If you are seeking out movies like The Village that have multiple WTF moments are sure to split audiences, you’re in the right place!
Featuring one of the most controversial plot twists in cinema history, The Village is a period thriller (or is it?) that focuses on the 19th-century Pennsylvania village of Covington, whose villagers live in fear of what’s beyond their narrow perimeters.Â
Written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the film gained instant notoriety upon its 2004 release, attracting a very mixed bag of critical reviews. With lovers and detractors in equal measure, there’s no doubting that this movie contains a tonne of talking points.Â
Top 10 WTF Movies Like The Village!
1. Lady in the Water (2006)
Another insight into the weird and wonderful mind of M. Night Shyamalan, Lady in the Water relates the discovery of a water nymph (or Narf) in a Philadelphia apartment complex, whose life is in danger from a malevolent creature that tries to keep her from returning to her watery “blue world.”
Another film mired in critical controversy, with many reviewers accusing the director of being too pretentious, there is nevertheless a groundswell of cult interest in this imaginative release. So if you enjoy movies like The Village, we bet you’ll look kindly upon this unique piece of film-making.Â
2. The Witch (2015)
Featuring a directorial debut for Robert Eggers, this superbly stylized supernatural horror follows a family of Puritans who discover evil forces lurking in the woods around their idyllic home.Â
Containing some expressionist directing (in Eggers’ now-signature style), this unsettling thriller stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, and Kate Dickie in the lead roles.
For those that can’t get enough of movies like The Village, then this film contains many stylistic and narrative similarities that will keep you enthralled!
3. Altered (2006)
Moving into the realm of science fiction, this film flips the ‘alien abduction’ narrative on its head, as a group of men abduct a lone alien, with the intention of enacting revenge for a friend’s murder.
This compelling movie was Eduardo Sánchez’s second outing as director, having just released The Blair Witch Project to mass publicity.
With plenty of drama and plenty of gore, this film won many admirers from horror movie fans. If you’re on the trail for movies like The Village, then consider Altered a perfect pit stop.Â
4. The Happening (2008)
Another fascinating entry in the M. Night Shyamalan oeuvre, The Happening is an apocalyptic thriller that depicts a society ravaged by an airborne toxin that causes humans to kill themselves. A group of four attempt to navigate this dystopia, and find out how to stay alive.
Starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel in the central performances, this work is a darkly imaginative work that shows how people can react under unprecedented circumstances.
Told through shockingly realistic cinematography, this is an immersive film that is perfect viewing for fans of movies like the Village.Â
5. Cold Creek Manor (2003)
After acquiring a rural property through foreclosure, a family encounters trouble when its former occupant offers to help out with repairs.Â
Director Mike Figgis conjures an eerie atmosphere in this horror movie, which continually plays upon the darkness and isolation of rural landscapes.
Dennis Quaid, Sharon Stone, Stephen Dorff play central roles as a family’s life is turned upside down. For its many stylistic similarities, this film is comparable to movies like The Village, and is recommended viewing if you follow the genre.Â
6. Secret Window (2004)
Featuring Johnny Depp at his brooding best, this thriller follows mystery writer Mort Rainey whose attempts to dodge accusations of plagiarism lead to some life-threatening outcomes.Â
This darkly imaginative work was written and directed by David Koepp, and was based on a Stephen King novella. So if you’re in the market for wild plot twists and narrative riddles, then add this one to the list of movies like The Village.Â
7. The Forgotten (2004)
Not to be confused with Oliver Frampton’s 2014 release of the same name, this earlier work deals with the breakdown of memory as a woman attempting to come to terms with her son’s tragic death in a plane crash is told that she never had a son.Â
Directed by Joseph Ruben and starring Julianne Moore, Dominic West, Gary Sinise, this film features superb central performances amid intricate storytelling, as the viewer is constantly kept guessing.
For those who enjoy the kind of plot twists that feature in movies like The Village, this 2004 is another great work to check out.Â
8. The Visit (2015)
Combining elements of horror and dark comedy, M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit tells the story of a family reunion gone very wrong when two siblings’ newly discovered grandparents start exhibiting strange behavior.Â
Stylistically, the film utilizes the ‘found footage’ approach to impart a unique sense of realism to the madcap plot. With excellent performances from Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould, we’re taken on a disturbing journey as the narrative descends from weird to the downright dangerous.Â
For its unusual plot and compelling directing, this film is a must-watch for fans of movies like The Village who want to further explore this disturbing genre of filmmaking. Â
9. The Stepford Wives (2004)
When moving into her seemingly idyllic Connecticut neighbourhood, a mother begins to suspect its dutiful housewives are not quite what they seem.Â
Directed by Frank Oz, this adaption of Ira Levin’s 1972 novel of the same name, features a bevy of stars in its lead roles, with Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler helping to foster an eerily compelling atmosphere.Â
Full of intrigue and images being out of kilter with reality, this is a fun and entertaining piece which comes highly recommended for fans of movies like The Village. Â
10. Signs (2002)
Our final entry is another M. Night Shyamalan classic, this time channeling aspects of science fiction to tell a story of crop circles and extraterrestrial life.Â
When a priest finds mysterious signs of alien visitation on his cornfields, he begins a trial of faith as he journeys to uncover the cause of these unusual occurrences. With standout performances from Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, this work has received a glowing critical response, with a four-star Roger Ebert reviewing declaring Signs as ‘the work of a born filmmaker’.Â
For those who enjoy a taste for the supernatural, consider this 2002 release as the perfect finale to this marathon of movies like The Village.Â