Best of Feminist Horror

As most horror fans are aware, the genre is more well known for its depiction of violence against women than it is for the limited feminist work within it. That being said, there are some great feminist horror movies out there (though in the grand scheme of things there should be many many more) that are worth checking out. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite feminist horror movies to watch if you’re sick of seeing women used as props to be mutilated.

For more on my and Abby’s opinions of feminism in horror listen to Lunatics Radio Hour episode #169.

Content Warning - Mentions of Sexual Assault 

Frankenhooker (1990): It may be hard to believe that the movie which contains a scene of NYC sex workers exploding after taking a drug called “super crack” is at all feminist, but you just have to watch it to understand. After Elizabeth dies in a lawn mower accident, her mad scientist boyfriend, Jeffrey, rebuilds her using parts from the, now exploded, prostitutes in hopes of getting an idealized version of his sweet girlfriend. But Elizabeth, and the many parts of abused women she is now made up of, maintains her own agency outside of Jeffrey’s plans. Troma, the production company responsible for this beautiful chaos, is always progressive in the most complicated (and sometimes slightly problematic) ways and Frankenhooker is no exception. Woven in with the dark humor and ridiculous gore are a lot of very feminist themes. Mainly Elizabeth, the titular character of Frankenhooker, is honestly a badass. I am not saying this is the perfect example of feminist horror, but it has some great messages sprinkled throughout about the mistreatment of sex workers and the strength and confidence of women. It also has a very satisfying “revenge” scene at the very end that you’re not gonna want to miss. 

Teeth (2007): Teeth, my favorite movie to show my all male friend group in middle school, is one of the best representations of female sexual empowerment in horror. It follows a young religious girl, Dawn, who has pledged a vow of sexual abstinence. However, it seems the men in her life do not respect this decision, and when one boy from her school takes things too far she discovers her vagina has a built in defense mechanism: some very sharp teeth. While this film does contain scenes of sexual assault, it is far different from other “rape revenge” movies that only continue the cycle of showing extreme violence against women, like Last House on the Left. Dawn’s pledge of abstinence in the beginning and her extra set of teeth allow her to stay in control of her sexuality. Knowing she no longer needs to live in fear of sexual assault, Dawn grows confident and more secure in her body.  One way in particular this film shows Dawn being in control of her sexuality the entire time is by including a consensual sex scene in which Dawn’s teeth do not fight her sexual partner. This is such an important scene that establishes the real feminist message of the film. AndI am so happy they included it because it shows that the teeth are not there to protect her virginity or “innocence”, Dawn has the ability to have sex if she chooses to do so. The teeth are only there to protect her, not limit her. In fact if everyone had just left her alone to begin with she may have never known they were there. 

Jennifer’s Body (2009): Jennifer’s Body is one of the best feminist horror movies of all time and I will never shut up about it. The movie follows two high school BFFs, Jennifer and Needy, who undergo some strain in their friendship when Jennifer is accidentally turned into a succubus and starts killing a bunch of their male classmates. This movie is such a good depiction of what it is like to be a teenage girl (although with maybe a touch more murder and demonic presence). Both Jennifer and Needy exhibit the perfect mix of confidence and insecurity that is felt by so many young women coming into their own in the world. The movie also dives into the complexity of female friendships, sexuality, and asserting that you are in control of yourself. Although this movie could fit into the “rape revenge” genre (though the sexual assault is implied through human sacrifice), it is done in a much more tasteful and effective way. No prolonged scene of sexual violence is needed for you to understand that Jennifer’s actions are a result of her trying to regain power over her sexuality. Unfortunately the themes and plot of this movie were lost on many viewers when it was first released because a foolish attempt was made to market it to young men as a movie where Megan Fox is sexy. In reality the movie should have been marketed to young women as a horror coming of age movie (seriously the posters and promotional content could not be more misleading about the actual contents of the movie). Jennifer’s Body is the perfect mix of horror, feminism, campiness, and bloodshed. 

The Love Witch (2016): Do you ever wish you could watch a 60s horror technicolor dream without all the misogyny? Well you’re in luck because The Love Witch takes the aesthetic of  that era’s romantic horror, but puts a feminist twist on it. The main character, Elaine, is a witch who recently moved to a town in California where some other witches live. The movie follows Elaine as she goes through a series of lovers, each one never quite satisfying her needs and ultimately dying in mysterious ways. Once again it is so refreshing to see a horror movie where the female character is in charge of her own sexuality. Elaine may make some poor choices when it comes to men, but she never lets them get the upper hand. Another aspect of this movie that makes it both beautiful and a great piece of feminist media is just how feminine it is. The Love Witch presents its horror through a lens of delicate lace, pink hues, and period magic, showing women everywhere that you can be a “girly girl” and still murder the men who displease you. 

Honorable Mentions -  Here are some more feminist horror movies I absolutely adore that I highly recommend checking out:

Ginger Snaps (2000) - The bond of two high school age sisters is challenged when one of them gets their period… oh, and attacked by a werewolf.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) - The only time a woman can truly feel safe walking alone in the dark is if she is the scariest thing out there.

Lisa Frankenstein (2024) - Who knew the story of Frankenstein would be better starring a socially awkward girl in the 80s who gains confidence by reviving a dead boy and murdering people?