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Best Female-Focused Modern Horror Films Available for Streaming Right Now

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Women Horror

Roles for women in horror have changed from fainting victim to final girl to complex character. They’re villains (as in Jennifer’s Body), capable survivors (like Erin in You’re Next), imperfect mothers (see Hereditary), flawed heroes (It Stains the Sands Red and Fede Alvarez’s Evil Dead), and so much more.

In celebration of badass women in horror, let’s take a look at some films that demonstrate a fantastic focus on their female leads. They’re telling stories that could only be told from a female perspective – they carry that weight of social and self-imposed expectations – and they’re doing so with a deft hand.

As a bonus, these films are all available for streaming so you can enjoy them at any time.

I know there are going to be a ton of films I’ve missed on this list, so please, share your additions in the comments!

13. Mohawk

via IMDb

Release date: March 2, 2018
Cast: Kaniehtiio Horn, Ezra Buzzington, Eamon Farren, Justin Rain, Jon Huber, Noah Segan, Ian Colletti, Robert Longstreet
Director: Ted Geoghegan (We Are Still Here)
Why You Should Watch: Mohawk is a vicious, bloody blend of action, horror, and historical drama, all in one intense revenge film. Set in New York at the end of the War of 1812, the film follows Okwaho (Mohawk actress Kaniehiito Horn) as she witnesses the torture and murder of her loved ones at the hands of a megalomaniac American officer (played to perfection by Ezra Buzzington). Filled with a burning rage, she will stop at nothing to get her revenge.
Where to watch it: Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Google Play

12. Verónica

via IMDb

Release date: August 25, 2017
Cast:
Sandra Escacena, Bruna González, Claudia Placer, Iván Chavero, Consuelo Trujillo
Director: Paco Plaza (REC)
Why You Should Watch:
Verónica is a beautiful coming-of-age film disguised as a thrilling supernatural horror. Director Paco Plaza (best known for the brilliant found-footage [REC]) really hit the mark with this film, showing a strong, scared teenager who is dramatically out of her depth while trying to keep her young, dependent siblings safe. It’s a creepy, dread-fueled, well-balanced film (you can read my full review here).
Where to watch it:
Netflix

11. Berlin Syndrome

via IMDb

Release date: May 26, 2017
Cast:
Teresa Palmer, Max Reimelt, Matthias Habich
Director: Cate Shortland (Lore)
Why You Should Watch:
In a story best told by a gifted female director, Berlin Syndrome follows the worst-case scenario of a tourist fling. Australian photojournalist Clare (Teresa Palmer) is traveling in Berlin when she meets a local English teacher, Andi (Max Reimelt). They hit it off and – after a few romantic encounters – Clare wakes up in his apartment to a sobering discovery; the door is securely locked and her phone’s SIM card is missing, leaving her trapped with no way to contact the outside world. Let the nightmare begin.
Where to watch it: Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Google Play

10. The Eyes of My Mother

via The Playlist

Release date: December 2, 2016
Cast:
Kika Magalhães, Will Brill, Joey Curtis-Green
Director:
Nicolas Pesce
Why You Should Watch:
As a child, Francisca (Kika Magalhães) is learning surgical techniques from her mother when a stranger interrupts their practice. He asks to use their washroom, but after Francisca’s mother reluctantly allows him in the house, his true intentions are soon made clear. He brutally murders her and is caught in the act by Francisca’s father. Rather than turn him into the police, Francisca and her father keep the stranger locked up in their barn – with some surgical alterations. Now blind and mute, the stranger is Francisca’s only friend. Even as an adult, Francisca struggles with loneliness throughout the film, but she eventually uses stronger and more proactive methods of finding a companion.
Where to watch it: Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, PSN, Google Play

9. Cold Hell

via IMDb

Release date: January 19, 2017
Cast:
Violetta Schurawlow, Tobias Moretti, Robert PalfraderSammy Sheik, Friedrich von Thun
Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky (The Counterfeiters)
Why You Should Watch: This German action-thriller grabs you by the throat and barrages you with a flurry of well-timed attacks until the bitter end. It’s great.
Cold Hell follows a tough young woman who witnesses a murder and – when the police are of no help – realizes her life is in her own hands as she is relentlessly pursued by the killer. Luckily, this badass Thai Boxer is well prepared for a fight.
Where to watch it:
Shudder

8. Prevenge

via IMDb

Release date: March 24, 2017
Cast:
Alice Lowe, Jo Hartley, Tom Davis, Dan Renton Skinner
Director:
Alice Lowe
Why You Should Watch:
Alice Lowe is a brilliant actress and writer with pitch-perfect comedic timing. While Prevenge is her feature-film directorial debut, you may recognize her (sans ghoulish makeup) from horror-comedy Sightseers – which she also wrote.
Prevenge follows Ruth (Alice Lowe) during the late stages of her pregnancy as she receives persistent homicidal guidance from her unborn child. It’s a funny, twisted take on the bizarre changes women may go through while growing another human being.
It’s worth noting that Lowe was 8 months pregnant during filming.
Where to watch it:
Shudder, iTunes, Amazon

7. Last Shift

via IMDb

Release date: October 6, 2015
Cast:
Juliana Harkavy, Joshua Mikel, Hank Stone
Director:
Anthony DiBlasi (Dread)
Why You Should Watch:
Last Shift follows a rookie police officer, Jessica Loren (Juliana Harkavy), as she’s stationed to cover the last shift at a soon-to-be-closed police station. She should have a quiet night ahead of her, but the phone keeps ringing, and the young woman on the other end is in terrible danger.
Part horrifying ghost story, part psychological thriller, Last Shift builds tension and terror in a fantastic way. Jessica is determined to carry out her duties as an officer and shows incredible courage in the face of fear.
Where to watch it:
Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, PSN, Google Play

6. Pyewacket

via IMDb

Release date: March 23, 2018
Cast:
Nicole Muñoz, Laurie Holden, Chloe Rose, Eric Osborne
Director:
Adam MacDonald (Backcountry)
Why You Should Watch:
Pyewacket follows the challenges of a mother-daughter relationship in a way that Lady Bird never could. Leah (Nicole Muñoz) is struggling with her mother’s decision to move – as you would expect from an angst-ridden teenager – but her fascination with the occult causes her to lash out in a thoroughly ill-advised way. She is overcome by her frustrations and naively performs a ritual to evoke a witch to kill her mother.
Not a wise move, but, it certainly makes for a fantastic and terrifying film.
Where to watch it:
VOD, iTunes, and Google Play (Canada), PSN (USA)

5. Ginger Snaps

via IMDb

Release date: May 11, 2001
Cast:
Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle, Kris Lemche, Mimi Rogers
Director:
John Fawcett
Why You Should Watch:
Ginger Snaps is a Canadian horror classic and one of the best werewolf movies of all time (fight me). It’s a perfect coming-of-age tale focused on the bond between two sisters, but it’s got enough shock and gore to please the dude-bros who can’t relate to a film about female puberty (though, seriously, get over it).
Where to watch it: Amazon, Google Play

4. Annihilation

via Paramount Pictures

Release date: February 23, 2018
Cast:
Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, Tuva Novotny, Oscar Isaac
Director:
Alex Garland (Ex Machina)
Why You Should Watch:
Annihilation is visually stunning. Let’s start there. It’s positively beautiful and absolutely horrific. The creature design is some of the best in recent history (and actually scary as hell). But visuals aside, it’s also a brilliant and compelling film with a cast of seriously talented women. It tells a wild, otherworldly story with a deep focus on our own internal struggles with self-destruction. The female characters of Annihilation are complex and flawed, and it’s wonderful.
You can read our full review here.
Where to watch it: iTunes, Google Play, PSN, Vudu

3. Martyrs

via Wild Bunch

Release date: September 3, 2008
Cast:
Morjana Alaoui, Mylène Jampanoï, Catherine Bégin, Juliette Gosselin
Director:
Pascal Laugier (The Tall Man)
Why it’s great:
Martyrs is one of the definitive films of the New French Extremity movement and it is absolutely brutal. The film follows a young woman’s quest for revenge as it leads her and a friend on a terrifying journey into a living hell. They are subject to experiments designed to inflict systematic acts of torture upon young women in the belief that their suffering will result in a transcendental insight into the world beyond this one. Martyrs is gruesome as anything you’ll ever see, but the young women demonstrate an incredible strength that is unparalleled.
Where to watch it:
iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Google Play

2. The Descent

via IMDb

Release date: August 4, 2006
Cast:
Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, MyAnna Buring, Nora-Jane Noone
Director:
Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers)
Why it’s great:
Fueled by an all-female cast and driven by paranoia, claustrophobia, and a genuine reason to fear the unknown, The Descent is a contemporary horror classic. It’s particularly notable for its treatment of its female characters – they’re independent,  skilled, and their relationships have a complex dynamic with a casual, comfortable shorthand that communicates their history. Each of the women have distinct personalities and flaws that flesh them out as realistic characters, and they each contribute something to the team (a sensible structure that we saw more recently with Annihilation as well). Moreover, The Descent is just a damn good movie.
Where to watch it:
Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Google Play

1. Revenge

via Movieweb

Release date: May 11, 2018
Cast:
Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Kevin Janssens, Vincent Colombe, Guillaume Bouchède
Director:
Coralie Fargeat
Why You Should Watch:
We might as well stop making rape-revenge movies entirely, because Revenge just assassinated the genre. Coralie Fargeat’s directorial debut is a full-throttle, bloody, intense battle for survival that is so damn good at what it does. It’s a horrific scenario made even more terrifying by the fact that every woman alive has had to awkwardly navigate unwanted advances at least once in her life. Revenge takes that terribly uncomfortable tango and shows how it can all go so horribly wrong. The awful events are backlit by this sun-scorched, neon color palette that leaves the darkness with no place to hide. This movie slays in all the right ways.
Where to watch it:
iTunes, Google Play, PSN, Vudu, Streaming on Shudder starting September 13

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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