As I begin to revisit some of my favorite horror movies this spooky season, I have become increasingly aware of the portrayals of violence against women in these films. This has become so normalized in horror that it has almost become a staple of the genre. Horror being predominantly directed and written by men leaves little room for the female perspective and results in many narratives that seemingly rely on womenâs victimization and suffering to push the story along.
While being a fan of the genre, I have found myself more drawn to horror movies by female directors that work to represent women accurately and respectfully in the realm of horror. Despite being often overlooked, female directors have had a place in the horror genre and continue to contribute.
This Halloween season, seek out some horror movies directed by women from this list that you might have not seen before.
1. The Babadook (2014) Directed by Jennifer Kent
This film is a psychological thriller and horror that follows a widowed mother and her son while they symbolically battle their demons by being confronted by Mr. Babadook. This haunting character unleashes terror on this small familyâs life, exploring how the mother deals with the grief of losing her son and struggles with raising her son. Â
2. Raw (2016) Directed by Julia Ducournau
A first-year student joins her sister at veterinary school and is immediately met with hazing that forces her to eat raw meat after having a been a vegetarian her entire life. After an initial taste, this manifests into an unimaginable craving for flesh. Julia Ducournau uses this as a symbol for the young girlâs sexual awakening in this horrifying feature debut.
3. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour
In the fictional town of Bad City, Iran, a female vampire, roams the streets at night and preys upon men who have exploited the woman of the town. While not originally intended to be a feminist film, the movie is a great example as it strongly critiques gender violence as this lonesome vampire attempts to protect the women of the town.
4. Near Dark (1987) Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
From director Kathryn Bigelow, the first woman to receive an Academy Award for Best Director, this horror film follows a young cowboy who has the misfortune of falling for a beautiful girl who turns out to be a vampire. This results in the cowboy reluctantly joining a clan of vampires.
5. Piggy (2022) Directed by Carlota Pereda
An overweight teenager named Sara is tormented by a group of girls and fantasizes about terrible things happening to them. One summer afternoon, she witnesses her bullies get kidnapped by a strange man. As an investigation for the girls is started, Sara doesnât reveal what happened to them, as she believes this man saved her from her tormentors.
6. Goodnight Mommy (2014) Directed by Veronika Franz
Two twin boys await the return of their mother after she has undergone cosmetic surgery. However, when she does finally return, heavily bandaged, the boys realize that this woman is nothing like their mother, causing them to doubt who she is and where their mother is.
7. Berlin Syndrome (2017) Directed by Cate Shortland
While on a trip, a female photojournalist meets a man who sparks a holiday fling. However, it quickly turns dark and obsessive as the man keeps her hostage in his Berlin apartment. The movie explores female vulnerability, where director Cate Shortland explores how women overcome their hurt through this chilling story.
8. Huesera: The Bone Woman (2022) Directed by Michelle Garza Cervera
Exploring the theme of motherhood through horror, a soon to be first-time mother becomes cursed by a dark spirit. The haunting spirit that torments this mother makes for a frightening story. However, the spirit also serves as a symbol for the darker side of motherhood and examines the negativity associated with motherhood seemingly being the most fulfilling thing about being a woman.
9. Celia (1989) Directed by Ann Turner
Taking place in the 1950s in Australia, a young girl named Celia has gone through a series of traumatic events. After being the one to discover her grandmotherâs corpse, she retreats to dark, disturbing fantasies as a way of coping.
10. Jenniferâs Body (2009) Directed by Karyn Kusama
This list would not be complete without including Jenniferâs Body. This cult classic dark comedy and horror film flips the narrative of objectification when Jennifer Check turns into a possessed killer going after her male classmates.
To me the scariest part about a lot of classic horror movies is how they rely on female suffering in the narrative. These films, while being just as chilling, allow the genre to be refreshingly viewed from the perspective of women.
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