14+ Horror movies that celebrate diversity (for your spooky season 👻)
Films either written and/or directed by a woman, person of culture or both
Did you know?
Only 1.5 out of every 10 directors are people of culture, and 2.2 are female, and similar figures for writers, 2.2 people of culture and 2.5 are female.1
This list aims to celebrate the powerful voices that continue to challenge these statistics and reshape the future of horror. My list is heavily female-dominated, as I am curious about the intersectionality of culture, gender, and horror films.
The Movies
No list is complete with the GOAT: horror master himself, Jordan Peele! How could I pick just one? Each film is rich with social commentary.
Where to watch: Peacock, Hulu
Get Out: A young Black man uncovers a disturbing secret when he visits his white girlfriend's family, where the seemingly idyllic setting hides a sinister agenda. As he unravels the truth, the film exposes the horrors of racism and exploitation beneath a veneer of progressiveness.
Where to watch: Peacock, Hulu
Us: A family's beach vacation takes a terrifying turn when their doppelgängers invade, forcing them into a brutal fight for survival. The film delves into themes of duality, privilege, and societal reflection, exploring how the oppressed are left to haunt the privileged.
Where to watch: Starz, Hulu
Nope: Two siblings, running a struggling horse ranch, encounter a mysterious phenomenon in the sky that disrupts their lives, drawing them into a dangerous quest for answers. As they try to capture proof of extraterrestrial life, the film offers a meditation on spectacle, exploitation, and humanity's obsession with the unknown.
Where to watch: AMC+, Hulu
Slash/Back: A group of Inuit girls in a remote Arctic village discover that an alien invasion is threatening their community and must use their wits, cultural knowledge, and resourcefulness to fight back. The film blends sci-fi and horror with themes of Indigenous identity, empowerment, and the strength of community in the face of an otherworldly threat.
If you know me, this is one of my favorites. Not only did the writer-director film on location on an indigenous reservation, all the film crew and actors were hired from the reservation. This is great baby horror or gateway horror: a horror movie intended for younger viewers that have some frightening elements, less to no gore, and comedic relief.
Where to Watch: Peacock, Tubi
Rabid (2019): After a disfiguring accident, a woman undergoes an experimental surgery that not only restores her beauty but also gives her an insatiable thirst for blood, triggering a violent epidemic. This remake of David Cronenberg's 1977 classic explores themes of vanity, body horror, and the monstrous consequences of extreme medical interventions.
I preferred this one much more than the original.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Candyman (2021): In this spiritual sequel to the 1992 film, a struggling artist becomes obsessed with the legend of Candyman, inadvertently reigniting the terrifying cycle of violence tied to the vengeful spirit. The film explores themes of racial trauma, gentrification, and the power of storytelling, linking the horror of urban legends to systemic injustice and generational pain.
It's one of my all-time favorite films; I love the original and the continuation. Both films feature the amazing Tony Todd.
Where to Watch: Hulu, AMC+
Angry Black Girl and Her Monster: A brilliant teenage girl grappling with the trauma of her brother's death believes she can bring him back to life, but her experiment unleashes terrifying consequences on her community. This modern retelling of Frankenstein addresses themes of systemic racism, grief, and the destructive impact of violence in underserved communities.
One of the best retellings of Frankenstein creates a deeper empathy for the creator and monster.
Where to Watch: AMC+
Revenge (2017): A woman left for dead in the desert after being brutally assaulted by her lover and his friends rises from the brink of death to exact a bloody and relentless revenge. This brutal thriller transforms the traditional rape-revenge narrative by empowering its protagonist and using stylized violence to explore themes of survival, vengeance, and female empowerment.
As a female-bodied person and a counselor, SA in films can be retraumatizing and difficult to watch. This film was when I started to wonder if women telling a story changes how subjects like SA are perceived and experienced.
Where to Watch: Video on Demand
Blink Twice: A woman grappling with trauma and substance use becomes entangled in a dangerous situation after a fateful encounter, uncovering dark secrets and facing the harsh realities of justice. The film delves into themes of misogyny, toxic masculinity, empowerment, and the systemic flaws that often victimize those seeking healing.
This film is polarizing. If you listen to my podcast, you know that me and my cohostess had two very different takes about this film.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night: In the Iranian ghost-town of Bad City, a lonely vampire vigilante roams the streets at night, preying on those who exploit and harm others, while forming an unlikely bond with a young man. This atmospheric, genre-blending film explores themes of isolation, gender dynamics, and justice, wrapped in a stylish, noir-influenced vampire story.
I just watched this film, after I created the international list and had to include. This is now my favorite vampire movie! This is one of those movies for me, that will live with me.
Where to Watch: AMC+
Stopmotion: A stop-motion animator, consumed by her work and personal demons, begins to lose her grip on reality as her puppets and creations seemingly take on a life of their own. The film explores themes of obsession, mental deterioration, and the blurred line between art and madness, all while utilizing the unsettling medium of stop-motion animation to heighten its psychological horror.
A poeticly haunting film.
Stopmotion-a review
Non-Spoiler Synopsis - Ella, a stop-motion animator, is working on her latest creation, which has taken a dark and bloody turn.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Nanny (2022): An undocumented Senegalese immigrant working as a nanny for a wealthy New York family begins to experience haunting visions as she struggles to reunite with her son left behind in Africa. The film weaves together themes of immigrant exploitation, motherhood, and the supernatural, exploring the emotional and psychological toll of the American Dream.
I love it when a movie can mix supernatural elements with folklore.
Where to Watch: Netfilx
Soft & Quiet: A seemingly casual gathering of women in a small town takes a dark and disturbing turn as their casual racism and bigotry escalate into violent and horrific actions. The film explores the terrifying normalization of hate and the dangers of groupthink, revealing how ordinary people can be driven to commit unthinkable acts.
This is one of those movies that will stick with you, as you process what you watched and knowing that this film is all too real.
Where to Watch: Hulu
Culture Shock (2019): A pregnant Mexican woman attempting to cross the U.S. border in search of a better life wakes up in a seemingly perfect American community, only to realize it's hiding sinister truths. This episode of Into the Dark explores themes of immigration, exploitation, and the dark side of the American Dream through the lens of psychological horror and dystopian terror.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Bingo Hell (2021): When a malevolent force takes over a neighborhood bingo hall, a group of elderly residents must band together to fight for their community as the game turns deadly. This horror-comedy mixes gore with social commentary, exploring themes of gentrification, greed, and the power of community in the face of sinister exploitation.
I enjoy her storytelling and her ability to bring awareness to issues.
Where to Watch: Hulu
Mr. Crocket (2024) is a horror film about a sinister children's TV host who kidnaps kids through their televisions and murders their parents. When her son is taken, a determined mother sets out to stop Mr. Crocket and bring her child back, in a terrifying story that combines slasher elements with a nostalgic 90s setting.
For those of you who love slasher movies!
Where to Watch: Starz, Hulu
The Blackening (2023) is a horror-comedy that follows a group of Black friends who gather for a Juneteenth getaway, only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin by a twisted killer. The film satirically explores common horror tropes, particularly the “Black character dies first” cliché, while blending humor and suspense to critique racial dynamics in the genre.
A must-watch!
Honorable mentions (cause they made other lists)
International:
Relic
Tigers Are Not Afraid
La Llorna
His House
Grief
Birth/Rebirth
The Invitation
Lovely, Dark and Deep
Umma
Signs
Mental Health
The Lodge
Appendage
Split
What did you Watch?
Who is your favorite person of culture or female creator? What is your favorite movie created by a person of culture of woman?
Lauzen, M. M. (2020). It’s a man’s (celluloid) world: Portrayals of female characters in the top grossing films of 2019. Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film.