Blood, Fear, and Femininity: 7 Woman-Centric Horror Movies
Exploring the frights of the female experience
Being a woman can be downright terrifying; from the gory unknown of girlhood to the societal expectations of adult women. Which is what makes horror films such an effective medium for exploring the gruesome nature of gender.
The following recommendations include feminist themes, coming-of-age stories, and international titles for a diverse analysis of womanhood. (They’re also mostly written and/or directed by women, too.) Be prepared for violence, trauma, and worst of all: menstrual cycles.
1. Fresh (2022)
Speaking of blood! Here’s a love story that takes an unexpected turn. Tired of the predictably disappointing experience of online dating, Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) decides to take a chance on Steve; a charming guy from the supermarket. The two quickly become enamored with one another, leading to a weekend getaway at Steve’s behest. Naturally, an isolated weekend with a man she barely knows, doesn’t put Noa in a great spot.
While the premise is neither surprising nor original, the following plot is much less predictable. The film quickly delves into a story that is unique, entertaining, and delightfully disturbed. Mimi Cave’s directorial debut alongside Lauryn Kahn’s screenplay is a tact examination of the exploitation of women, and the fetishism of their bodies. This movie is fun, artistic, and classy in the way it tells the story of abused and discarded women.
2. You Are Not My Mother (2021)
Shot in Ireland and featuring a nearly all-female cast, this psychological horror is as tense as it is intriguing. The film follows Char (Hazel Doupe) as she navigates a sudden and unsettling change in her mother’s behaviour — all while coping with her everyday life as an awkward, bullied teenager. In time, it becomes clear that Char’s status as a neighborhood outcast is tied to the cycle of maternal negligence in her home.
Kate Dolan (writer and director) does a fantastic job of weaving Irish folklore and family trauma into a web of terrifying themes; the kinds that follow girls from their teenage years through adolescence and motherhood. Mental illness, sexual identity, and hereditary shame are just some of the topics you can expect to explore in this impressive folktale.
3. Good Madam (2021)
In keeping with the theme of troubled mother-daughter dynamics, this South African story also focuses on three generations of women with complex relationships. Still recoiling from the death of her beloved Grandmother — and the subsequent inheritance fallout — Tsidi (Chumisa Cosa) finds herself with no other choice than to seek refuge in her estranged mother’s home. Or rather, her mother’s workplace; a house owned by a white woman who has employed Mavis (Nosipho Mtebe) as a live-in domestic for the last 30 years. And while Tsidi is rocked by heart ache and bitterness, her own 9-year-old daughter is enamored with the upper class abode. But as the white Madam is mysteriously isolated to the top floor, more haunting revelations unveil for the family below.
This very unique narrative (also known as Mlungu Wam) is an eerie slow-burn lead by a refreshingly flawed character. Tsidi isn’t a “perfect victim” as many horror movies tend to portray their traumatized protagonists. Instead, she is extremely human. Chumisa Cosa portrays the struggle of a black, single mother living in a post-apartheid nation in a way that is both believable and heart-wrenching. Her sense of distrust and betrayal is rife — but does not come off as unwarranted.
It should be noted that this feature was directed by a white South African woman. While I have no business deciding whether or not that’s an issue (as a white, western woman) it certainly has been a problem for some viewers. That being said, I’d like to believe that the cast, along with Babalwa Baartman (co-writer and producer), ensured this film’s accuracy and dignity. But if anyone else has seen this movie, I’d love to hear your opinion on it — especially if you’re coming from a more educated standpoint.
4. Saint Maud (2019)
Morfydd Clark’s award-winning performance is a perfect complement to Rose Glass’s first feature directorial debut. After losing a patient in a previous ward, Katie (or Maud) becomes a private palliative care nurse with a fixation on Catholic purity. Struggling to cleanse herself of shame and find fulfillment in her life, Maud becomes increasingly obsessed with saving her new client’s soul. But it’s Maud’s own mind that begins to unravel in the process.
This stunningly unsettling film is a beautiful blend of body horror and psychological turmoil that, at times, feels too real. The constant push and pull of shame vs. sexuality is executed in a way that is somehow dignified and horrifying all at the same time. And though the main character seems delusional and unhinged, her lonely existence and strive for purpose compels a kind of sympathy that doesn’t come easy for protagonists like Maud. (Which is, of course, a huge compliment to this film.)
5. Ginger Snaps (2000)
This personal favourite (as a totally unbiased Canadian) follows two teenage sisters on their very unique path through puberty. After experiencing her first period and subsequent attack by a rabid animal, Ginger (Katherine Isabelle) is faced with some big changes. Feeling unsure and left behind, little sister Brigitte (Emily Perkins) must find a way to navigate their co-dependent relationship amidst some increasingly concerning growing pains.
This coming-of-age story is a timeless concoction of dread, humour, gore, and monsters. The makeup, acting, and writing (thanks in part to Karen Walton) is a showcase of talent that many modern “Creature Features” still fail to beat. Right down to the soundtrack, this horrifying experience is a nostalgic Canadian treasure.
6. Barbarian (2022)
While traveling for a job interview, Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell) books a rental home in a derelict Detroit neighborhood — only to find the owner double-booked the property. But after a visit to the basement, it becomes clear that there are greater issues to tackle.
Despite being a film produced entirely by men, this title offers an apt narrative centered on the female experience and cycles of abuse. And to its credit, it does so without shoving it in your face. This ride takes you through twists and turns that are chilling, creative, and unexpected throughout its entirety.
7. Huesera: The Bone Woman (2022)
Michelle Garza Cervera’s directorial debut is a truly terrifying tale steeped in Mexican-Peruvian culture and folklore. Valeria, an expecting mother with an unconventional past, arrives at the belief that she is being cursed by an evil spirit. Dismissed by her husband and judged by her family, Valeria (Natalia Solián) turns to a fringe community to find hope.
While following the classic “pregnant body horror” trope, this film finds a unique and effective way to terrorize its viewers. This feature begins with startling yet subtle imagery before slowly escalating into horrifying concepts and unnerving body manipulation. All while unpeeling a narrative the speaks volumes on heteronormative expectations in women and the pressure to find your sole purpose in being a mother.
For more movies on the maternal experience, checkout Motherhood In Horror: 7 Films on the Dark Side of Parenting. If you have any other female-driven horror flicks to recommend, or opinions on the titles listed above, please share them in the comments! I’d love to hear your thoughts.
