Girls on (Horror) Film
Horror isn't, and never has been, a boys' club - in some ways, it's one of the most progressive genres for women. Sure, there are screaming damsels in distress, but horror also has a plethora of tough, complicated female leads, an intriguing mixture of good, bad and very ugly. And many "girl horror" plots realize that true terror often lies in the complexity of relationships: the enemy may lie in your sister, your best friend, your lover, or most disturbing, your own mind. These five female fright flicks probe the depths of the psyche while still delivering bone-chilling gasps, plot twists, and screams galore.
1. Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Director Peter Jackson and actress Kate Winslet would garner Oscar acclaim over a decade later, but this true story of adolescent fantasy turned matricide represents some of their finest work. (The fact that this was Winslet's film debut makes it all the more impressive.) The living clay figurines and copious blood spatter are intense, but what sets "Heavenly Creatures" apart is its cautionary tale of friendship gone homicidal, and what happens when young girls' curiosity and intelligence are suppressed, ridiculed and flat-out ignored.
2. Jennifer's Body (2009)
Sure, Diablo Cody's attempt at feminist horror failed on several levels (Megan Fox and terrible puns, anyone?), but it found redemption in small ways, mainly Amanda Seyfried's turn as a shy-turned-streetwise high school student who battles her zombie best friend and (gasp!) has a genuine and (mostly) consequence-free sex drive. Plus, the term "wettie," while a bit awkward, is at least an attempt at a female equivalent to "hard-on." Because ladies get excited too.
3. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)/The Uninvited (2009)
This bizarre South Korean masterpiece and its surprisingly decent American remake are almost entirely female-driven: as in, men are a mostly passive and useless part of the equation. In these films, petite and pretty girls have as much capacity to terrorize as B-movie bruisers with axes. Don't mess with these little ones, or they will tear you apart.
4. The Descent (2005)
Hopefully, this UK stunner will never get an American remake, because it's gooey, psychological perfection. With nary a dude in sight, this group of spelunkers is toughness personified: they regularly excavate the depths of the underground and call it a fun bonding experience. There's nothing they can't handle: until everything solvable, capable and breathable gives way to fighting an unseen foe. In all things love, friendship and spelunking, there's nothing worse than not knowing.
5. Let the Right One In (2008)
Childhood is tough - true, there are no concerns about bills or employment, but one must navigate the nasty politics of the classroom and schoolyard. Beautiful, peculiar Eli may be immune to all this - but she's also a vampire, which leads to its own set of issues. As Eli bonds with troubled young neighbor Oskar, the film becomes not only a compelling thriller but a sweet tale of trust and a question of whether real innocence actually exists. Though nothing will equal Lina Leandersson's nuanced portrayal, perhaps Chloe Grace Moretz (last seen as Hit Girl in "Kick-Ass") will hold her own in the upcoming American remake. I'm optimistic.
BONUS: Mulholland Dr.
What's scarier than losing one's identity in the Los Angeles? It may not be defined as horror, but David Lynch's twisted dreamscape of a neo-noir conveys a constant stream of existential dread. Even in quiet moments of romance, camaraderie and sexual discovery, wide-eyed Angelenos Betty and Rita face palpable danger, the most threatening of which occurs in negligible states of consciousness. The Club Silencio scene alone will haunt you for days. No hay banda.