Women in Horror: Top 30 Female Horror Movie Characters

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (20th Century Fox)

17. Elvira (Cassandra Peterson, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark)

Anyone familiar with TV horror history certainly knows Elvira. In the early 80s, actress Cassandra Peterson would create the character to host a new horror TV series. Inspired by The Vampira Show, Peterson as Elvira would host Elvira’s Movie Macabre, a very popular show for horror fans at the time.

Describing Elvira as herself as a teenager, Peterson makes the role all her own. Her combination of campy humor and sex appeal resonated very well with fans. Her show would go on for many seasons, even spawning a feature film in the process: Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. It’s a horror comedy film that is definitely out there, but still very enjoyable if you’re a fan of the Mistress herself.

Not enough people have seen this movie, but I feel it’s underrated. As I’ve always had an appreciation for Elvira, I found it fitting for her to have her own feature film. I did enjoy the film, though it’s very rare to see it brought up these days. But it’s surely worth checking out if you like Elvira as much as I do.

Many years later, a low budget sequel Elvira’s Haunted Hills would premiere at the International Rocky Horror Film Convention.