Connect with us

News

WiHM: 16 of Our Favorite Female-Directed Horror Films

Published

on

women in horror female directors

To celebrate Women in Horror Month, we thought we’d have a look at some of our favorite horror movies that were directed by some seriously talented female filmmakers.

Listed in chronological order, here are a few of our personal favorites. Any we missed? Add yours in the comments!

Slumber Party Massacre (1982) – Amy Holden Jones

via CL Tampa

Written by feminist writer and activist Rita Mae Brown and directed by Amy Holden Jones, Slumber Party Massacre prominently features satirically appropriate phallic imagery in the form of the film’s villainous “driller killer”. It’s a fun and campy slasher with some great kills, practical effects, and serious feminist undertones.

Near Dark (1987) – Kathryn Bigelow

via Talk Film Society

Long before winning two Oscar awards for The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow crafted a cult classic with the vampire film Near Dark. Starring Aliens alumni Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and Jenette Goldstein, Near Dark is arguably one of the finest vampire films to exist. 

Pet Sematary (1989) – Mary Lambert

Even with the new film on the way, Mary Lambert’s Pet Sematary will always have a special and terrifying place in the heart of horror fans. She brought us nightmares of Zelda, a wonderfully creepy undead child, and sage words of wisdom from a perfectly-cast Jud Crandall. And we’ll always thank her for that.

American Psycho (2000) – Mary Harron

via Greater Omaha Chamber

Do you need to return some videotapes? You can thank Mary Harron for making that the most popular exit line that horror fans have ever uttered. Bret Easton Ellis’ novel makes for some truly dark source material, but Harron was able to dig through the many music references and brutal scenes of violence to bring us an iconic satire that drags misogyny, conspicuous consumption, and pretension through the bloody mud.

Trouble Every Day (2001) – Claire Denis

New French Extremity film Trouble Every Day is – as with most films in the New French Extremity – challenging and divisive. Denis’ style of filmmaking has been described as “tactile”, in that her work sets out to “touch” the viewer with a sense of contamination that cannot be obtained from a distanced viewing. She combines romantic sensuality with violent cannibalism and challenges the audience with feelings of “unreality”; scenes leading up to a particularly violent climax all feel very rehearsed, so this moment of honest and visceral release comes as a shock.

Jennifer’s Body (2009) – Karyn Kusama

via Vice Media

Jennifer’s Body is a perfect and vicious twist on the dynamic between teenage BFFs. It wasn’t widely loved upon its initial release, but has found a bit of resurgence recently with horror fans rediscovering the wild charm of this flick.

For more serious fare, check out Kusama’s The Invitation, which is a positively brilliant slow burn that more people need to see.

American Mary (2012) – Jen & Sylvia Soska

via Slant

Not quite a rape-revenge film, American Mary is about a young medical student who finds her calling in the world of surgical body modification. Katherine Isabelle absolutely shines as the titular Mary, and the Soskas show some serious skill as they carve this dark tale into a delicious delight.

You can see more from the Soska sisters with their upcoming remake of David Cronenberg’s Rabid.

The Babadook (2014) – Jennifer Kent

via Narcity

The Babadook beautifully captures the exhaustion of being a single parent following a traumatic event. Widow Amelia (Essie Davis, whose performance plucks at every empathetic heartstring in your body) must contend with a mysterious monster that her troubled son has developed an obsession with. The film drags itself through dull grey interiors and screaming children to build a stunning metaphor for depression that carries on through the film’s conclusion.

Honeymoon (2014) – Leigh Janiak

via The Dissolve

Featuring raw performances from Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones) and Harry Treadaway (Penny Dreadful), Honeymoon slowly builds the idea that something is not quite right during a young couple’s getaway. Haunting, beautiful, unsettling, and visceral, it reaches a fever pitch that will definitely stick with you once the film has ended.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) – Ana Lily Amirpour

via BFI

Noted as “the first Iranian Vampire Western ever made”, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is slick and relentlessly cool as it mixes its influences of graphic novels, horror films, spaghetti westerns, and the Iranian New Wave into one beautiful black-and-white genre masterpiece.

Prevenge (2016) – Alice Lowe

via Slant Magazine

Prevenge is a pitch-black British dark comedy about a woman who believes that her unborn baby is sending her on a mission to kill. Written, directed by, and starring an 8-month pregnant Alice Lowe, it’s a whip-smart take on loneliness, prepartum madness, and the conscious decisions a mother must make.

Raw (2016) – Julia Ducournau

via Rolling Stone

Julia Ducournau presents an unflinching coming-of-age tale with a deadly and dread-fueled twist. Garance Marillier and Ella Rumpf‘s nuanced performances as sisters Justine and Alexia are like a raw, meaty steak; they drive the film forward to its heavy yet deeply satisfying conclusion.

Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017) – Issa López

via TIFF

Tigers Are Not Afraid is a visually and emotionally striking dark fairytale. The real-world violence of Mexican cartels simmers under every scene, bringing the childlike wonder and fantasy to the forefront. Like anything concocted from a child’s imagination, the magic we see can be both beautiful and truly terrifying.

M.F.A. (2017) – Natalia Leite

via Variety

M.F.A. is an emotionally brutal and deeply effective rape-revenge film that points a steady, angry finger at rape on college campuses and the efforts made by administration to silence or blame the victims for their trauma. It delivers one powerful punch of a message that is both infuriating and cathartic, as our heroine goes on a cross-campus spree of vigilante justice.

The Ranger (2018) – Jenn Wexler

via SXSW

Jenn Wexler has made a name for herself as a genre producer before stepping into the director’s chair with The Ranger, and her clear dedication to the genre has resulted in a slick, punk rock killer thriller. It’s delightfully vicious and pulls no punches, and it proves that she’s a name to watch for.

Revenge (2018) – Coralie Fargeat

via DreadCentral

Coralie Fargeat’s Revenge is a vibrant, sun-soaked, full-tilt ride that spins a fresh and vicious take on the rape-revenge subgenre by focusing the rage through the “female gaze”. The start of this horrible chain of events comes from an awkward conversation that every woman has experienced. The action that follows is, of course, dramatically over-the-top and gorgeously stylized, but it’s so deeply satisfying to cheer on our heroine as she blazes a brutal, bloody path of vengeance. 

Related:
Women in Horror Month: 6 Real Life Lessons From Horror’s Finest Final Girls
Women in Horror Month: Why Do We Love Horror?

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

Published

on

Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

Published

on

Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

Published

on

Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Embed Gif with Clickable Title