The Best Demonic Possession and Exorcism Films

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy...", one of two most prominent lines of The Shining, our choice for the top of the demonic possession and exorcism list. Trifecta for the success of the film is a novel written by Stephen King, master of horror and supernatural, equally great director Stanley Kubrick and one of the most iconic actors of today, Jack Nicholson. The Shining is represented by vivid performances, menacing settings, dreamlike tracking shots and shock after shock into a milestone of the macabre. You can find the film on DVD and Blu-ray accompanied with plenty of special features such as three mesmerizing new featurettes: View from The Overlook: Crafting the Shining, The Visions of Stanley Kubrick And Wendy Carlos, Composer.

The belief in evil is a part of the demonic possession and exorcism film – and the belief that evil can be cast out. From these two strands of faith, author William Peter Blatty and director William Friedkin wove The Exorcist, the frightening and realistic story of an innocent girl inhabited by a malevolent entity. Based on a book which is on the other hand based on real life of a boy named Roland Doe who was possessed by demons in 1949. Roland Doe’s exorcism was so terrifying that there have been books written on people who witnessed it. Be sure to check it out on DVD or Blu-ray where on two discs you can find original theatrical version and extended director's cut.

We're entering the top three films on the subject of demonic possession and exorcism and here is when The Evil Dead comes in. The story revolves around five vacationing college students who unwittingly resurrect slumbering demons, and are forced into battle with the supernatural forces. In the end only one remains - Ash, now regarded a cult icon. Written and directed by Sam Raimi, film stars Bruce Campbell alongside Ellen Sandweiss and Betsy Baker. The film has spawned two sequels, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, as well as video games, comic books, and a television series. For proper film buffs, DVD and Blu-ray editions are perfect and bring you even Easter eggs hidden in the film.

John Constantine sees demons walk the earth, and he aims to do something about it: send them back to hell! As Constantine, Keanu Reeves fights a new otherworld foe in this eye-opening supernatural action thriller based on characters from the DC Comics/Vertigo Hellblazer Graphic Novels and set in a City of the Angels where spirit-world bounds have broken... and all hell is breaking loose. Holy water. A dragon's-breath flamethrower. A shotgun crafted from a crucifix. Armed with these and assisted by an intrepid cop (Rachel Weisz), John Constantine is a spiritual warrior gone to apocalyptic war. Be glad he's on your side.

Based on true events, The Conjuring tells the thrilling story of ghost hunters Lorraine and Ed Warren (Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson), who help a family terrorised by an evil spirit in their mysterious farmhouse. Ed and Lorraine Warren are real life paranormal investigators and their reports even inspired The Amityville Horror. Once again, there's the inspiration behind The Conjuring 2, investigating the Enfield Haunting – the most documented case in paranormal history. Be sure to check this gem out on DVD or Blu-ray so you can get a glimpse into featurettes including A Life in Demonology: The real demonologist and paranormal experts.

Next up on our list is another demonic possession classic, and one of the few horror films most people have seen, even those who don't like the genre. Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and Guy Woodhouse (John Cassavetes) are newlyweds, but in exchange for a taste of fame, Guy makes a deal with the devil that puts his wife and soul in jeopardy. Just like that, Rosemary's normal life turns into a surreal nightmare. This psychological horror was written and directed by Roman Polanski, based on the bestselling 1967 novel of the same name by Ira Levin. In Rosemary's Baby: A Retrospective, a featurette on the DVD release of the film, Polanski and other involved reminisce at length about the production.

It's borderline scary how many of the film in the genre are marketed as based on or inspired by true event. Requiem is a German drama shot as documentary-style film, starring Sandra Hüller as a woman with epilepsy, Michaela Klingler, believed by members of her church and herself to be possessed. This is a film involving exorcism, but more than that it is a story of a woman torn between family, faith and illness. In 2006, Requiem was awarded with Berlinale Silver Bear for Best Actress. This film as well as The Exorcism of Emily Rose draws inspiration from the real-life events of Anneliese Michel who also suffered from epilepsy.

We're continuing the best demonic possession and exorcism films list with a classic - Poltergeist. If you ever thought that an object in your house could come to life, then this might be why. Poltergeist is a supernatural horror film, but also can be responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved or destroyed. The film gained a cult following and was a big success with critics and audience alike. While Steven Spielberg wrote, and produced the film, he couldn’t direct it (because of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial) so Tobe Hopper took over the director's seat. Rent it on Blu-ray to get more including documentary They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists Revealed.

Can demonic possession or ghosts be fun? Of course, if we're talking about horror comedy and Beetlejuice in particular. Scary or not, this film deserves a place on this list. Even Beetlejuice's profession says so - bio-exorcist. Recently deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) in their ghost form hire Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) to scare away the new inhabitants. The rest of the cast includes Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones, and Winona Ryder among others. Beetlejuice is a Tim Burton classic, a film that put him on the map after Pee-wee's Big Adventure, and you can see it on Blu-ray now to enjoy in some dark and funny special features. The film even spawned an animated television series of the same name.

We'll start the best demonic possession films list with The Exorcism of Emily Rose, horror starring Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson. The story centres on Emily Rose, a girl who was the target of demonic forces. The film itself is loosely based on the case of Anneliese Michel, a German woman who underwent Catholic exorcism rites during the year before her death. This is more than a horror film, or a demonic possession, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is as well a legal drama in which agnostic defence counsel represents a priest accused of negligent homicide after performing an exorcism. Check it out on DVD and Blu-ray to see how the film was made, the visual process and featurette Genesis of the Story.