Happy Holidays! I love it when women lose their shit. As a woman who's lost her shit many times in her 24 years, I truly feel seen when a girl on screen lets her innermost rage run rampant. Since it's that time of year when we all spread some festive joy and whimsy, I thought: what could be better than recommending some feminist horror films to watch whilst these dark and cold evenings pass by?

Mother! (2017)

Mother! is one of those films where it's good to go in not knowing much about it. Since not telling you anything would greatly reduce my word count, I'll give you a little something-something to entice you into watching it.

So: Javier Barden puts this diamond-looking gem up on display in this burned-down house and suddenly everything around transforms into this fancy-looking home and Jennifer Lawrence is in the bed calling out "baby?" Standard. Anyway, Javier brings in this random guy to the house and Jennifer's like um why didn't you tell me we were having someone over? And Javier's like chill out and invites this random stranger to stay with them indefinitely. It all sort of unfolds from there because the random dude has his sexy wife come and stay with them too and it all just gets worse and worse because Jennifer's like babe could you not like ask me before you invite people to stay? And Javier's all like don't worry about it. Shit hits the fan and Jennifer apparently tore her diaphragm from screaming so much whilst filming this so that's like. Crazy!

If my fantastic description hasn't sold this to you, then maybe this will: Mother! covers themes of religion, patriarchy, forced motherhood, ungrateful guests, and environmental destruction. It's a claustrophobic watch and really makes you want to slap Javier Bardem in his handsome face.

Stats:

Shock value: 7/10

Goriness: 6/10

Creepiness: 5/10

Under the Skin (2013)

Under the Skin is my favourite Scarlett Johansson film. When I was studying creative writing, we spoke a lot about how to strike a good balance of exposition and audience interpretation. On my first watch of Under the Skin, I thought: what the fuck did I just watch? Because I had no idea what was going on. On my second watch, I thought: yeah, what the actual fuck did I just watch? But, like, in a good way.

Basically, ScarJo's an alien that goes around kidnapping men in Scotland and absorbing them into this dark void. It's crazy to me because why are these guys so cool following some random hot lady into a dilapidated house for a hook-up? Do they think she's taking them into this abandoned place as a kink thing? Or do they just think she's zany? Because they're so dumb, I don't really feel bad for them when they die. That kind of stupidity is bound to be wiped out by natural selection.

After a while, alien Johansson starts to develop an affinity for the human experience. There's very little dialogue in this film, leaving a lot of what's happening on-screen up to audience interpretation. The way this story is told is so surreal it almost feels as though it has no plot. The point of it is to explore Scotland from the point of view of an alien that has little familiarity with human customs so that we become the alien. You should watch Under the Skin if you want to watch a horror film that covers themes of immigration, sexual objectification, and being a succubus alien lady.

Stats:

Shock value: 6/10

Goriness: 2/10

Creepiness: 7/10

I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

Sarah Butler drowns her perpetrator in I Spit in Your Grave (2010) — *Credit: Anchor Bay Entertainment*

Sure, I Spit on Your Grave has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 31%, and no, it's not necessarily unwarranted considering the content of the film. It's probably deeply ironic to many that I've categorised this film as feminist horror. There is a very long, detailed rape scene that some consider to be voyeuristic and glorifying of sexual violence. I don't think it is. I think it's deeply disturbing. Dare I say it: horrific. The negative reviews are justified in their outrage - I'm not going to tell anyone how to feel about this film because it does bring up some very intense feelings, which many people will struggle to stomach. That's not a bad thing. Not everyone is going to enjoy I Spit on Your Grave. It's mostly for horror fans that enjoy the rape revenge genre at its most extreme.

For me, I Spit on Your Grave has a controversial appeal similar to that of Lady Gaga's SXSW performance of 'Swine'. Did Gaga need to have a performance artist vomiting multi-coloured milk on her? No. But, did it produce feelings of disgust? Revulsion? Horror? If for you the answer is yes, then Gaga achieved what she set out to do. Rape is incomprehensible to anyone with an ounce of humanity in their being. It is such a vile violation of another person's dignity that many people fail to process the consequences of. We live in a culture that turns a blind eye and fails to effectively hold people accountable for this violation. I believe what I Spit on Your Grave sets out to do is provide an unflinching account of just how revolting rape is, then have the perpetrators held accountable through punishment that is just as unflinchingly awful. I don't think it glorifies sexual violence; however, it does glorify retributive justice. This film is a challenging watch and not for the faint of heart - but those who are willing to watch it will be left with much to consider.

Stats:

Shock value: 10/10

Goriness: 10/10

Creepiness: 5/10

Men (2022)

Men evokes similar feelings of isolation and confusion to Under the Skin and Mother! If you enjoy watching Countryfile on a Sunday evening, then this film isn't for you - it will destroy any sense of safety you might experience when rambling on a lovely countryside getaway.

If you do like Rory Kinnear, however, and you're looking to see him in something just as disturbing as the (not) David Cameron-inspired episode of Black Mirror then, my God, this horror is perfect for you. I don't know who this guy's agent is, but man, they get him in some fucked up stuff. Credit to him, though, because he's really good in it.

Men has a self-explanatory title to some extent. Yes, a major theme in this film is the attitudes men have towards women and the way they treat them. But it really could not prepare you any less for what unfolds in this 100-minute bloody naked man extravaganza. I have seen things I cannot unsee. But I am forever grateful for the fear this invoked from me, making it my favourite horror film of all time.

Stats:

Shock value: 10/10

Goriness: 10/10

Creepiness: 10/10

Gerald's Game (2017)

I'd say that Gerald's Game is the most accessible horror film on this list to those unfamiliar with the genre. It's got a tasty little three-act structure with conflict, jump scares, gore, and a heavy dose of self-reflection. In its frame narrative, we're looking at a woman who's trying to escape the bed she's been chained to after her husband dies during their sexy time (making it one crazy Viagra safety PSA) and starts to hallucinate as she becomes starved and dehydrated. We're also watching this same woman process some deeply buried trauma during this accidental mindfulness retreat.

Even if you're not great with gore or worry that you can't cope with the creepiness of this film, I'd still suggest you watch it. There's a lot to take away from it when it comes to understanding the long-term impact trauma has on not just people, but women, and how they carry it with them for the rest of their lives. The ending is a little too neat for my liking (I enjoy some ambiguity), but I think it's still a satisfying one that others will find comforting (something rare in a horror film). If you like this one, you might get along with Hush (2016) and Scream (1996).

Stats:

Shock value: 5/10

Goriness: 7/10

Creepiness: 7/10

As we shift into the last month of 2023, it's a good time to reflect on the events of the year, and nothing will cause you to reflect more than a horror film. The morbid curiosity that entices a person to watch horror will inevitably leave you with much to think about, which could be "that was shit", "that film did not need to be made", or "that film has changed the way I look at life and uncovered some emotions I forgot I was carrying." I hope these recommendations will leave you with the latter.

Feminist Horror to Enjoy This Christmas

Mother! (2017)

Under the Skin (2013)

I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

Men (2022)

Gerald's Game (2017)

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