6 psychological horror movies to watch if you liked Ma
Ever thought about what occurs when a person who is overly kind gets excessively involved? This is the disturbing concept behind Ma (2019), a psychological horror film that elevates "hospitality" to a frightening new extreme. The film, directed by Tate Taylor, presents us with Sue Ann (portrayed by Octavia Spencer), a solitary woman who welcomes a bunch of teens into her house to celebrate.
At first, everything appears innocent—beverages, tunes, and a basement to relax in. However, situations escalate rapidly. Sue Ann’s compassion morphs into something sinister and perilous, transforming what was meant to be enjoyable into a horrifying ordeal.
Featuring a remarkable ensemble—comprising Diana Silvers, Juliette Lewis, and the intriguing Octavia Spencer—this film keeps audiences in suspense, curious about Sue Ann's next move. The movie combines suspense with emotional richness, which is why audiences adore it. Spencer's depiction of the apparently charming yet profoundly troubled Sue Ann enriches the narrative, rendering the horror feel incredibly authentic.
Ma can be streamed on Hulu in the U.S., and it's certainly worth watching if you enjoy psychological thrillers. If that eerie feeling strikes just perfectly, take a look at these six psychological horror films that will maintain the suspense and deliver the thrills.
Longlegs, Get Out, and 4 other best psychological horrors similar to Ma
1) Longlegs (2024)
Ever wondered how the past can twist the present into something terrifying? Longlegs (2024) dives deep into that nightmare. Directed by Osgood Perkins, the film stars Maika Monroe as Lee Harker, a rookie FBI agent assigned to investigate a series of gruesome family murders. Each crime scene features a cryptic letter signed by the elusive serial killer known as Longlegs, portrayed by Nicolas Cage.
As Lee investigates further, she discovers disturbing links between the killings and her history, reflecting the personal traumas experienced by Sue Ann in Ma. Both movies skillfully delve into the shadowy depths of the human mind, centering on individuals whose traumatic pasts drive their current fixations. Cage's depiction of Longlegs is equally captivating and frightening, offering a portrayal that is haunting, monstrous, and wicked.
The film's dark, brooding cinematography and haunting score mirror Ma's ability to trap its audience in a suffocating atmosphere. For fans who enjoyed Ma's exploration of obsession and psychological unraveling, Longlegs offers a similarly unnerving journey into the depths of human darkness.
Longlegs is available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home.
2) Get Out (2017)
At times, the most frightening monsters conceal themselves behind grins and courteous dialogue. Jordan Peele's Get Out (2017) transforms the allure of suburbia into a chilling nightmare, merging psychological terror with sharp social critique. The narrative centers on Chris Washington, portrayed by Daniel Kaluuya, as he meets his girlfriend Rose's seemingly ideal family.
What begins as uncomfortable small talk and veiled compliments turns grim when Chris reveals the family's unsettling secrets. Get Out presents a thematic connection with Ma: the blend of allure and danger. Both movies examine the ways in which trust can be exploited and how genuine intentions frequently conceal sinister motives. Peele skillfully creates suspense with understated elements and unsettling dialogues, similar to Ma's slow revelation of Sue Ann's real character.
The ensemble features powerful performances, notably Daniel Kaluuya’s sensitive yet incisive depiction of Chris and Allison Williams as the deceitful Rose. The movie's eerie moments—hypnosis sequences, “The Sunken Place,” and a surprising ending—have solidified its reputation as a contemporary classic.
With its chilling ambiance and incisive narrative, Get Out is a memorable psychological horror that followers of Ma will value for its disquieting mood and complex characters.
Get Out is available for rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, and Microsoft Store.
3) Truth or Dare (2018)
What if an enjoyable party game turned into a terrifying ordeal? This is the unnerving idea of Truth or Dare (2018), where fun takes a sinister, disturbing twist. The movie starts with a group of friends who, while on vacation in Mexico, become involved in what seems to be an innocent game. Nonetheless, this isn't a standard truth-or-dare game.
When they return home, the game follows them—insisting on brutal honesty or dangerous trials, with frightening consequences for resistance. Similar to Ma, this movie excels in building tension and portraying the disintegration of relationships amid intense pressure. Both narratives illustrate how hidden truths and repressed feelings emerge in critical situations, driving characters to their extremes.
The film relies significantly on psychological horror, merging supernatural aspects with real-life dangers. Featuring Lucy Hale in the role of Olivia and Tyler Posey as Lucas, the ensemble adds vibrant energy and realistic chemistry to the group’s dynamic. Notable features consist of the unsettling, twisted grins of possessed individuals and a sequence of surprising, inventive challenges that maintain the tension.
With an unyielding tempo and disturbing concept, Truth or Dare offers an engrossing psychological horror experience. Fans of Ma will enjoy the movie’s emphasis on trust, betrayal, and the delicate balance between enjoyment and fear.
Truth or Dare is available on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, and Microsoft Store.
4) Fantasy Island (2020)
Fantasy Island (2020) transforms the idea of fulfilling one's innermost wishes into a troubling nightmare. A gathering of visitors reaches an extravagant resort on an enigmatic island, where their desires are assured to be fulfilled. However, as the fantasies develop, they swiftly become malevolent, and the guests must confront the grim, twisted aftermath.
Like Ma, Fantasy Island delves into the disturbing outcomes of unchecked desires. Both movies explore how the realization of personal desires can disrupt an individual's reality and expose hidden truths. The suspense gradually escalates as the characters become aware that what they believed they desired might carry a dreadful cost.
The movie features Lucy Hale, Maggie Q, and Michael Peña, showcasing strong performances as each actor embodies intricate, imperfect characters who descend into chaos when their dreams become lethal. The film's creepy ambiance and surprising turns maintain the audience's suspense from start to finish.
For fans of the thriller genre, Fantasy Island provides a comparably eerie exploration of the human mind, where the boundary between fantasy and nightmare becomes indistinct, and appearances can be deceiving.
Fantasy Island is streaming on fuboTV and available for rent/purchase on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, and Microsoft Store.
5) Don't Breathe (2016)
Entering a home unlawfully is meant to be easy—sneak in, take what’s precious, and exit. However, in Don’t Breathe (2016), everything unfolds unexpectedly. The narrative revolves around a band of youthful burglars who aim for the residence of a sightless man, thinking it will be an effortless catch. What they are unaware of is that the homeowner, portrayed by Stephen Lang, is much more perilous than they expected.
Similar to Ma, Don’t Breathe excels in creating suspense and the unforeseen revelations of its characters. Both films confine their characters in stifling settings, where each choice might be their final one. The blind man’s home transforms into a suffocating battleground, where silence and shadows significantly contribute to the rising fear.
The cast features Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, and Daniel Zovatto, whose acting brings depth of desperation and terror as the robbery transforms into a struggle for survival. Lang’s depiction of the blind man is eerie—composed, strategic, and mercilessly unyielding.
For those attracted to Ma’s psychological depth and emphasis on imperfect characters, Don’t Breathe provides a comparably compelling experience. It's a suspenseful, anxiety-inducing thriller that questions the lengths a person will reach to safeguard their own—or seize what belongs to others.
Don't Breathe is streaming on Starz Apple TV Channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel, Starz, Starz Amazon Channel.
6) Unsane (2018)
Sanity is fragile, and Unsane (2018) shows its limits with creepy detail. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film tells the story of Sawyer Valentini, a young woman who is locked in a mental health center after seeking help for her past trauma. What starts as a small mistake turns into a scary ordeal when Sawyer believes her stalker has found her in the hospital.
Like Ma, Unsane excels in creating psychological discomfort and blurring the boundaries between perception and reality. Both movies focus on profoundly imperfect main characters maneuvering through surroundings that distort their perception of control. As Sawyer doubts her own thoughts, the viewers become entangled in a web of suspicion, where reality seems almost unattainable.
Claire Foy gives a captivating performance as Sawyer, showcasing her vulnerability and strong resolve. Soderbergh’s choice to film the entire movie on an iPhone creates a haunting closeness, causing each tight shot and confined perspective to seem unsettlingly intimate.
For fans of the psychological thriller genre, Unsane provides a comparably disturbing examination of trauma and fixation. Its compelling narrative and unrefined intensity produce a psychological horror that remains long after the screen goes dark.
Unsane is available on Apple TV, Fandango At Home, and Microsoft Store.
Psychological thrillers excel at twisting perceptions and unraveling secrets, keeping tension razor-sharp until the very end. Each story offers a gripping dive into the complexities of human nature, making them impossible to forget.
