Movies Like Haunted Roots

If you liked Haunted Roots (2020), a documentary and horror movie directed by Matt Ryan Vilade and William Cook, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
Killer Legends (2014)
★ 5.8/10Also documentary and horror
Delving into our collective nightmares, this horror-documentary investigates the origins of our most terrifying urban legends and the true stories that may have inspired them.
2
Doc of the Dead (2014)
★ 6.2/10Also documentary and horror
The definitive zombie culture documentary, brought to the screen by the makers of THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS.
3
Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’ (2021)
★ 7.4/10Also documentary and horror
Thirty-plus years after its release, the popular two-part miniseries "It" and its infamous villain Pennywise live on in the minds of horror fans around the world. This documentary captures not only the buzz the "It"…
4
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)
★ 6.7/10Also documentary and horror
Delving into a century of genre films that by turns utilized, caricatured, exploited, sidelined, and finally embraced them, this is the untold history of black Americans in Hollywood through their connection to the…
5
Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown (2008)
★ 7.2/10Also documentary and horror
A chronicle of the life, work and mind that created the Cthulhu mythos.
6
Living with Chucky (2022)
★ 6.6/10Also documentary and horror
A filmmaker who grew up alongside Chucky the killer doll seeks out the other families surrounding the Child's Play films as they recount their experiences working on the ongoing franchise and what it means to be a part…
7
Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (2019)
★ 7.3/10Also documentary and horror
A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on The Exorcist, the last film of Alexandre O. Philippe explores the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries…
8
Maternal Instinct (2026)
★ 7.2/10Also documentary
Police pull over a woman who claims she just gave birth. But the baby — and the blood — aren't hers. Twisted lies unravel in this true-crime documentary.
9
The Crash (2026)
★ 6.8/10Also documentary
A teen slams her car into a building, killing her boyfriend and his friend. What seems like a tragic accident becomes a murder case.
10
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (2006)
★ 6.8/10Also documentary and horror
This historical and critical look at slasher films, which includes dozens of clips, begins with Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Prom Night. The films' directors, writers, producers, and special effects creators comment…
11
Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity (2021)
★ 6.6/10Also documentary and horror
A deep dive into the making of the Paranormal Activity films with first time ever interviews with cast and crew, never-before-seen footage from the movies, and a preview of the seventh installment in the franchise.
12
Out of Thin Air (2017)
★ 5.9/10Also documentary
Set within the stark Icelandic landscape, OUT OF THIN AIR examines the 1976 police investigation into the disappearance of two men in the early 1970s.
13
Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (2025)
★ 6.2/10Also documentary
Unravel the case of Utah therapist Jodi Hildebrandt, whose child abuse arrest with parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke exposed a twisted tale of manipulation.
14
Voyeur (2017)
★ 5.9/10Also documentary
Legendary journalist Gay Talese unmasks a motel owner who spied on his guests for decades. But his bombshell story soon becomes a scandal of its own.
15
Vampir Cuadecuc (1972)
★ 6.1/10Also documentary
An atmospheric essay, which is an alternative version of Count Dracula, a film directed by Jess Franco in 1970; a ghostly narration between fiction and reality.
16
Directed by John Ford (1971)
★ 7/10Also documentary
A documentary about the life and films of director John Ford.
17
Report (1967)
★ 6.1/10Also documentary
Bruce Conner’s most celebrated film for a reason: it takes historical moments that were replayed over and over on television—chilling repetition of Kennedy assassination coverage—and repurposes them into a meditation…
18
A Toxic Love Story (2026)
★ 6.4/10Also documentary
A string of threatening emails escalates into a revenge plot involving a newly married US marshal and his ex-girlfriend.
19
Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers (2025)
★ 7/10Also documentary
Aileen Wuornos remains a rarity: a female serial killer. From childhood abuse to death-row revelations, this documentary revisits her life and crimes.
20
Hell House (2001)
★ 6.3/10Also documentary
A look at the "Hell House" performed annually in October by the youth members of Trinity Church (Assemblies of God) in Cedar Hill, Texas (a Dallas suburb) — seen by over 10,000 visitors each year.