It's that time of year again when the days get shorter and a little colder, and it's time to hunker down with a scary movie in the spirit of Halloween. To help inspire your viewing schedule this season, here is a collection of some of the best horror films directed by a female director. This list is just the beginning of what female filmmakers have contributed to the genre over the decades and is a good place to start for any spooky season slate.

Jennifer's Body

Upon its original release, Jennifer's Body didn't get nearly the credit it deserved, but that seems to be changing as fans of the horror genre are returning to the film with new context and appreciation. When a promiscuous teen, Jennifer, is mistaken for a virgin and sacrificed by a desperate punk band, she becomes something of a demonic monster herself. And her best friend, Needy, is the only one who can stop her from consuming the whole town. Directed by Karyn Kusama and written by Academy Award winner Diablo Cody, Jennifer's Body's misguided marketing campaign is to blame for audiences missing out on its snappy dialogue and positive queer tones.

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American Psycho

American Psycho is a film adaptation of a novel of the same name directed by Mary Harron, who also co-wrote the script. The film is a dark humor slasher movie about Patrick Bateman, a New York City investment banker and serial killer that comments on white privilege and the patriarchy. While there have been theories that Bateman's crimes are all imaginary, those readings may be overlooking the critique the film is trying to make against the yuppie lifestyle and of people who enjoy a life free of consequences like Bateman does. Harron's emphasis on the original novel's dark humor elevates the movie into a sophisticated social commentary while still maintaining the iconic slasher elements.

Near Dark

Cast of Near Dark

Near Dark may have had a quiet debut, but since its release in 1987, the neo-Western vampire film has picked up in popularity. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the film was originally intended to be a straight Western film, but in order to gain funding for the project, Bigelow took advantage of the vampire trend that was popular at this time. With solid reception, the film is credited with striking visuals and an engaging take on the vampire subgenre. Bigelow's style is also clear throughout, making Near Dark a necessary inclusion for any spooky season movie night.

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Pet Sematary

pet sematary 1989

The first film adaptation of Stephen King's chilling novel Pet Sematary was directed by Mary Lambert, best known for the iconic Madonna music video for Like a Virgin, as well as directing another spooky season favorite, Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge. After moving to a small town in Maine and suffering a devastating loss, Doctor Louis Creed turns to the dark magic of a local "pet sematary," which will return the dead to life. While some of the effects may seem a little dated, the other aspects of the film function to compensate for this flaw and build a chilling atmosphere worthy of the original novel. However, the film also launched a much less successful sequel, also directed by Lambert, a disappointing 2019 reboot and an upcoming prequel.

Candyman (2021)

Feature Image for why New Candyman Is A Worthy Sequel

The latest installment of the Candyman franchise has not gone unnoticed this year, mostly because it's full of sharp, intelligent social commentary and bone-chilling scares. Director Nia DaCosta helms the direct sequel to the original 1992 film that features Tony Todd as the titular Candyman, though this time, he isn't the only one. In the gentrified neighborhood of Cabrini-Green, Anthony McCoy, just a baby during the events of the original film but now an up-and-coming artist, uncovers the legend of the Candyman and grapples with their shared history.

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The Babadook

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The Australian film The Babadook is directed by Jennifer Kent, who set out to explore some of the darker sides of parenthood, especially the complicated relationship mothers can have with their children. The film is about a struggling widow and mother named Amelia and her troubled son Samuel, who have their lives uprooted when a monster from a mysterious book, the Babadook, becomes real. The film has stunning reviews and is regarded by many as one of the best horror films of the last 10 years.

The Slumber Party Massacre

slumber party massacre 1982

When given the choice between editing the iconic Steven Spielberg film E.T. or directing a low-budget slasher film, Amy Holden Jones chose to direct The Slumber Party Massacre. Shot as a straight slasher but from a parody script written as a critique of the genre, The Slumber Party Massacre is a unique film that stands above some of the other low-budget films of the time. The film is entertaining if a little silly but made with real artistic vision and shockingly memorable kills that come via a power drill-wielding serial killer. When looking for an underrated slasher that inspires laughs as well as scares, look no further than The Slumber Party Massacre.

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Raw

raw film

The only non-English film on this list, Julia Ducournau's Raw is a 2016 French horror film about a young woman who is a vegetarian and a veterinarian student that, after trying meat, uncovers her insatiable desire for flesh. This piece of sometimes uncomfortable but always captivating body horror is universal in its themes of self-discovery, and the inherent primal hunger of humanity elevates the shockingly graphic scenes to a whole new philosophical level. The gore serves the metaphorical purposes with crisp precision and certainly leaves an impression long after the credits have finished rolling.

Saint Maud

saint maud 2019 film

One of the more recent installments on this list is Saint Maud, the 2019 directorial debut of English director Rose Glass. The atmospheric psychological horror film follows a newly converted Roman Catholic hospice nurse named Maud who becomes with saving the soul of her patient, a former dancer with stage four lymphoma named Amanda. The film balances body horror with a more psychological approach, creating a rich, truly horrific sensation. Saint Maud's critical success sets up Glass as a director to watch, but in the meantime, her debut is well worth a watch this Halloween season.

The Invitation

the invitation movie poster

The Invitation is another film from Karyn Kusama that is a must-see horror film, though it has a totally different tone and scope than Jennifer's Body. The 2015 film is essentially a dinner party gone wrong -- Will brings his girlfriend Kira to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife Eden and her new husband David, but they aren't the only guests in for a horrifying twist to what was otherwise just a tense, atmospheric evening. Kusama brings horror to the safety of a home by creating a clever thriller, and he was rewarded with positive reviews. The Invitation is another perfect example of a film to pull out in October to set an unsettling vibe.

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