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Six horror movies for St. Patrick's day (that aren't Leprechaun)

Forget the four-leaf clover, grab yourself a crucifix.

Image credit: DreamAlliance Entertainment

Features by Grant DeArmitt, Staff Writer

Published on Tue Mar 12 2024

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Look, I'm a sucker for any themed horror movie marathons. Christmas creepiness? Bring it on. Valentine's violence? I'm there. But the problem with most St. Patrick's Day lists is that they lean too heavily on one particular franchise - the Leprechaun movies.

Now, I'd never be one to diss a Celtic woodspirit in either A.) a rap battle or B.) space, but the problem with Leprechaun-first lists is that other fantastic Irish horror gets lost in the shuffle. That's why I've put together this list of St. Patrick's Day horror movies that aren't the leprechaun, to focus on the world's other emerald isle eeries.

Sláinte!

You Are Not My Mother (2021)

One of the creepier legends to come out of Irish folklore is that of the changeling - a trickster spirit that swaps places with a human being by taking on their exact visage. In You Are Not My Mother, teenage Char wrestles with the frightening possibility that a changeling has swapped places her with a member of her family, and worse, discovers what it takes to be rid of it.

Make sure you know who's watching with you as you stream You Are Not My Mother on Hulu.

Crawlers (2020)

A lot of the movies on this list deal with creatures from Irish folklore, but the villains of Crawlers are of a more modern nature - they're aliens. Specifically, they're aliens that are after friends Shauna, Misty, and Chloe, whose otherwordly encounter happens at pretty much the worst time - during a St. Patrick's Day pub crawl.

Honestly, I've been on worse.

Drink lots of water and watch Crawlers over on Hulu.

The Hallow (2015)

There's a reason so many horror movies are set in the woods - even without monsters, they're a terrifying place to be. But in The Hallow, there's a lot more than angry wildlife and the threat of getting lost to contend with, as the central family must face forces older than the trees in which they hide.

Stay inside and stream The Hallow (for free!) on Tubi.

Rawhead Rex (1986)

Before he made horror history with Hellraiser and Candyman, master of the macabre Clive Barker touched on Irish mythology with the legend of Rawhead Rex. Barker's involvement, plus a visually striking (if a little dated) practical effects monster, makes this movie perfect for a horror fan's St. Paddy's day binge.

Summon up a Kino Film Collection subscription and you can stream Rawhead Rex on Amazon Prime Video.

Don't Leave Home (2018)

Touted by Variety as 'an Irish Get Out,' Don't Leave Home is one of the most atmospheric works on this list, using the natural Irish gloom to great effect. This is a must-see for horror fans, especially if you're into the 'cursed images' niche.

Listen to the title and stream Don't Leave Home on Tubi.

The Hole in the Ground (2019)

We end where we began - with a movie touching on the terrifying tale of the changeling. But there's more going on in The Hole in the Ground than what you see at first glance, and its rewatchability helped promote director Lee Cronin into mainstream horror with 2023's franchise fright flick Evil Dead Rise.

Explore The Hole in the Ground, now streaming on Max.

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Grant DeArmitt: Grant DeArmitt (he/him) likes horror, comics, and the unholy union of the two. As Popverse's Staff Writer, he criss-crosses the pop culture landscape bringing you the news and opinions about the big things (and the next big things). In the past, and despite their better judgment, he has written for Nightmare on Film Street and Newsarama. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Kingsley, and corgi, Legs.