Top 10 Movies About Satan Till 2024
There is this very ancient myth about a fallen angel who gave humankind forbidden knowledge and, hence, cursed them. The character, more popularly known as Satan, Lucifer, or the Devil, has always remained a point of great interest to storytellers. However, cinema, more specifically, has portrayed Satan in several creative ways: from silent movies to modern horror, Satan's character has been dealt with in many different manners. Here follows a list of the top 10 movies about Satan, right from the classics to modern masterpieces.
1. L'Inferno (1911)
One of the very first screen versions of Satan, L'Inferno was an adaptation of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. This Italian silent film depicted Satan as a towering figure in Hell chewing on tortured souls. Still referenced today in modern cinema, its haunting visuals make it one of the most influential films in both the horror and fantasy genres.
2. Häxan (1922)
In Häxan, Swedish director Benjamin Christensen seeks to find the point where witchcraft, Satanism, and mental illness meld. A pseudo-documentary in many ways, the film melts the medieval world's terrors with more modern concerns of psychological affliction to ultimately come to the suggestion that the "devil" may be little more than the dark side of society's inclinations.
3. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Helmed by Roman Polanski, Rosemary's Baby is a psychological horror about a young woman who unwittingly becomes part of a Satanic cult's plot to birth the Antichrist. The movie makes a fine line between reality and paranoia all too easily personified, hence being one of the most enduring and disturbing films about Satan's influence.
4. The Exorcist (1973)
Inspired by a true story, The Exorcist attempts to delve deep into demonic possession as two priests work to free a young girl from the dark force; the name is Regan. Sometimes regarded as one of the best horror movies ever made, this seminal movie preys on deep-seated fears regarding the existence of evil and Satan's role in possessing the innocent.
5. The Omen (1976)
An American diplomat in The Omen adopts an orphaned child who is actually Damien, the Antichrist. Rife with foreboding imagery and creepy symbolism, the movie plays on the fear of raising pure evil without knowing it, even while the destiny versus free will debate comes into full circle in regards to Satan's influence with humankind.
6. Legend (1985)
One of the most iconic portrayals of Satan ever captured on film has to be Ridley Scott's Legend, as played by none other than the incomparable Tim Curry. His "Darkness" is a quite literal larger-than-life version of the Devil, whose plans involve plunging the world into eternal night. This Satan is one of the most unforgettable creations to have ever appeared on the screen courtesy of a tour de force performance that is only matched by the four-hour makeup procedure.
7. Prince of Darkness (1987)
John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness merges science fiction with Satanic horror in a very particular way. A group of physics students unwittingly unleashes the liquid embodiment of Satan, an act that brings forth the apocalypse. Its unique mix of religious horror and quantum physics gives a whole new twist to the narrative trope of the Devil.
8. Angel Heart (1987)
In Angel Heart, Robert De Niro plays the role of the enigmatic Louis Cyphre-almost Lucipher-and employs a detective to unravel a mystery, which is quite dark. Further, it was set in New Orleans and is basically a psychological thriller with a shocking twist at the end that connects directly back to Satan himself.
9. The Devil's Advocate (1997)
Starring Al Pacino as a devilish lawyer, The Devil's Advocate incorporates supernatural elements and legal drama. It finds Pacino in full flower: charismatic, charming, and chilling, it raises the bar regarding whether evil is part of human nature.
10. The Ninth Gate (1999)
This Roman Polanski-directed thriller follows a rare book dealer, played by Johnny Depp, who comes across a book that is supposedly cowritten by Satan. The Ninth Gate is an atmospheric journey into the world of forbidden knowledge and the temptation of power, with Satan lurking behind the scenes as the ultimate puppet master.
Whether as a seducer, ruler of Hell, or representative of humanity's dark side, from ancient mythology to modern horror, these films all have something different to say about Satan-just the complexity and enduring fascination with the character. Satan continues to represent one of the most compelling figures in cinema.
