What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Old Ways
Film · 2021
If you loved The Old Ways, start with The Exorcist (Jeremy Slater, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Old Ways across media.
What hooked you in The Old Ways was the way ancient cultural superstitions and ancestral secrets collide with terrifying, reality-altering supernatural forces.
Books on the same thread
Mexican Gothic
Silvia Moreno-Garcia · Book · 2021
Explores: generational trauma, colonialism, eugenics.
Like The Old Ways, this novel masterfully anchors its horror in a specific cultural heritage, using the weight of history and decaying family legacies to fuel its unsettling atmosphere.
The Exorcist
William Peter Blatty · Book · 1971
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Demonic Possession, Loss of Innocence.
If the visceral ritual of exorcism in The Old Ways captivated you, this foundational text provides the definitive exploration of faith and demonic possession under extreme, desperate circumstances.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
Grady Hendrix · Book
Explores: institutional trauma, female agency, supernatural discovery.
This story mirrors the intense isolation and occult dread found in The Old Ways, focusing on how young women navigate dangerous supernatural environments while confronting institutionalized systemic trauma.
Old Soul
Susan Barker · Book · 2026
Shares a thread with The Old Ways: Identity.
Much like the protagonist in The Old Ways, you will find yourself caught in a harrowing struggle for survival where identity is inextricably linked to a dark, unfolding mystery.
Series on the same thread
The Exorcist
Jeremy Slater · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with The Old Ways: Supernatural Horror.
This series expands on the spiritual warfare and intense exorcism themes of The Old Ways, detailing the psychological toll on those tasked with confronting ancient, encroaching evil forces.
Archive 81
Rebecca Sonnenshine · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with The Old Ways: Supernatural Horror.
The Old Ways expertly blends occult investigation with personal history, a dynamic you will recognize here as an archivist uncovers a demonic cult through the lens of forgotten tapes.
The OA
Brit Marling · Series · 2016
Explores: Interdimensional Travel, Near-Death Experiences, Faith Healing.
If you appreciated the focus on faith healing and the power of belief in The Old Ways, this show offers a similarly complex, mind-bending exploration of metaphysical identity.
Podcasts on the same thread
Old Gods of Appalachia
DeepNerd Media · Podcast · 2026
The Old Ways excels at connecting horror to a specific landscape, and this podcast similarly mines the dark, primal folklore buried deep within the history of its mountain setting.
MALIKMATA
Podcast
Shares a thread with The Old Ways: Supernatural Horror.
Just as The Old Ways draws power from Mexican cultural superstition, these stories immerse you in the chilling, authentic folklore of the Philippines to deliver potent supernatural encounters.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Old Ways based on true events?
The Old Ways is a fictional story about a journalist named Cristina who travels to Veracruz to investigate sorcery. While the film explores themes of Mexican folklore and traditional healing, it is not a documentary or a factual account of real events.
What is the premise of The Old Ways?
The Old Ways follows Cristina, a journalist of Mexican origin, who returns to her ancestral home in Veracruz. She is kidnapped by locals who believe she is the devil incarnated, forcing her to confront beliefs regarding sorcery and healing during her investigation.
Where does the story in The Old Ways take place?
The narrative of The Old Ways is set in Veracruz, Mexico. The location serves as the ancestral home of the protagonist, Cristina, and provides the backdrop for the conflict between her journalistic investigation and the local claims regarding her identity.
Why is Cristina kidnapped in The Old Ways?
In The Old Ways, Cristina is kidnapped by a group of locals in Veracruz because they claim she is the devil incarnated. This confrontation serves as the primary catalyst for the events she experiences while attempting to uncover a story about sorcery and healing.