Women in Horror: Current and Upcoming Projects

Here are some projects you can experience right now or in the near future.

* Braid (2019) - limited theatrical release and VOD



synopsis: Two wanted women decide to steal from a wealthy and mentally unstable friend who lives in a fantasy world. To get her money, the fugitives must take part in a deadly and perverse game of make-believe in a sprawling yet decaying estate. As things become increasingly hallucinatory and violent, the duo soon realize that obtaining the cash may be the least of their worries.

Braid looks insane in the best way possible. The needlepointed rules, the sadistic game, and Madeline Brewer as the villain combined make me so excited for the film. It seems like a mixture of Alice in Wonderland, Would You Rather, Intruders, and Perfect Host. I am excited to see Madeline Brewer after her impressive role in Cam and Sarah Hay after leading the show Flesh and Bone, which should have had more than one season. Writer-director Mitzi Peirone gives the film a unique look and combines some famliar tropes to create something new.

Braid has a limited theatrical release starting February 1st, so it's only playing at one theater near me late at night. However, it is readily available on VOD (Amazon has it for $5) and I can't wait to dive in.

* Tigers are Not Afraid (Vuelven) - close to getting distibution, film festival circuit



synopsis: Estrella is 10 years old and her mother never came home. She joins a gang of four homeless orphaned children struggling to survive in the wake of a deadly drug cartel and clings to bits of fantasy that provide her with 3 wishes.

Tigers Are Not Afraid was my favorite movie I saw last year. It didn't appear on my official top 13 list because it didn't get distribution yet. It's a beautiful, heartbreaking story of survival from the point of view of children and the modern answer to Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone. The drama elements are compelling in and of themselves, but the fantasy elements elevate the story. Fantasy here is more like original fairy tales with serious consequences and a reflection of reality. Writer-director Issa Lopez creates an atmospheric, awe inspiring film that will haunt you.

Lopez recently posted on Twitter that the film is hopefully close to getting distribution. I will definitely be posting when it's official.

* The Lodge - festival circuit

synopsis: In this psychologically chilling slow burn, a young woman and her reticent new stepchildren find themselves isolated in the family's remote winter cabin, locked away to drede up the mysteries of her dark past and the losses that seem to haunt them all.

I honestly don't know much about what the film is about. It's written and directed by duo Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala. They are also the writers and directors of Goodnight Mommy, one of the most chilling and tense films I've seen. There isn't a trailer to my knowledge, but I'm so excited to see what they have in store for us next. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on when it gets distribution or try to check it out at an LA film festival.

The Lodge played at the Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews.

Women in Horror: Upcoming Films Part 1

Last year, I chose films that I quickly saw and reviewed afterwards, so this time, I tried to pick movies that are a little further off. I'm especially excited about these films because they are all made by female directors.

* Raw, directed by Julia Ducournau



This is the cannibal film that has been making waves in the festival circuit since last year. The audience reactions are probably exaggerated, but I'm still excited to see it. It looks like a kind of coming of age movie where a woman becomes obsessed with meat (after being forced to eat it raw) that starts with raw chicken and ends at humans with some body horror thrown in for good measure. I always love cannibal and art house films, so I'm incredibly excited. It finally has a release date which is March 10.

* Prevenge, written and directed by Alice Lowe

Prevenge looks hilarious. A pregnant woman hears the voice of her unborn baby who commands her to kill people under threat of death. The humor is pitch dark and laugh out loud. It plays on the uncertainty of how the children will be and seems like a surrealistic delight. Prevenge comes out February 10th in the UK and the US release is to follow with no specific date released yet. Can't wait!

* The Lure, directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska



I can't believe this movie exists. A murderous mermaid movie that's also a musical??? Sign me up! It looks like it also blends humor with gory horror and fairy tale elements that involves a carnivorous pair of mermaid sisters in modern Poland. At the very least, The Lure will be an unforgettable and unique theater experience. It's currently playing in New York City with no word on a VOD or larger theater release.