I previously published a post about woman-directed horror and cult films five years ago. Since that time, there appears to have been a significant surge in women directing horror and horror-esque films. Women bring a kaleidoscope of perspectives to cinema. Shared experiences of body horror, misogyny, and other systemic oppressions connect with a broader audience and deepen the horror genre. Seeing more and more women succeed in creating game-changing horror films inspires me to pursue my dreams of writing, directing, and acting in horror. This list of more recent horror films directed by women is a small representation of the rising number of women’s voices shaping the genre.
Check out the original blog post here.
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Titane (2021) dir. Julia Ducournau
Watcher (2022) dir. Chloe Okuno
Soft & Quiet (2022) dir. Beth de Araújo
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) dir. Halina Reijn
The Invitation (2022) dir. Jessica M. Thompson
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023) dir. Ariane Louis-Seize
Lisa Frankenstein (2024) dir. Zelda Williams
Your Monster (2024) dir. Caroline Lindy
Grafted (2024) dir. Sasha Rainbow
Apartment 7A (2024) dir. Natalie Erika James
The Substance (2024) dir. Coralie Fargeat
The Ugly Stepsister (2025) dir. Emilie Blichfeldt
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) dir. Nia DaCosta
The Bride! (2026) dir. Maggie Gyllenhaal
Pretty Lethal (2026) dir. Vicky Jewson
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If you are looking for more research on women directing horror, I have a couple recommendations:
I Spit On Your Celluloid: The History of Women Directing Horror Movies by Heidi Honeycutt
1000 Women in Horror (2026) dir. Donna Davies
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Until next time,
Jordan
By Night 