“Good for Her” Movies You Might Have Missed Pt. 2

A few weeks back, we wrote our first feature looking at the “Good for Her” subgenre in horror, and some of our favourite films from this category.

Erica and Charlotte are back to close out Women’s History Month with five more films that explore the multifaceted “Good for Her” subgenre in horror. Grab some popcorn and make sure to cheer for the girls!

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

Charlotte Spark

A melancholic beauty of a modern-day gothic tale in black and white capturing the feel from horrors dating back to the 1920’s. Set in an Iranian city totally breathing new life into the vampire genre with tales we normally see in the castles of Transylvania, totally shifting away from the typical stereotypes being more of a twisted fairytale. A vampire vigilante in a gender reversal power dynamic stalks men who assault and prey on women. It’s a heavy-hitting film with an interesting story to tell with women in this universe starting to reclaim their power.

Hellbender

Erica Vilkus

A girl’s coming-of-age story set against a backdrop of deep-rooted witchcraft and blood rituals. Hellbender is a great representation of a mother/daughter bond and how that relationship changes over time, especially through puberty and self-exploration. The teenage angst Izzy (Zelda Adams) feels toward her mother as she realizes the differences in her upbringing is something many women have gone through. Izzy’s mother also grapples with the relatable anxiety of raising a daughter and protecting her while allowing her to find her own way in the world. All sentiments that are so widely felt in the female experience but rarely shown so genuinely on screen, let alone in a horror movie. This is a surprisingly emotional, but also feel-good, tale with a tinge of darkness the horror girlies will appreciate.

American Mary

Charlotte Spark

When I think of good for her movies, American Mary is the first that comes to mind as an advocate for the Soska sisters. American Mary does not fail to meet expectations. Our protagonist Mary, played by the ever-wonderful Katharine Isabelle, plays a student in medical school that slowly descends into the seedy side of body modifications. With the men tutoring her then taking advantage of her in a horrific way, Mary goes down the path of total revenge. That ends with her having to pay a high price. Consumed by her need to inflict as much torture on those who wronged her Mary really only sees red. With captivating gore and an interesting concept, American Mary is well worth a watch.

Resurrection

Erica Vilkus

This one is for the psychological thriller fans who don’t mind a bit of body horror. It’s a heart-wrenching journey through the mind of Margaret (Rebecca Hall) who was subjected to extreme physical and mental cruelty, survived, and now has to face her abuser trying to come back for her. The abuse was so wrapped into the fact that the victim was a woman, from convincing her she owed her partner absolute servitude to attacking the bond between her and her child. The film does an incredible job showing the toll domestic violence takes on victims well after the actual abuse has ended. Margaret’s whole life is guided by her trauma that, in this story, is only released by pure rage.

Starry Eyes

Charlotte Spark

Making a deal with the devil just to climb up the Hollywood ladder just for a drop of fame is something most women on the casting couch might just be pushed to do. Being manipulated, forced to perform acts or made uncomfortable is a story we know all too well. Our protagonist Sarah (played by Alex Essoe) is surrounded by friends who at every point attempt to steal her limelight or belittle her. Eventually, she gives into a sadistic cult in a squirm-inducing audition she begins a change physically and mentally with some insane body horror. Starry Eyes‘ take on this Hollywood obsession is really gut-punching. Sarah’s desperation carries this film as she strives to be on the silver screen, in the end, she gets her dream and her revenge leaving her coming out on top.

Let us know in the comments which “good for her” horror movies hold the most impact for you.