In Son (2021), a mother is tested to great lengths to protect her son. A cult with terrifying supernatural forces is doing everything it can to take the boy and she must fight them off, committing unspeakable acts in the process. If you want more of the adrenaline rush you had when watching this movie, here are 6 more movies like Son.
As always, we always mention links to two of our most recent posts here at Great Movies Like. Here are movies like Paper Lives, a heartwarming Netflix movie about a waste warehouse operator adopting an orphaned little boy. And here are movies like Nobody, Bob Odenkirk’s action-packed vigilante justice thriller.
6 Horror Thrillers like Son (2021)
1 Get Out (2017)
One of the most underrated horror movies out there. It has an astonishing 500,000+ votes at IMDB, with an average rating of 7.7, at the time of writing this post. In Get Out, a young African American man visits his white girlfriend’s parents’ house for the weekend. At first, everyone seems to be really nice and it looks like they are all trying to get to know each other. Then, there are is a little uneasiness. Then, the horror and thrill just keeps coming at you, non-stop. Many unexpected twists will shock you. With an underlying theme about racism, the emotions evoked by this great movie will be even more complex than you expect from your average horror movie.
And yes, like in Son, there’s a cult involved here as well. We won’t say much more because it will be an obvious spoiler. Daniel Kaluuya impressively plays Chris Washington, the unsuspecting boyfriend. Allison Williams is his love interest.
2 Carrie (2013)
Carrie White (Chloe Grace Moretz) lives with her single mother Margaret (Julianne Moore). Margaret is overly religious and tries to push Carrie into being pious. Carrie also faces constant bullying from her classmates at school. But, when Carrie discovers she has telekinetic powers, she no longer wants to abide by her mom or put up with the incessant bullying. What follows is an unleashing of pent up anger and frustration that made this high school horror movie quite iconic.
The climax plays out over a prom, the much celebrated event in almost high school movies. But, it isn’t anything like what you will expect. Definitely a movie to watch if you have teenagers in your home. A family horror you can safely watch as it will push the scare boundaries just enough.
3 Orphan (2009)
Orphan builds slowly but surely. Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) adopt Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman). At first, the parents figure that the polite and well mannered Esther’s occassional odd behavior is because she feels uncomfortable in a new home with a new family. But, as her behavior gets stranger and stranger, they realize that there’s a lot more to Esther than the quiet little naïve girl they knew.
The twist in the movie will have you shocked, for nothing like it has been done in the movies. You are sure to feel a couple of chills run down your spine. Isabelle Fuhrman is simply brilliant as Esther. Vera Farmiga keeps the plot closely knit together, by keeping her family, Esther included, very close.
The climax is just a rush that will give you all the thrill you need to follow up the horror that was brilliantly built up for over an hour.
4 Mama (2013)
An investment banker has a meltdown and kills several co-workers and also his wife. He then kidnaps his two young daughters and vanishes. 5 years later, the two daughters are discovered, living in the wild. How they survived in the wilderness is something nobody can figure out. When their Uncle (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend (Jessica Chastain) adopt the two girls, they are full of hope, to want to give them a normal and happy life.
But, the two children are constantly interacting with the walls, to talk to an entity they call Mama. Mama cares for the two daughters. But, she doesn’t care for the couple trying to care for them. It’s a horror thriller that will give you goosebumps and some very harrowing moments. The movie was produced by Guillermo Del Toro (Executive Producer) and you can see his signature horror style from time to time. It definitely won’t be cliché and will have you guessing throughout the movie. A great movie to watch after watching Son. Just like in Son, Jessica Chastain plays a pivotal role as a mother who is up against terrifying odds in this movie.
5 The Boy (2016)
An American nanny Greta (Lauren Cohan) is hired by a mysterious British couple. If that doesn’t sound strange enough, the old British couple want the nanny to look after their ‘boy’, who is actually a life sized doll. Greta goes along with the gig, thinking it should be easy to care for a doll.
But, she slowly realizes that the doll does actually come alive from time to time. She discovers the history behind the dead son who eerily resembles the doll. But, the more she unearths the history behind the couple’s obsession with the doll, the more dangers and dark secrets await.
The premise of the movie might seem a bit silly. But, the series of disturbing and inexplicable events that occur make it quite entertaining. You will get the jeepers in at least a few scenes and the acting, especially by Lauren Cohan, is something you can easily endorse as A+ for a horror movie.
6 Insidious (2010)
Insidious has a very similar plot to Son. Parents Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne) are desperately trying to care for their comatose son Dalton. Dalton mysteriously went into a coma after an incident in their home’s attic. But, what they eventually discover is that their son isn’t peacefully asleep. Strange and unspeakable forces are trying to take him to another realm. The parents must battle to protect Dalton. And, to do so, they must endure sheer horror in their own home, with a new born baby and another son in tow no less.
This movie was so successful that it sparked off a number of sequels that all went on to be successful in their own merit. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne are brilliant as the terrified parents who somehow find the resolve to keep fighting back.
As one IMDB review put it, it’s a refreshing new take on the traditional horror formula. The storyline might give you the Deja Vus from time to time but it will be completely shaken up by something unexpected that you will hit the reset button, not knowing what to expect next.
Definitely a must watch movie after watching Son.
So, there you have it. 6 thrilling horror movies like Son. We honestly feel that any one of these 6 movies will give you an experience that you will enjoy more than when you were watching Son. But, you be the judge of that! Do drop us a comment if you liked out movie suggestions. Want to suggest something of your own? Please be our guest and use the comment box below. We will gladly present your recommendations after a quick review!