10 Frightening Female Directed Horror Movie Hits – Ranked

Welcome to Ranking Horror. Yesterday, we raved about 10 Hollywood Horror Remakes That Wowed Us. Today, we’re rounding off the week with 10 Frightening Female-Directed Horror Movie Hits.

Historically, horror has felt like a very male-dominated space. Think of the testosterone-soaked action-gore fests, or the traditional ‘final girl’ running from a male assailant; the female experience in horror was almost always from a guy’s point of view. Female voices were, sadly, few and far between, a fact which made horror a pretty exclusionary genre.

Thankfully, that’s changing. Rapidly. Especially since the 2010s, female filmmakers are seizing the reins, and it’s kickstarting a horror revolution. Can you believe that we witnessed a body-horror movie nominated for numerous Oscars in 2024? A body-horror, of all things! I honestly believe women are driving the genre forward with fresh ideas and truly terrifying concepts that are, frankly, among the best, and scariest, in horror. Right, I have already talked too much. Let’s jump into these fantastic films by female directors!

10. The Invitation (2015) – Paranoia Is The Ultimate Plus-One

Why it Ranked: This movie would be a little higher on this list if it wasn’t for the rather unlikeable cast and the Hollywood hills setting that feels a million miles away from what most horror fans will find relatable. The Invitation is a slow-burn psychological horror that takes a bit of patience to really appreciate. Kusama is a veteran of the industry and she knows exactly how to make a viewer feel like they’ve walked into a trap. The tension mounts in a palpable manner, leading to a conclusion that is both shocking and unexpected.

Synopsis: A man accepts an invitation to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife and her new partner. As the night progresses, he becomes increasingly paranoid that the hosts and their new ‘friends’ have a sinister ulterior motive for the reunion. What follows is a masterclass in gaslighting and cult-adjacent dread.

Where to Watch: Tubi, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

9. Relic (2020) – A Haunting Examination Of The Fading Mind

Why it Ranked: Relic is a metaphorical horror that relates a very real-world, and very troubling, situation in the form of a supernatural story. Natalie Erika James wears her inspirations on her sleeve here. It is a deeply moving and drama-heavy movie that will resonate with anyone who has watched a loved one fade away. The fact that James manages to tell a horrifyingly tragic story, that all too many people will be able to realise, in a way that is easy to understand and extremely affecting is something to applaud. It can be clunky at times, but it’s far scarier than your average ghost story.

Synopsis: When an elderly matriarch goes missing, her daughter and granddaughter return to their decaying family home. As they find her and attempt to care for her, they realise that her dementia might be manifesting as a physical, malevolent presence within the house itself.

Where to Watch: Hulu, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

8. A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014) – Skateboarding Through A Blood-Soaked Iranian Dream

Why it Ranked: British born, American Iranian director Ana Lily Amirpour absolutely blew the horror world away with her dark-romantic take on the vampire genre. This movie is promoted as the first Iranian Vampire Western, which is an extremely interesting collection of terms. Amirpour wanted to explore the different facets of vampire lore together in a single film rather than sticking to one particular archetype. It allows the film to skirt many different genres and feel multi-faceted. It is utterly fascinating stuff and completely refreshing in a sub-genre that is usually full of predictable tropes.

Synopsis: In the Iranian ghost town “Bad City”, a lonesome vampire clad in a chador stalks the streets on a skateboard. She targets the town’s worst citizens, acting as a silent, fanged vigilante, until she meets a young man who challenges her lonesome existence.

Where to Watch: Kino Now, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

7. Raw (2016) – Burgeoning Desire With A Taste For Human Flesh

Why it Ranked: Julia Ducournau is a bit of a horror powerhouse and 2016’s Raw is a good example of why. This movie was the recipient of the coveted FIPRESCI prize at Cannes and has gone on to become a major success. Its mix of coming-of-age drama with legitimately wince-inducing horror nastiness feels immensely fresh. Ducournau uses cannibalism as a visceral metaphor for burgeoning desire and the loss of innocence. The characters feel believable, despite the ridiculous scenario, making the gore hit even harder.

Synopsis: Justine, a lifelong vegetarian, enters a veterinary college where she is subjected to a brutal hazing ritual involving raw meat. After eating a rabbit kidney, she begins to develop an insatiable hunger for flesh, triggering a terrifying transformation as she explores her new, dark cravings.

Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

6. The Ugly Stepsister (2025) – A Grotesque Retelling Where Beauty Is A Brutal Surgery

Why it Ranked: Emilie Blichfeldt points an accusatory finger at the world’s obsession with beauty and youth. The Ugly Stepsister is not here to pull punches; it is shocking in a multitude of ways. It is jam-packed with nudity, sexuality, gore, and moments designed to make you legitimately wince. It is also bitingly satirical in a way that will make you laugh over and over again. It’s a bold, uncompromising debut that proves body horror is currently being perfected by female directors.

Synopsis: A comical and grotesque body-horror retelling of Cinderella. A young woman goes to immense, surgical lengths to capture the attention of a prince who only has eyes for her stunningly beautiful stepsister, leading to a bloody examination of vanity.

Where to Watch: Rare Horror Imports, Select Film Festivals

5. The Babadook (2014) – You Can’t Get Rid Of The Grief Once You Let It In

Why it Ranked: The Babadook feels like a story that could only have come from the mind of a woman. It perfectly reflects the difficulties faced by a mother who has lost her husband and is suffering from both grief and resentment. It was an absolute revelation back in 2014 and its impact is still being felt. It is almost single-handedly responsible for the boom in metaphorical horror stories that make monsters out of psychological demons. It might still be the very best example of the trend.

Synopsis: A single mother, struggling with the violent death of her husband, battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house. After reading a mysterious pop-up book about “Mister Babadook”, she soon discovers a sinister presence that feeds on her own unprocessed trauma.

Where to Watch: Shudder, AMC+, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

4. American Mary (2012) – Finding Perfection In The Underground Of Body Modification

Why it Ranked: American Mary doesn’t get anywhere near enough love. Brought to us by the filmmaking sister duo of Jen and Sylivia Soska, it is a viciously brutal, yet bitingly clever, mix of comedy and splatter-horror. Katharine Isabelle is absolutely fantastic here. She effortlessly combines cool, sexy, and strong while bringing to life one of the better anti-heroines from a modern horror movie. It is gory, frequently shocking, and hilarious throughout; a perfect “midnight movie” for those who like their horror with an edge.

Synopsis: Mary Mason, a medical student struggling with debt, is drawn into the world of underground extreme body modification. She soon becomes a “doctor” for the fringe community, performing illegal and increasingly bizarre surgeries while seeking revenge on those who wronged her in the mainstream medical world.

Where to Watch: Tubi, Plex

3. American Psycho (2000) – Murder, Narcissism, And A Killer Business Card

Why it Ranked: Mary Harron’s American Psycho is more than deserving of its third-place ranking. The biggest criticism is that Christian Bale’s legendary performance does a lot of heavy lifting, but Harron’s “female gaze” on male vanity is the secret sauce that makes it work. It is a movie that aims to examine the way we all view ourselves and the way we present ourselves to others. Patrick Bateman is the most unreliable of narrators and acts as a reflection of everyone watching. It is a scathing criticism of consumerism and a fantastic movie that will inspire directors for decades.

Synopsis: Patrick Bateman is a wealthy New York investment banker who hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his shallow co-workers. By day he obsesses over business cards and reservations; by night he descends into a series of increasingly violent and surreal murders.

Where to Watch: Peacock, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

2. Saint Maud (2019) – A Religious Descent Into Psychotic Salvation

Why it Ranked: Saint Maud is a harrowing story that is immensely affecting for how real it feels. A lot of people find it a slow movie with minimal scares, but they are missing the point. It is a metaphorical horror that relates the real-life difficulties of people who suffer from psychosis-based disorders. As someone with bipolar disorder, I can’t help but appreciate how tactfully Glass handles the subject of mental illness. She puts a terrifying horror spin on delusions and disrupted thought patterns. It is essential viewing for anyone who likes their horror with depth.

Synopsis: A devoutly religious care worker becomes obsessed with saving the soul of her terminally ill patient. Her devotion soon spirals into a dangerous, psychotic delusion as she believes she is receiving direct, physical messages from God.

Where to Watch: MGM+, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

1. The Substance (2024) – The Monstrous Cost Of Being The ‘Better’ Version Of Yourself

Why it Ranked: I am sure you could predict that The Substance would find its way to the top spot. I just love it so damn much. Fargeat’s masterful blend of comedy, gross-out body horror, and social commentary on the ageism of Hollywood is absolutely incredible. This movie is hilarious, shocking, it pulls no punches, and will leave you wanting more the moment it ends. I guarantee that in ten years we will have a whole new wave of revolutionary female horror directors and they will cite Coralie Fargeat as a huge inspiration. It is a modern masterpiece.

Synopsis: A fading celebrity, desperate to regain her youth, uses a black-market substance that creates a younger, better version of herself. However, the rules of the substance are strict, and failing to maintain the balance leads to a horrific, grotesque physical collapse.

Where to Watch: Mubi, Amazon (Rent/Buy)

The Future of Fright is Female

There we have it: 10 films that prove female directors are currently the most exciting voices in the genre. From the satirical bite of American Psycho to the visceral, skin-crawling brilliance of The Substance, these movies offer a level of depth and social awareness that horror has lacked for far too long. They prove that when you stop looking at women as just victims, you find much more interesting stories to tell.

As the industry continues to open up, I can’t wait to see what other nightmares these talented women have in store for us. If you enjoyed this look at female-led horror, why not check out some of our other lists? I’ll be back soon with more rankings and reviews. Stay spooky.

♀️ Quick Picks: Female-Directed Frights

• 🏆 The Modern Masterpiece: The Substance (2024)
• 🧠 The Psychological Descent: Saint Maud (2019)
• 🎭 The Satirical Icon: American Psycho (2000)
• 🩸 The Coming-of-Age Nightmare: Raw (2016)
• 👹 The Best Metaphorical Horror: The Babadook (2014)