Happy Mean Girls Day! 7 Horror Films for ‘Girls’ Night
For those who prefer slashers to rom-coms :)
7. Black Christmas (1974).
The holidays are right around the corner, and this cult hit is essential for any seasonal movie night in. A terrifying script and a cast of engaging and recognizable primarily female ensemble color this trailblazing proto-slasher filled to the brim with yuletide gay…and gore. Lots of mysterious twists and whodunnit turns, lots of creative and genre defining kill sequences, and, most notably of all, lots of politically subtextual heart just a year after Roe v. Wade. Neither thematic feminism nor femme fatality should go ignored in this iconic horror classic!
6. The Craft (1996).
“We are the weirdos, mister”. Goth girl groups, sisterhoods of witches, and Sidney Prescott!?! All this and MORE (Billy Loomis…lol) which is probably why it can be found at the top of sooooo many’s Halloween cult classic favorites list! Dripping with that oh so cozily nostalgic 90’s atmosphere, equipped with all oh so awesomely absurd 90’s special effects, and aching with all that oh so sexually repressed 90’s teen angst, the magic of The Craft (1996), going on almost 30 years now, is eternal!
5. The Descent (2005).
The Descent is one of the stand out original horror films of the 2000s not only for its excruciatingly exhilarating sequences of suspense, gore, and pure terror, but also for its a numbingly nuanced take on overcoming grief, processing trauma, and what it truly means to be/become a survivor. Damn scary too…watch it with the lights off to catch everything, but make sure the switch is close by for after…
4. Host (2020).
Don’t need to get together to get SCARED together! Gather the girls on zoom (like the main characters in this zippy indie screen-life spooker) and host (pun intended) a virtual scary movie night about a virtual seance gone wrong! This Covid-19 lockdown era masterpiece is well acted and well endowed with a plethora of rewarding sequences of terror within its speedy runtime. Near or far, it’s human to want to make a connection. But the choice is always with whom…and at what cost…
3. The House on Sorority Row (1982).
An all time favorite slasher for After Dark, as well as an early blueprint for the “revenge gone wrong” horror genre, The House on Sorority Row follows a group of “sisters” succumbing to the deadly consequences of their “prank” gone deadly wrong. Rich in mood and atmosphere and all the other 80’s sexy and gory SHLOCK that makes these well known cult favorites fizzle, yet grounded and specific in its stylish direction, tight narrative beats, and subversive storytelling. Colorfully campy, whimsically terrifying, and prototypically, yet certifiably classic! A good time every time with endless seasonal (Halloween AND summer) re-watch value!
2. DOUBLE FEATURE: Slumber Party Massacre I & II (1982 & 1987).
Did this list say seven films? Well, cheating with this double feature because both Slumber Party Massacre films are mandatory back-to-back viewing, ala Friday the 13th Parts 1/2. Written, directed and starring a cast of (primarily) women, this 80’s slasher shines where other’s typically falter when exploring themes of gender dynamics, sexuality, and coming of age. The Driller Killer is no masked serial killer and SPM is no standard slasher, both of which the 80’s had become too accustomed to and, dare I say, a trend Hollywood is still buried in today. A breath of fresh air for the genre, as well as your next sleepover binge with the girls and the gays (you’ll both LOVE it!!)!!
House (1977).
The bewildering idiosyncrasy of Nobuhiko Obayashi’s debut film must be experienced to be believed. Relentless and equal in both part eye popping beauty and stomach churning horror, House brilliantly dances in a whimsical chorus of its own rhythm between chaotic and tenacious, finding terror in never allowing the audience to get too comfortable for too long. Gorgeous and six of her closest friends enjoy spring break at her Aunt’s secluded manor. Little do they know, it’s haunted. Little does the audience know, they’ve never seen a haunted house movie like this! Stunning, subversive, and SCARY!