As a horror lover, I love whenever Halloween rolls around. While I can find an excuse to watch a scary movie anytime of the year, my tangents on practical effects become tolerable around October. I’m like one of those people who start celebrating Christmas even before Thanksgiving; as soon as a leaf turns orange, I bring out the Notes App of costumes I’ve been planning all year.
That said, when I mention that I like horror movies (especially in the “good for her” variety), I always get recommended the same films; Ti West’s X trilogy, The Love Witch, Midsommar (not really “good for her” horror, but great to know y’all would join a creepy white people cult). I like those movies just fine, but I was excited and then subsequently disappointed by Maxxxine since I saw Pearl years ago. I’m also one of those pretentious film nerds that can stomach subtitles, so I’m a sucker for artsy foreign films. So unfortunately, it wouldn’t be right for me to gatekeep; based on movies everyone already knows and loves, here’s my certified “if you like this, try that” list (horror movie edition)!
If you like American Psycho, try…
Man Bites Dog: a Belgian mockumentary where the film crew follows and films the exploits of Ben, a serial killer. Surprisingly, it’s also a black comedy. Like with American Psycho, if you can get a few laughs out of some truly horrific scenes (and glean a little social commentary as well), Ben might become the new Patrick Bateman.
If you like Jennifer’s Body, try…
Raw: a French coming-of-age film about a girl who discovers her budding sexuality… By eating people. This one’s for my cannibalism girlies out there, especially when cannibalism is a metaphor for love/sex. Other entries for “puberty is terrifying so we’ll make it slay and scary” films (my favorite subgenre in the “good for her” category) include Ginger Snaps and Bones and All.
If you like Hereditary, try…
Tigers Are Not Afraid: oh, you have generational trauma and you’re attracted to media that explores that theme through a supernatural lens? Except this one involves a little girl being haunted by her mother, who was killed by the Mexican cartel? And then you remember, oh yeah, the director based this OFF HER OWN EXPERIENCES (minus the ghosts… presumably)
If you like Midsommar, try…
The Wolf House: okay, I was kidding about the creepy white people cult… But speaking of creepy white people cults, this film is based off of a real one! This film is an animated (stop-motion with drawn elements) psychedelic fairy tale based off of Colonia Dignidad, a real-life Nazi cult that escaped to Chile and abused children, and is fashioned as a propaganda film produced by the leader to further brainwash followers into staying.
If you like Friday the 13th, try…
Sleepaway Camp: saved the surprise for last! I’ve scrolled to the bottom of Tubi’s horror section, so I love niche slashers as well. Personally, I find Friday the 13th, as revolutionary as it was, a bit primitive in comparison to its counterparts. Sleepaway Camp, however, is anything but primitive. The acting is hilarious (camp, if you will…), the kills are incredible, especially given that they were done practically, and the killer? While argued that the twist was done in poor taste, an icon nonetheless…
Written by Ava Sharahy
Photography by Francesca DiMiceli
Talent: Sawyer Evans