India, Oct. 28 -- Horror fans often take pride in having nerves of steel. But sometimes, even seasoned enthusiasts tremble at the mention of folk horror movies - and it is easy to see why. After all, the best horror movies based on folklore do not trick the audience with jump scares and cliched haunted houses. Instead, they make them wary of some of the most elemental aspects of life - traditions and community.

Set against remote rural landscapes, these films focus on the locals and their cultural practices. Think we are describing cottagecore aesthetic? Well, if cottagecore was about blood, gore and being in a catch-22 situation, then sure. Because that is what folk horror thrives on.

While Western movies under this sub-genre are often...