If these chillers from the new coven of female directors are anything to go by, something wicked this way comes. The rich and varied history of women-directed horror can be traced all the way back to the dawn of cinema, when Alice Guy-Blaché was spooking audiences as early as 1903. But while much has been written about genre roles for women in front of the camera—whether as monsters or Final Girls—it’s only in recent years that the significant gaps in scholarship on female authorship have started to be filled. A historical corrective when it comes to genre canons is gaining pace, amplified by a burgeoning wave of woman-directed horror cinema that seeks to reframe and subvert male-prescribed tropes, while tackling the cultural and industrial practices of what’s long been seen as a boys’ club.
These are films that seek to reclaim female agency, both in front of and behind the camera, privileging a woman’s perspective on everything from gender roles and sexuality, to motherhood and identity, all within a historically male-dominated genre context. Reconsidering horror mythos through a female gaze reasserts ownership of women’s trauma—a stubborn genre staple—challenging and complicating the very notion of victimhood. The titles in this collection are among the most innovative and creative horrors of recent years, and are as thematically bountiful and varied as the genre itself.

If these chillers from the new coven of female directors are anything to go by, something wicked this way comes. The rich and varied history of women-directed horror can be traced all the way back to the dawn of cinema, when Alice Guy-Blaché was spooking audiences as early as 1903. But while much has been written about genre roles for women in front of the camera&#8212;whether as monsters or Final Girls&#8212;it&#8217;s only in recent years that the significant gaps in scholarship on female authorship have started to be filled. A historical corrective when it comes to genre canons is gaining pace, amplified by a burgeoning wave of woman-directed horror cinema that seeks to reframe and subvert male-prescribed tropes, while tackling the cultural and industrial practices of what&#8217;s long been seen as a boys&#8217; club.
These are films that seek to reclaim female agency, both in front of and behind the camera, privileging a woman&#8217;s perspective on everything from gender roles and sexuality, to motherhood and identity, all within a historically male-dominated genre context. Reconsidering horror mythos through a female gaze reasserts ownership of women&#8217;s trauma&#8212;a stubborn genre staple&#8212;challenging and complicating the very notion of victimhood. The titles in this collection are among the most innovative and creative horrors of recent years, and are as thematically bountiful and varied as the genre itself.

The New Coven: A Female Horror Renaissance

THE NEW COVEN: A FEMALE HORROR RENAISSANCE

The horror film is in resurgence, with some of the most exciting work in the genre being done by women filmmakers. If these chillers from the new coven of female directors are anything to go by, something wicked this way comes.

The horror film is in resurgence, with some of the most exciting work in the genre being done by women filmmakers. If these chillers from the new coven of female directors are anything to go by, something wicked this way comes.

A Female Horror Renaissance

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A FEMALE HORROR RENAISSANCE

The New Coven:

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THE NEW COVEN:

Contains material that may not be suitable for children or young adults.