Indigenous horror movies are having a moment. These 7 shows will spook you senseless.

Right now, Indigenous filmmakers and creators are absolutely smashing it in the horror genre. And honestly? We love to see it.

Here's the thing — for decades, we've seen plenty of horror films about Indigenous people, but very few actually created by Indigenous communities themselves. For the longest time, you could probably count genuinely Indigenous-created horror films on one hand. It's been this massive untapped genre, with so much potential just sitting there waiting.

These films and TV shows offer way more than scares — they're bold, inventive works reclaiming horror as a space for Indigenous storytelling, truth-telling, and creative empowerment. And honestly? We're here for every terrifying, meaningful minute of it.

Watch the trailer for The Moogai. Article continues after video.

But the last few years? We've come a long way.

The release of The Moogai at the end of last year was absolutely huge — like, stepping into a whole new era of Indigenous horror movies huge.

These films aren't just trying to make you jump out of your seat (though they absolutely will). They're exploring cultural identity, colonisation, and the supernatural through an Indigenous lens — giving us something way more profound than your standard horror flick.

The Moogai.

Image: Netflix

The Moogai taps into Aboriginal folklore to create genuinely chilling psychological horror. It follows a new mum who becomes convinced that a supernatural entity — the Moogai — is coming for her baby.

What makes this film so bloody brilliant is how it weaves traditional stories with modern anxieties, diving deep into intergenerational trauma and the lasting impact of the Stolen Generations. The real power here? It makes you question what's actually happening versus what's inherited fear.

The film doesn't just rely on cheap scares — it builds this suffocating atmosphere where every shadow could be a threat, every sound could be the Moogai coming closer. It's maternal anxiety cranked up to eleven, but grounded in very real cultural fears and historical trauma. Proper scares with serious cultural weight.

The Moogai is now streaming on Netflix.

Spithood.

Image: Firestick Films

Written by two Indigenous creators, Travis Akbar and Thibul Nettle, Spithood takes its name from that controversial police restraint device and uses horror to examine the dehumanising effects of institutional racism.

The story follows Indigenous characters confronting a terrifying supernatural force unleashed by the use of a spithood — blurring the lines between real-world horror and the supernatural in the most unsettling way.

This film doesn't mess around with its social commentary. The horror works on both literal and metaphorical levels, with the supernatural threat representing the trauma imposed by institutional powers. It's unflinching in showing how systemic violence creates its own monsters — both real and imagined. The creators, both First Nations Australians, bring an authenticity and urgency to the story that makes every scare feel earned and meaningful. Bold, timely, and absolutely chilling.

Spithood is now streaming on Prime Video.

Dark Place.

Image: Noble Savage Pictures

This anthology brings together five Indigenous Australian filmmakers, each of whom contribute a short that explores horror through a distinctly First Nations lens. We're talking supernatural revenge, psychological terror — all rooted in colonial violence and resilience.

What's brilliant about Dark Place is its range — some segments are bloody and visceral, others are quietly unsettling, but they're all united by this sense of reclaiming agency and exposing historical truths. Each filmmaker brings their own style and perspective to the anthology, which showcases just how diverse and powerful these voices can be.

The anthology format works perfectly here, giving multiple creators space to shine while proving that Indigenous horror isn't a monolith — it's as varied and complex as the communities creating it. It's an essential showcase of emerging Indigenous talent that'll leave you wanting more from every single filmmaker involved.

Dark Place is now streaming on ABC iview.

Firebite.

Image: AMC+

A vampire series set in a remote South Australian mining town where Indigenous vampire hunters battle ancient, colonial bloodsuckers? Yes, please.

Firebite nails the blend of action, horror, and dark humour, but its real strength is the subtext: vampires as colonial invaders, Aboriginal resistance as survival and sovereignty. The show doesn't just use vampires as generic monsters — they're specifically tied to colonisation, literally feeding off the land and its people.

The Indigenous vampire hunters aren't just fighting monsters; they're fighting for their country, their culture, their right to exist. It's thrilling and deeply political — exactly what genre storytelling should be. Plus, the desert setting creates this perfect backdrop for both intimate character moments and epic supernatural showdowns.

Firebite is now streaming on SBS On Demand.

The Darkside.

Image: Scarlett Pictures

Warwick Thornton's documentary-horror hybrid brings together real ghost stories from Aboriginal Australians, re-enacted by actors. Instead of cheap jump scares, it builds this atmosphere of unease that gets under your skin and stays there.

What makes The Darkside so unique is its approach — these aren't made-up stories designed to frighten. They're real experiences, real beliefs, real connections to country and spirit that have been passed down through generations. Thornton treats each story with respect while still delivering genuine chills.

The Darkside challenges horror conventions completely, using the supernatural to explore grief, memory, and how the past never really leaves us. It's contemplative horror that invites you to engage with Indigenous spiritual beliefs rather than just consume them as entertainment.

The Darkside is now streaming on SBS On Demand.

Bedevil.

Image: Anthony Buckley Productions

The film that started it all. Tracey Moffatt's Bedevil is a proper landmark — a trilogy of ghost stories blending the real, remembered, and imagined. Each segment draws from Moffatt's childhood memories and family lore, creating this dreamlike, unsettling atmosphere that feels both deeply personal and universally haunting.

Released in 1993, Bedevil was way ahead of its time, proving that Indigenous filmmakers could use horror to explore complex themes of identity, memory, and belonging. The film's avant-garde style and rich symbolism create this unique viewing experience that's part horror film, part art installation, part cultural document.

Celebrated internationally, Bedevil shows how horror can interrogate history, memory, and belonging in ways that traditional drama simply can't. It's a touchstone that proves the genre's power for Indigenous storytelling and paved the way for everything that's come after.

Bedevil is now streaming on SBS On Demand.

The Protectors.

Image: Happy Heart Productions

This 2017 psychological horror short follows an Aboriginal prisoner escorted back to a crime scene to recover memories of horrific events. As reality and nightmare blur, it exposes the deep scars of systemic injustice in ways that'll make your skin crawl.

Directed and written by Thibul Nettle (aka Stinga-T), who also stars, The Protectors uses supernatural elements as metaphors for trauma and confusion experienced by Indigenous Australians caught in the justice system. The film's tight pacing and evocative cinematography create this claustrophobic atmosphere where you're never quite sure what's real and what's psychological breakdown.

What makes this short so powerful is how it uses horror conventions to explore memory, guilt, and cultural dislocation without ever feeling exploitative. The supernatural elements serve the story and the message, creating a viewing experience that's atmospheric, powerful, and absolutely unforgettable.

The Protectors is now streaming on YouTube.

Feature Image: Umbrella Entertainment.