Teen girls looking for a primer on great horror films that respect and honor the experience of the young female viewer should start here!
This inaugural edition of the “Girls Guide to Horror” looks at teenage terrors: films that chiefly deal with teenage/college-aged protagonists.
1. Black Christmas (2019) - Dir. Sophia Takal
2019's Black Christmas has been sorely maligned by fans and critics. However, this is a solid movie — and a great introduction to the wonder of horror, and the wonderful way horror can be both important social commentary and chilling entertainment.
The gals of Black Christmas 2019 are fearless and parallel the strong personalities of the ladies from the original film. It wasn’t a film made for everyone, and that’s okay, but it deserves just as much respect as every horror film that has praise heaped upon it. Wolfe and Takal do a fantastic job of holding a mirror up to the horrors of the world and tackling the infection of patriarchal entitlement. It’s a movie made with a teen girl audience in mind, which is nothing short of awesome.
2. Ginger Snaps (2000) - Dir. John Fawcett
Ginger Snaps is perhaps one of the matriarchs of teen girl horror, and it more than deserves its place on this list. While it was made in 2000, there’s a lot about this movie that still feels extremely relevant.
There will always be young girls who find themselves on the fringe of society, struggling with day to day life and finding their place in the world. And Ginger Snaps will always be a bright beacon for those girls. This was one of my comfort movies as a teenager and one of the films that deeply solidified my love of horror. It’s difficult to believe it's now twenty years old, but the film's effective portrayal of teen angst and sisterhood is brilliantly eternal.
3. Assassination Nation (2018 - Dir. Sam Levinson
Assassination Nation is not for the faint of heart. It captures the ever present pressures that teen girls face today and puts it in the context of a modern parable, mixed with a healthy dose of exploitation film antics.
This is another film that might not appeal to older audiences, but for young girls who are interested in all things horror and horror adjacent, this is a necessity. It’s gritty and bloody — and doesn’t hold back on the ugliness that young girls are exposed to. Sam Levinson’s empathy for the four main characters is astounding, and his ability to handle difficult and pertinent topics with ease is much needed in these turbulent times for teens.
4. Jennifer's Body (2009) - Dir. Karyn Kusama
Another relic of my teen years that caused me to fall even more in love with horror. While some of the jokes in Jennifer’s Body might not hold up as well as they do in some other films, this movie was unlike anything a teenage Jamie had ever seen.
Kusama boldly deals with toxic friendships and sexuality in a way that makes this film relevant to a modern audience. I don’t know a woman alive who didn’t have some sort of toxic friendship in their teens, or struggle with coming to terms with their sexuality — or both. This is a film that will undoubtedly speak to teens, because those topics remain evergreen and worthy of even further exploration.
5. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) - Dir. Andre Ovredal
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is like a love letter to a past version of myself, and I know that there are young girls that were like young me and see a version of themselves in the main character of Stella.
Stella wants to write horror. She wants to be a great storyteller. She’s striving to make a mark in a world that doesn’t seem to accept or understand her. I cheered when I saw that the main character in this film was a teen girl who was interested in writing horror. This film boldly says that horror is for girls and that girls can write horror. It’s the message that the upcoming generation of women in horror need to hear.
6. IT (2017) - Dir. Andy Muschietti
While the Losers Club has one sole female member, Beverly Marsh, she is the heart of the story. Her liveliness and fearlessness help carry the narrative and the Losers to absolute greatness.
While the film is set in the 80s, Beverly’s character and her trials are sadly universal and persistent. The group of boys with one girl set up that has become popularized by media isn’t ideal, but It makes the most of it by balancing the narratives and giving Bev a chance to shine as a character that will remain as one of the most impactful young women in all Stephen King Adaptations.
7. Knives and Skin (2019) - Dir. Jennifer Reeder
Knives and Skin is one of the strangest and most hypnotic films that focuses on teen girls since Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. It’s part musical, part magical realism, part mystery — and it’s utterly breathtaking.
This is the kind of ambitious film that will spur a young girl to become a filmmaker herself. It’s raw and daring and uncompromising in what it does, and it tackles some harrowing real world issues in the midst of its bombastic plot. If you’re a young girl who has just so happened to delve into the world of Twin Peaks, this film is definitely for you.
8. Sweetheart (2019) - Dir. JD Dillard
Sweetheart is one of the best monster movies that has been made in the past decade, and it has flown woefully under the radar. Dillard serves up a relatable and driven heroine in Jenn as she tries to overcome not only a deserted island and a monster but also the horrors of being doubted and gaslighted.
Many a young girl will identify with Jenn, because it’s not uncommon for girls and women to be brushed off by society and even by those they love dearly. This is a film with a lot of heart and a lot of brilliance. It’s a pulse-pounding masterpiece.
9. The Final Girls (2015) - Dir. Todd Strauss-Schulson
The Final Girls dips into meta horror, but it hits the viewer right in their feelings as they go from laughing one second to crying the next. This is the take on teen horror we have all been waiting for, as it deconstructs the slasher and takes a look at grief through the eyes of young Max.
Max is still grappling with the loss of her mother, and this thematic thread gives the film many layers. It's an altogether cathartic and hilarious good time. It might take a little bit to get into since it is geared toward more seasoned fans of horror, but it deals with teen girl issues in a realistic and empathetic way. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’ve found yourself watching a lot of slashers lately, or if you are intrigued by the sub genre.
10. Doctor Sleep (2019) - Dir. Mike Flanagan
Bear with me here. I am well aware Doctor Sleep is a sequel to The Shining and deals with an adult Danny Torrance. I also know some might not consider it a suitable pick for a newbie going into horror, but I wholly disagree. Yes, Dan Torrance is a big part of Doctor Sleep, but Abra Stone is a large part of it as well. Kubrick's version of The Shining is often one of the first movies suggested to those first discovering the genre. So, in many ways, Doctor Sleep absolutely belongs on this list.
The film deals with teenage rage and fear in interesting ways as Abra comes into her own as a powerful young woman. Abra’s world is dangerous and unfair, much like the real world itself. However, it has a message that girls shouldn’t hide their talents and gifts from this world, and that in itself is everything because they deserve every chance to shine.
Horror has a bit of a reputation for being a boy’s club, something that girls just aren’t interested in. Obviously, that’s a wholly untrue myth. I stand here as living proof (as my mother did before me) that horror is and should be for everyone: girls, boys, and nonbinary people alike.
Unfortunately, teen girls get left out of the conversation more than anyone, because films that cater to them often face massive fan backlash. For example, 2019’s Black Christmas remake from director Sophia Taka and writer April Wolfe was intended as a gift for teen girls. Takal and Wolfe had to field all kinds of online nastiness — ranging from death and rape threats to people writing ridiculous think pieces on why horror shouldn’t be political. (This is laughable at best, considering the original 1974 Black Christmas was hardly subtle in its pro-choice stance and political underpinnings.)
In the spirit of those like Takal and Wolfe who champion making horror accessible to young, female fans, I was inspired to create this series on the best starter films for teen girls just discovering the genre. We owe it to the next generation of women in horror to raise up their voices and make the genre more inclusive for everyone.
The films featured in this first edition focus on young adult women who are relatable or in relatable situations. Thus, they should appeal to younger, budding horror fans — without alienating more seasoned viewers. If you don’t see your favorite teen horror in this list, don’t fret! There’s a good chance it will be appear in a later installment.
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