Women in horror: 8 Women-directed films that you can stream right now

3. Darlin’ (2019)

• Directed by: Pollyanna McIntosh
• Watch it on: Amazon Prime, Tubi

Darlin’ is the follow-up to 2011’s The Woman. Pollyanna McIntosh starred in The Woman, and later directed the stand-alone sequel, Darlin’. As it is a stand-alone, viewers do not have to watch The Woman to enjoy this film. However, characters from the 2011 film do appear in Darlin’.

Darlin’ is a feral teenager who shows up at a Catholic hospital and is then quickly sent away to a care home that is run by The Bishop. The Bishop’s goal is to turn this teenager into a “good girl” and use her as an example of a miracle of the church.

Surprisingly, Darlin’ can be seen as a heart-warming film that shows a character whose a stranger to the world’s population adapt and actually make friends. Of course, when The Woman from the previous film arrives to get Darlin’ back, things get bloody for anyone who gets in the way.

2. The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

• Directed by: Amy Holden Jones
• Watch it on: Shudder, Tubi

What better way to celebrate women in horror than with a 1980s classic? Not only is The Slumber Party Massacre directed by a woman, but it’s also written by a woman named Rita Mae Brown. Originally, this flick was written as a parody of the slasher genre, which is why there’s more humor than what can usually be expected. However, the film was shot like a horror film instead. Although it was released with mixed reviews, The Slumber Party Massacre later produced a cult following.

As the title suggests, The Slumber Party Massacre takes place at a slumber party. While the high school girls are preparing for their sleepover, a person with a mental health condition is on the run. Things get bloody for everyone who gets in the path of his weapon-of-choice, the drill.

1. XX (2017)

• Directed by: Karyn Kusama, Roxanne Benjamin, Jovanka Vuckovic, Annie Clark
• Watch it on: Netflix

XX is an anthology film where every segment is directed by a different woman in the genre. This makes for the perfect Women in Horror Month flick. Directors and producers from films like Jennifer’s Body and V/H/S come together to deliver their stories in XX.

XX takes its viewers on a ride with varying tales. Meet Susan, as she witnesses her family die one-by-one after her son sees something in a mysterious gift box. Watch as Mary hides her husband’s dead body at her daughter Lucy’s birthday party. Go on an expedition through the desert, where four friends get attacked by a creature. And finally, get to know Andy. Andy has violent “outbursts” — yet, his teachers deem him to be remarkable.

Did you check out any women-directed films during Women in Horror Month? Did you see any favorites on the list? Let us know in the comments!