inevitable, transforming Apostle into an unyielding movie about the harshness of the past and its brutality.

8) Ravenous

Under the guidance of director Antonia Bird, the movie titled Ravenous presents an unnerving fusion of horror, dark humor, and historical drama, set amidst the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains in the 1840s. In this production, Guy Pearce plays the role of Captain John Boyd, a soldier disgraced from the Mexican-American War who is banished to a secluded military outpost. The grim atmosphere at the fort takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a barely alive stranger called Colqhoun (portrayed by Robert Carlyle), who recounts a chilling tale of his group succumbing to cannibalism as a means to endure the harsh winter. When the soldiers probe into his accounts, they find themselves trapped in a sinister predicament that exposes a supernatural terror linked to human flesh consumption, inspired by the Wendigo myth.

As a cinephile immersed in the world of cinema, I find myself drawn to the gripping tale of Ravenous, which resonates with the spirit of Manifest Destiny during the 1840s. This film masterfully delves into themes of insatiable hunger and aggressive expansion through its horror narrative. The seclusion of the fort and the harsh, unforgiving winter scenery intensify feelings of paranoia and fear, making the prospect of cannibalism seem all too real. It is a tale that sends a shiver down one’s spine, hinting at monstrosities born from the very land itself. Moreover, it serves as an exceptional period piece, seamlessly intertwining the unique horrors of its mythology with the brutal realities of westward expansion.

9) The Woman in Black

According to Susan Hill’s renowned 1983 novel, “The Woman in Black” is an eerie ghost tale set in the early 20th century. In this movie, Daniel Radcliffe plays Arthur Kipps, a young and recently widowed lawyer who is dispatched to a secluded English village to wrap up the business of a recently deceased client. To accomplish this task, he must spend time in her isolated mansion, which can only be reached by a slim causeway that vanishes with the rising tide. Not long after his arrival, he discovers that the villagers are fearful of the house and the vengeful spirit that haunts it. This malevolent apparition is known to appear whenever a child’s death occurs nearby.

The film exemplifies traditional gothic horror, skillfully using its Edwardian era to generate an eerie feeling of decay. Moreover, it’s hard to dispute that the period, characterized by gas lamps, steam trains, and strict societal norms, offers an ideal setting for a classic haunting. The solitude of Eel Marsh House and the villagers’ superstitions amplify the terror surrounding the protagonist, Arthur, who is a rational man confronted with a world governed by supernatural forces. As a result, The Woman in Black becomes an engaging film that beautifully demonstrates the potency of a compelling historical ghost story.

10) Overlord

On the eve of D-Day during World War II, the movie Overlord offers a pulse-pounding mix of war and body horror genres. The story revolves around a team of American paratroopers who are sent behind enemy lines to destroy a German radio tower within a small French church. However, their plane is brought down before reaching their target. The few survivors, led by Corporal Ford (Wyatt Russell) and Private Boyce (Jovan Adepo), soon realize that the Nazis have been using the church for something far more sinister than just communication – they are conducting gruesome experiments beneath the ground, creating an army of immortal soldiers using a mysterious serum, essentially Nazi zombies.

In simpler terms, “Overlord” is an outstanding period horror movie that takes off from the genuine turmoil and brutality of World War II. It uses this historical backdrop to establish its plot’s tension and villains, giving a sense of familiarity to its fantastical science fiction elements. The atrocities committed by the Nazis in real life were so heinous that it isn’t much of a stretch to imagine them dabbling with the supernatural, which is why this trope is common in horror. Essentially, “Overlord” skillfully combines the horrors of war with the chills of a mad scientist’s laboratory.

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2025-07-12 16:12