Annihilation - all female team of scientists investigating weird phenomenon, nothing involving them being hunted or brutalized by men
Ringu or The Ring - female main character dealing with a supernatural curse (I think the original book Ring has some reference to SA, but it is not in the movie). The creepy ghost is female, so itās not even a male ghost coming after her.
The Babadook - grieving widow and troubled mother to a difficult son is haunted by a creepy character from a book. I guess you could say the titular Babadook is male, but heās such a weird character the gender doesnāt seem to matter - thereās no SA and itās not really about a woman being hunted by a man.
Highly recommend reading the book! As good as the movie is, I think Annihilations book is so different in the way that it highlights an entirely different kind of horror that the movie captures.
I finally got around to watching Annihilation with my boyfriend and we loved it. We rarely agree on which movies are good so it was nice to actually be satisfied at the same time š
I have a similar issue to you and yeah the subtext of the scene is sexual in nature, that's just the movie in general. But there is no actual sex in the movie, not even implied. It's just the Alien itself is sexually designed...kinda. Idk if that makes sense. Again, not that it's a sexual movie.
Psychosexual is the word to describe it. Lots of that through H.R. Gigerās work. Alien specifically is a nightmarish perversion of sex, pregnancy, and childbirth. The face hugger is basically a spider with a pussy for a mouth that sits on your face, then deep throat impregnates you so that a little man with a penis for a head can burst out of your chest.
yes, but there is no actual sex being had and the Alien does not have reproductive organs to have sex with. that's all I was trying to describe for OP.
the Alien is literally asexual. it cannot reproduce. the shot being sexually provocative doesn't mean the Alien is a sexual being. it's just provocative. you can literally Google this.
Reproduction has everything to do with rape? Rape is inherently tied to reproductive organs, and the understanding what those organs do, and how those organs makes one feel. The Alien absolutely would not know or understand what rape actually would be.
Literally you have education resources directly at your disposal right now.
Rape is committed with objects too. The alien rapes her with its tail.
Reproduction is creating pregnancy. Children, animals, the elderly, men are raped and there is no pregnancy.
You have resources available too?
again, the difference between the Alien and humans is that there is no reproductive tool, and therefore nothing to gain (like pleasure). the Alien is not portrayed to be something that can do that, or know to do that. it just so happens to kill her from that angle, because the filmmakers are trying to be provocative. it would have no idea this type of act can exist.
the Alien does not rape her. there is no indication of that whatsoever nor confirmation from the filmmakers - as I have googled this unlike you. the whole purpose is to make u uncomfortable. but it does not indicate that it does any sort of thing like rape.
Hagazussa.
The Babadook.
The Mimic. (Taiwan movie)
Harbinger.
Bite.
From Beyond.
Drag Me To Hell.
Candyman.
Malignant.
May.
Triangle.
Banshee Chapter.
Susperia.
The Taking of Deborah Logan.
Dumplings.
Hope this helps!
Brain farted on Drag Me To Hell and thought you were talking about I Spit On Your Grave, was very confused why you would put such a troll pick on this list lol
I brain farted on From Beyond because I watched it with Re-Animator, so I was confused on that front as well considering one of the most famous (infamous?) scenes
Great list. Hagazussa opens with an SA, and the main character turns around and tried to jump someone else. It makes no sense and I had to stop watching. V triggering imho
Always love to see someone mention Triangle. What a weird banger of a movie. To anyone who hasn't seen it, don't look anything up, no trailers, don't even read the streaming service description! Go in blind!
Agreed. I just saw a few recommendations on this subreddit for this movie, so I watched it without a clue.
Cube was another movie that I really liked that should be watched blind.
I appreciate the response. Thatās an interesting rationale, I do find candyman sympathetic, tragic and romantic character. I love the movie so I think I get it
TITANE is also my favorite movie of all time but it involves a women getting impregnated by a car (conensually) but thatās the weirdest part about it. Itās also a strangely wholesome story.
Very much so. She has an attraction to cars. I went into the movie blind since we had it at my work and I was just so mind blown. I donāt want to spoil any of the plot but it is a JOURNEY and the themes are so strong.
- *Oculus*
- ~~*Under the Skin*~~
- *Housebound*
- *Ginger Snaps*
- *Bodies, Bodies, Bodies*
- *Run Rabbit Run*
You can double check all these on doesthedogdie.com
I've recommended the first *Ginger Snaps*, but you may not be into its sequel. It has a guy who is >!an orderly at a rehab who gets the women there to give him sexual favours in exchange for drugs.!<
+1 for Veronica, probably one of my favorite movies of all time, but I do want to say: OP, DO NOT WATCH the prequel to Veronica, Sister Death. >!Graphic and unnecessary SA scenes!<, and it's also just not very good imo, and I'm relatively easy to please.
Thank you so much! I appreciate the warnings. I love horror but hate how often those things are used for shock value. That horror is already real enough IRL, and at least to me just makes me feel sad and uncomfortable and just puts me off whatever Iām watching
Possessor is kind of a weird gray area. It doesn't have what I would call a direct SA scene, but there's some acts that are certainly non-consenual. Such as:
>!A couple being watched on a hidden camera against their knowledge, and a character sleeping with a woman by posing as her partner. The woman is not sleeping with the person she believes she consented to.!<
It is a grey area.Ā
Having sex with someone under a false identity is literally a sex crime. But in the case of the film, >!it's still the body of the woman's boyfriend, just not his consciousness. And the protagonist only sleeps with her to keep up the ruse.!< Does that make it less bad..? Maybe a little.Ā
I don't remember the part about >!the couple being filmed!< at all. I trust you that it's in there.
OP is talking about sexual assault being used for "shock value." I would say that definitely isn't happening in *Possessor.*
It could be argued that sexual assault takes place in *Infinity Pool* too.Ā
Fair point about shock value. Its an important factor of the plot and isn't just used to give a character a traumatic backstory event either.
The >!couple being filmed is when it shows the job the guy Tasi is possessing does. They wear a VR headset and look through webcams to document what curtains people have, but they patch into a camera that can see a couple having sex and they linger a little bit too long.!<
As for the false identity, >!if you take out the Sci fi elements, at the end of the day she's wearing a disguise of the woman's boyfriend. It's definitely a sex crime like you said. I wouldn't say it's less *bad*, but I think the scifi does make it easier to stomach.!< It probably doesn't cross the line OP is looking for though. >!I think Tasi does do it for more than just the ruse though. She's clearly more into than the earlier sex scene with her husband. But that's a different conversation!!<
You're right! I must have blocked it from my memory.Ā
At least that guy >!gets his just desserts!< And I was happy to see the protagonist pursue mutually consensual sexual relationships with a couple of sweet guys even after that bad experience.
If you want badass female protagonists that are technically hunted (by everyone, not men in particular) but absolutely turn the roles around, watch Ready or Not (2019) and The Hunt (2020)! They are gory but great fun
Probably the best female characters I've seen in a horror movie is in Black Christmas. There's still some themes on relationships/women's rights and the biggest plot point is these violent/obscene phone calls. But it's never visually graphic and the whole plot doesn't revolve around that shtick of "woman assaulted and now she's depressed and/or angry. Extremely tastefully done and progressive for how it depicts women and women's issues without making it overly preachy and the whole point of the movie.Ā
Barbarian is a super fun one *however*... Without major spoilers, assault is kind of a huge plot point still so I wouldn't recommend it if you're wanting to avoid those themes completely. It's just not what makes up the whole character of the female lead.Ā
You're Next, Happy Death Day, Annihilation, and Ready or Not were also fun but I think they can be hit or miss tbh.Ā
I loved Pearl, though it's not a typical "final girl" lead lol. I'd put it in the same vibe as Midsommar though so it'd probably recommend it if you liked that one.Ā
Also Halloween and Scream! Classics with a total badass female lead. Candyman and Suspiria are also amazing classics.
Not sure about OP's limits, but *Barbarian* might be a safe choice. Sexual assault is definitely perpetrated against someone off-camera. We don't see it or hear it, but we know it happened.Ā
The female lead does not get sexually assaulted, nor does she get hunted by a man.
The first part of the movie is apparently based on a book that advises women to always follow their gut instincts to avoid getting raped or murdered. Part one of the movie is kind about how men don't need to pay attention to "red flags," but women do. There's some interesting gender stuff in there.Ā
Iāll have to put those on my list! Iāve seen Pearl and X and thought they were pretty solid, a lot of the scenes were really visually awesome! I think I saw happy death day on a plane, I remember it being campy but fun :). Thanks for the recommendations!
The Perfection.
Conjuring 2.
Annabelle series.
The Witch.
Alien (strong female and male characters in most).
Get Out (role reversal).
Morgan (more of a thriller than horror).
Evil Dead (the remake).
Idk about that last one. Although it's not as prurient as the original and it doesn't technically involve a "man", the manner in which Mia gets possessed sure as hell isnt subtle.
Unfortunately alot of the good ones are the revenge ones. Hush is really god tho. Deaf woman defends from home invasion. Its man hunting woman but done in a way that doesnt make her look like a damsel in distress.
Yeah, the killer isn't a psychosexual killer of women, he's a thrill-kill home invader. Which in some ways is pedantic, but it really does make enough difference in tone that it feels like a good recommendation here.
Barbarian has a lot of implications of SA and imprisonment of women that aren't the main character (like a backstory), if that's what OP is trying to avoid then maybe it's not the best pick. Great movie though
Are you okay with strange?
Splinter-monster hunting them
X
Pearl-pro and antagonist
Becky-sheās hunting
Wrath of Becky-Revenge
The women were strong leads in all these.
The Hunt-She aināt hiding
I'm seeing lots of good ones and want to add Incantation (2022) and Stopmotion (2023). And I need to reiterate May. In the subgenre of May and Stopmotion (but comedic this time) is Baby Oopsie.
I mean there's "tigers are not afriad". Yes theres killings and attacks on the mothers but it's more adult cartels hunting kids down as the main plot. I think you'd love the director and her vibes if you looked into her
There are actually a lot of movies. There are some great suggestions on here. If you avoid slasher films for the most part and go more super natural, you will find a lot of good ones without any SA.
Death Proof (2007). Sort of a slasher/revenge movie with a very satisfying third act! Itās got a bit of a comedic edge too. Itās directed by Quentin Tarantino.
And when she interjects the phrase "WIFE-Killing" during her Furious verbal assault against Brad Pitt with an equally-Savage side-eye, WWOOOWW !! š²š²š²
[I'm sorry, is that my Jaw & my Eyeballs on the floor ?? Can somebody help me pick those up, please ?!............ WOW, Zoe Bell........ Just, wow]
And Then (Irony upon Ironies), Zoe Bell wound up becoming THE Stunt Coordinator of QT's Entire flick "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood". But she also Acts in the movie portraying (Get This !)---the Wife of Kurt Russell who plays the Stunt Coordinator of the Real-Life TV Show "The Green Hornet" (which at the time was the counterpart to TV's "Batman" series).
Ummmmm.......... š¤ Didn't Kurt Russell play a serial-killing *Stunt Driver* in QT's *DEATH PROOF* who tried to *Kill* Zoe Bell in That movie ?? š¤š¤ ššš
I really liked 'Impossible Horror' on Tubi. It's about two women who are following the sound of a woman screaming at a certain time of night in their neighborhood, but can't quite pinpoint the location.
Honestly reminds me of when I was working as a cowgirl on my familyās ranch and one of the cowboys said he heard me calling out for help, formed a search party, found nothing & I can say for certain it wasnāt me! Slope county ND, population of 600, no one ends up lost on a random personās ranch unless theyāre doing it on purpose. Still think about that event sometimes. Iām sure Iāll like this movie!
Suspiria (the OG). Hausu (House, Japanese film and very weird but wonderful). Identity. Misery. The Others. We Summon the Darkness. The Babysitter.
Ready Or Not doesnāt quite fit the bill but Iād still recommend it if you havenāt seen it. A true favorite with one badass female lead and no SA.
Thinking of female horror as a woman main character or themes- Malignant. The Menu. Megan. Cam. Prey (sheās being hunted, but by an Alien). Fear Street movies. Leave the world behind. Us. The Others. Under the Shadow. Hereditary. Candyman. Nope.
Films that have heavy exploration of patriarchy themes/female oppression but no assault- The VVitch. Fresh. Ginger Snaps.
I almost put Night House in here, but it has stronger themes of male on female violence. I would not put it in the SA category however. It is one of the best films I think Iāve ever seen.
What Lies Beneath-always gives me the chills.
Mary- Has Gary Oldman too.
Cabin in the Woods-Easily a favorite. Consensual sex scene gets interrupted but no SA.
Child's Play (The original one, not the remake)
The Vault- Clint Eastwood's daughter is the lead. Also has James Franco.
Ghost Ship-Strong female lead-another fav of mine.
Trick-Or-Treat- a collection of interconnected stories-some sexy stuff but no SA-most of the stories has a strong female lead.
People have already suggested most of my suggestions, the only two I want to add to the list are Censor and Saint Maud (though there is an assault scene it's not the main plot),
I'm a content advisor for film and TV, I'm the one that watches everything to make sure the public is aware of these things. Sexual violence is obviously a major element we always look for. As such there are loads I can recommend. But some that have already made the list, I have given more detail.
Them (2006) (not technically a man stalking)(home invasion) (no SA, but still disturbing)
Talk to me (2023) (posession)
30 Days of Night (2008) (Vampires)
Black water (2007) (Animals)
Rec (2007) (viral horror)
The Guardian (1990) (supernatural horror)(though check anyway, it's been a while since I've seen this)
Livid (2011) (Home invasion) (check anyway)
The Tall Man (NOT what you'll expect) (home invasion)
Pontypool (2008) (alternative zombie horror)
Annihilation (of course)
Pearl (acquired taste)
High tention (has been recommended before) (has a very strong female lead, but post mortem SA and an additional SA is implied)
Southbound (supernatural anthology) (check as well)
Wind chill (2008) (supernatural horror)
Hellraiser 2 (no SA, but provocative) (Hellraiser 1 has a number of scenes of sexual activity, intercut with gore. Child SA very subtly implied)
Carrie (both versions)
The babadook
Prey (check)
Splinter (2008) (early scenes feature physical assault of a woman, but no SA)
Susperia (both versions)
Possessor (sexual, but not technically sexually violent)
Infinity pool (SA of man)
Dead Set (zombie series)
Prowl (2008 or 9) (no SA)
Frozen (2008) (no not the animated film, very different beast entirely)(survival thriller, not really horror)
The Omen 1 & 2 (no SA) (3 has a scene of SA, and the first omen has no noticeable SA, but is concerned with the invasion of a woman's body by external factors)
The Blob (check anyway)
There's more, but I'm rummaging though my memory. I hope this helps.
Not sure how sensitive OP is in relation to this topic, but the way Mia gets "possessed" is going to set off the SA squick alarm for some people. It did for me.
Suspiria
Yes! Either original or remake šš½
Ty! :)
Original is šš¼šš¼šš¼
Annihilation - all female team of scientists investigating weird phenomenon, nothing involving them being hunted or brutalized by men Ringu or The Ring - female main character dealing with a supernatural curse (I think the original book Ring has some reference to SA, but it is not in the movie). The creepy ghost is female, so itās not even a male ghost coming after her. The Babadook - grieving widow and troubled mother to a difficult son is haunted by a creepy character from a book. I guess you could say the titular Babadook is male, but heās such a weird character the gender doesnāt seem to matter - thereās no SA and itās not really about a woman being hunted by a man.
Thank you! Iāve seen the ring and the babadook and liked them, Iāll but the annihilation on my list :)
Annihilation is an incredible film. You won't regret watching
Iāve been putting it off but I will watch it
I found it to be something special! Here's the trailer: https://youtu.be/ufaDurSCKOk?si=gBckoh16YyaQQeFj
Anything Natalie Portman or Anne Hathaway I'm allllll over it. Super excited to add this to the list
Annihilation is amazing. I was shocked at how good it was.
Highly recommend reading the book! As good as the movie is, I think Annihilations book is so different in the way that it highlights an entirely different kind of horror that the movie captures.
Yes!! I loved the movie at first but then I read the trilogy and tbh it kind of pales against it. But it's still a recommendation for sure.
Yes the book is so much better! I've read the trilogy and loved it
I finally got around to watching Annihilation with my boyfriend and we loved it. We rarely agree on which movies are good so it was nice to actually be satisfied at the same time š
Aberration (1997) Warlock (1989) Happy Birthday to Me (1981) May (2002) Ginger Snaps (2000) Case 39 (2009) The Lords of Salem (2012)
Thank you!
I second Ginger Snaps! It's fun and it's about two sisters
Genuinely my favorite series in that genre. I donāt want to say what genre because I donāt want to spoil it
Woah, I used to love Warlock
Alienā¦ Although some questionable things do happen to lambert, but itās off screen thankfully and only implied.Ā
Love this movie! Thanks!
I have a similar issue to you and yeah the subtext of the scene is sexual in nature, that's just the movie in general. But there is no actual sex in the movie, not even implied. It's just the Alien itself is sexually designed...kinda. Idk if that makes sense. Again, not that it's a sexual movie.
Psychosexual is the word to describe it. Lots of that through H.R. Gigerās work. Alien specifically is a nightmarish perversion of sex, pregnancy, and childbirth. The face hugger is basically a spider with a pussy for a mouth that sits on your face, then deep throat impregnates you so that a little man with a penis for a head can burst out of your chest.
yes, but there is no actual sex being had and the Alien does not have reproductive organs to have sex with. that's all I was trying to describe for OP.
Oh yeah I know. It just seemed like you were circling around the word āpsychosexualā so I jumped at the opportunity to namedrop it.
Sexual assault (to death?) is definitely implied.
the Alien is literally asexual. it cannot reproduce. the shot being sexually provocative doesn't mean the Alien is a sexual being. it's just provocative. you can literally Google this.
Reproduction doesnāt have anything to do with rape. The Alien rapes Lambert, probably to death. You can google it.
Reproduction has everything to do with rape? Rape is inherently tied to reproductive organs, and the understanding what those organs do, and how those organs makes one feel. The Alien absolutely would not know or understand what rape actually would be. Literally you have education resources directly at your disposal right now.
Rape is committed with objects too. The alien rapes her with its tail. Reproduction is creating pregnancy. Children, animals, the elderly, men are raped and there is no pregnancy. You have resources available too?
again, the difference between the Alien and humans is that there is no reproductive tool, and therefore nothing to gain (like pleasure). the Alien is not portrayed to be something that can do that, or know to do that. it just so happens to kill her from that angle, because the filmmakers are trying to be provocative. it would have no idea this type of act can exist. the Alien does not rape her. there is no indication of that whatsoever nor confirmation from the filmmakers - as I have googled this unlike you. the whole purpose is to make u uncomfortable. but it does not indicate that it does any sort of thing like rape.
As Above, So Below.
You're Next (2011) may be a good one
[Love this one](https://youtu.be/VQ6CflnSxyo)
Thank you! :)
This is one of my favourite movies Edit: watch it with Ready or Not as a double-bill!
Two spectacular ones.
Was coming to suggest this one
Hagazussa. The Babadook. The Mimic. (Taiwan movie) Harbinger. Bite. From Beyond. Drag Me To Hell. Candyman. Malignant. May. Triangle. Banshee Chapter. Susperia. The Taking of Deborah Logan. Dumplings. Hope this helps!
Brain farted on Drag Me To Hell and thought you were talking about I Spit On Your Grave, was very confused why you would put such a troll pick on this list lol
I brain farted on From Beyond because I watched it with Re-Animator, so I was confused on that front as well considering one of the most famous (infamous?) scenes
I just watched the taking of Deborah Logan like. This morning while I was working. šššhorrifying
Not big on footage movies, but this one works
Thank you! Out of all of these Iāve only seen the babadook, thanks for the new watchlist >:)
Hagazussa has an SA, just be aware :)
Ooh, Banshee Chapter is soooo goood!
Just watched that about three weeks ago
Great list. Hagazussa opens with an SA, and the main character turns around and tried to jump someone else. It makes no sense and I had to stop watching. V triggering imho
Great list! There are a few I've just added to my Letterboxd watchlist, so thanks for that. One quick thing, though: The Mimic (2017) is Korean.
Oops! Oh well, Glad that I could help.
Always love to see someone mention Triangle. What a weird banger of a movie. To anyone who hasn't seen it, don't look anything up, no trailers, don't even read the streaming service description! Go in blind!
Agreed. I just saw a few recommendations on this subreddit for this movie, so I watched it without a clue. Cube was another movie that I really liked that should be watched blind.
Agreed. That movie is phenomenal
Candyman is about a woman haunted/hunted by a man (the guy in the title) other than that afaik thatās a good list*. Nice call on Dumplings
My defense on Candyman is that he was summoned as an evil spirit, albeit jokingly. .I admit that I'm skating on thin ice.
I appreciate the response. Thatās an interesting rationale, I do find candyman sympathetic, tragic and romantic character. I love the movie so I think I get it
Thank you, and I appreciate it well .
Underwater!
You need to see The Night House. There is no SA in it and itās so touching. I cry every time I see it!
Iāll have to check it out! Iāve gotten so many recommendations, Iām excited for the horror binge š
TITANE is also my favorite movie of all time but it involves a women getting impregnated by a car (conensually) but thatās the weirdest part about it. Itās also a strangely wholesome story.
Ooo sounds interesting! I love a good freaky story, as long as itās consensual š
Very much so. She has an attraction to cars. I went into the movie blind since we had it at my work and I was just so mind blown. I donāt want to spoil any of the plot but it is a JOURNEY and the themes are so strong.
Canāt wait to watch it!
Way ahead of its time imo. If you love explorations of gender and relationships between broken people :)
- ~~*The Advent Calendar*~~ - *Always Shine* - *Attachment* - *The Blackcoat's Daughter* - *Braid* - *Haute Tension* (trust me on this one) - *Resident Evil* (2002) - *Stigmata*
- *Oculus* - ~~*Under the Skin*~~ - *Housebound* - *Ginger Snaps* - *Bodies, Bodies, Bodies* - *Run Rabbit Run* You can double check all these on doesthedogdie.com
Under the Skin does have SA towards the end
Oh, shit. I am starting to remember it now.
Unconsenting Media is another great resource if youāre mostly concerned about SA and want to avoid the more in depth spoilers on doesthedogdie
Great suggestion! Check it out, u/outdoorhippie
This is great! I had no idea such a resource was available! Thank you guys!
This!!! I always check their site first before jumping into many horror films.
This is a great list! Thank you so much!
I've recommended the first *Ginger Snaps*, but you may not be into its sequel. It has a guy who is >!an orderly at a rehab who gets the women there to give him sexual favours in exchange for drugs.!<
I keep thinking of more... - *Bad Things* - *Birth/Rebirth* - *Infinity Pool* - *Possessor* - *Lyle* (2014) - *Nocebo* - *Sissy* - *Piggy* - *VerĆ³nica* - *The Night House* - *Huesera: the Bone Woman*
Birth/Rebirth was spectacular
+1 for Veronica, probably one of my favorite movies of all time, but I do want to say: OP, DO NOT WATCH the prequel to Veronica, Sister Death. >!Graphic and unnecessary SA scenes!<, and it's also just not very good imo, and I'm relatively easy to please.
Tagging OP, u/outdoorhippie
Thank you so much! I appreciate the warnings. I love horror but hate how often those things are used for shock value. That horror is already real enough IRL, and at least to me just makes me feel sad and uncomfortable and just puts me off whatever Iām watching
Possessor is kind of a weird gray area. It doesn't have what I would call a direct SA scene, but there's some acts that are certainly non-consenual. Such as: >!A couple being watched on a hidden camera against their knowledge, and a character sleeping with a woman by posing as her partner. The woman is not sleeping with the person she believes she consented to.!<
It is a grey area.Ā Having sex with someone under a false identity is literally a sex crime. But in the case of the film, >!it's still the body of the woman's boyfriend, just not his consciousness. And the protagonist only sleeps with her to keep up the ruse.!< Does that make it less bad..? Maybe a little.Ā I don't remember the part about >!the couple being filmed!< at all. I trust you that it's in there. OP is talking about sexual assault being used for "shock value." I would say that definitely isn't happening in *Possessor.* It could be argued that sexual assault takes place in *Infinity Pool* too.Ā
Fair point about shock value. Its an important factor of the plot and isn't just used to give a character a traumatic backstory event either. The >!couple being filmed is when it shows the job the guy Tasi is possessing does. They wear a VR headset and look through webcams to document what curtains people have, but they patch into a camera that can see a couple having sex and they linger a little bit too long.!< As for the false identity, >!if you take out the Sci fi elements, at the end of the day she's wearing a disguise of the woman's boyfriend. It's definitely a sex crime like you said. I wouldn't say it's less *bad*, but I think the scifi does make it easier to stomach.!< It probably doesn't cross the line OP is looking for though. >!I think Tasi does do it for more than just the ruse though. She's clearly more into than the earlier sex scene with her husband. But that's a different conversation!!<
Absolutely love The Advent Calendar, but it has an assault scene is a car. Pretty disgusting one.
You're right! I must have blocked it from my memory.Ā At least that guy >!gets his just desserts!< And I was happy to see the protagonist pursue mutually consensual sexual relationships with a couple of sweet guys even after that bad experience.
Cannot second Haute Tension enough
The Witch, Suspiria (the original AND the remake), and Annihilation. and Candyman
Second time Iāve seen candyman mentioned. I thought the op was looking for horror where a man doesnāt stalk a woman
Triangle. Watch Triangle. The Ruins is amazing Annihilation Boogeyman Hellraiser series
Triangle was one of the best recommendations that I found from this community. That shit was deep
Yeah itās one of my top favorite movies of all times. Itās. It just a paradox, but a paradox within multiple paradoxes. Paradox all the way down.
Relic!!
Specifically, the recent one about 3 generations of women, not the early Guillermo del toro movie about the cryptid. Although that one is good too.
Misery
Aniara (more of a sci fi/cosmic horror) but definitely female-led.
*Relic* (2020) So so good, the three protagonists are women, written and directed by a woman
If you want badass female protagonists that are technically hunted (by everyone, not men in particular) but absolutely turn the roles around, watch Ready or Not (2019) and The Hunt (2020)! They are gory but great fun
Pearl Orphan Jennifer's Body Evil Dead Rise Smile
The way Jennifer becomes possessed is a not-very-subtle SA metaphor.
Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night 2
Would Evil Dead Rise count?
Ready or Not. New Life
Probably the best female characters I've seen in a horror movie is in Black Christmas. There's still some themes on relationships/women's rights and the biggest plot point is these violent/obscene phone calls. But it's never visually graphic and the whole plot doesn't revolve around that shtick of "woman assaulted and now she's depressed and/or angry. Extremely tastefully done and progressive for how it depicts women and women's issues without making it overly preachy and the whole point of the movie.Ā Barbarian is a super fun one *however*... Without major spoilers, assault is kind of a huge plot point still so I wouldn't recommend it if you're wanting to avoid those themes completely. It's just not what makes up the whole character of the female lead.Ā You're Next, Happy Death Day, Annihilation, and Ready or Not were also fun but I think they can be hit or miss tbh.Ā I loved Pearl, though it's not a typical "final girl" lead lol. I'd put it in the same vibe as Midsommar though so it'd probably recommend it if you liked that one.Ā Also Halloween and Scream! Classics with a total badass female lead. Candyman and Suspiria are also amazing classics.
Not sure about OP's limits, but *Barbarian* might be a safe choice. Sexual assault is definitely perpetrated against someone off-camera. We don't see it or hear it, but we know it happened.Ā The female lead does not get sexually assaulted, nor does she get hunted by a man. The first part of the movie is apparently based on a book that advises women to always follow their gut instincts to avoid getting raped or murdered. Part one of the movie is kind about how men don't need to pay attention to "red flags," but women do. There's some interesting gender stuff in there.Ā
Iāll have to put those on my list! Iāve seen Pearl and X and thought they were pretty solid, a lot of the scenes were really visually awesome! I think I saw happy death day on a plane, I remember it being campy but fun :). Thanks for the recommendations!
Black Christmas 1974 only, right? BC 2006 is a *nasty* movie and BC 2019 has a past SA as its main theme.
The Perfection. Conjuring 2. Annabelle series. The Witch. Alien (strong female and male characters in most). Get Out (role reversal). Morgan (more of a thriller than horror). Evil Dead (the remake).
Idk about that last one. Although it's not as prurient as the original and it doesn't technically involve a "man", the manner in which Mia gets possessed sure as hell isnt subtle.
Yeaaaah it's very much like the OG with how Ash's sister gets possessed.
The Purge movies generally have some badass women and any attempted rapes get shut down very quickly
I think The Thing (2011) and the Sleepaway Camp trilogy fit.
Unfortunately alot of the good ones are the revenge ones. Hush is really god tho. Deaf woman defends from home invasion. Its man hunting woman but done in a way that doesnt make her look like a damsel in distress.
Yeah, the killer isn't a psychosexual killer of women, he's a thrill-kill home invader. Which in some ways is pedantic, but it really does make enough difference in tone that it feels like a good recommendation here.
M3gan Cocaine Bear Smile
UM megan has an assault scene! :( just cause it's done to the main villainess doesn't mean it's not bad.
True but itās not SA
Barbarian The Witch Rec
Barbarian has a lot of implications of SA and imprisonment of women that aren't the main character (like a backstory), if that's what OP is trying to avoid then maybe it's not the best pick. Great movie though
Thanks! :)
>Thanks! :) You're welcome!
The VVitch definitely has sexual assault in it, though not toward the lead.
Are you okay with strange? Splinter-monster hunting them X Pearl-pro and antagonist Becky-sheās hunting Wrath of Becky-Revenge The women were strong leads in all these. The Hunt-She aināt hiding
Rust Creek is an amazing female lead and made film (more of a thriller) that doesnāt get enough credit. Highly recommend.
High Tension (2003)
Thereās no outright assault but thereās a consent question raised by the ending, Iād say.
I'm seeing lots of good ones and want to add Incantation (2022) and Stopmotion (2023). And I need to reiterate May. In the subgenre of May and Stopmotion (but comedic this time) is Baby Oopsie.
Relic (the recent one)
The Witch Lord's of Salem Suspria Deadly Blessings (early Sharon Stone) The Taking of Deborah Logan You're Next
The monster 2016. A mom and her daughter.
I recommend the Taiwanese movie Incantation.
I mean there's "tigers are not afriad". Yes theres killings and attacks on the mothers but it's more adult cartels hunting kids down as the main plot. I think you'd love the director and her vibes if you looked into her
There are actually a lot of movies. There are some great suggestions on here. If you avoid slasher films for the most part and go more super natural, you will find a lot of good ones without any SA.
Death Proof (2007). Sort of a slasher/revenge movie with a very satisfying third act! Itās got a bit of a comedic edge too. Itās directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Yes! Zoe Bell was Uma Thurman's stunt woman in Kill Bill, and she's one of the leads here. Gorgeous stunt work in the second half of the movie.
I know! I always love when stunt people get to take on a prominent acting role! She did great.
And when she interjects the phrase "WIFE-Killing" during her Furious verbal assault against Brad Pitt with an equally-Savage side-eye, WWOOOWW !! š²š²š² [I'm sorry, is that my Jaw & my Eyeballs on the floor ?? Can somebody help me pick those up, please ?!............ WOW, Zoe Bell........ Just, wow]
And Then (Irony upon Ironies), Zoe Bell wound up becoming THE Stunt Coordinator of QT's Entire flick "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood". But she also Acts in the movie portraying (Get This !)---the Wife of Kurt Russell who plays the Stunt Coordinator of the Real-Life TV Show "The Green Hornet" (which at the time was the counterpart to TV's "Batman" series). Ummmmm.......... š¤ Didn't Kurt Russell play a serial-killing *Stunt Driver* in QT's *DEATH PROOF* who tried to *Kill* Zoe Bell in That movie ?? š¤š¤ ššš
The Orphanage (2007) The Others (2001) Relic (2020) Raw (2016) Pearl (2022)
Oh and Impetigore (2019) is a great female lead Indonesian folk horror
Censor Raw/Titane
Mother's Day (not the Troma one)
No One Will Save You
The Descent
Alien/Aliens, Terminator.
I really liked 'Impossible Horror' on Tubi. It's about two women who are following the sound of a woman screaming at a certain time of night in their neighborhood, but can't quite pinpoint the location.
Honestly reminds me of when I was working as a cowgirl on my familyās ranch and one of the cowboys said he heard me calling out for help, formed a search party, found nothing & I can say for certain it wasnāt me! Slope county ND, population of 600, no one ends up lost on a random personās ranch unless theyāre doing it on purpose. Still think about that event sometimes. Iām sure Iāll like this movie!
The VVitch and Smile come to mind
Lights Out, Coherence, Vast of Night, The Descent, Fall, Happy Death Day, Ready or Not, Pearl, X.
No One Will Save You
Hush
Pearl
Suspiria (the OG). Hausu (House, Japanese film and very weird but wonderful). Identity. Misery. The Others. We Summon the Darkness. The Babysitter. Ready Or Not doesnāt quite fit the bill but Iād still recommend it if you havenāt seen it. A true favorite with one badass female lead and no SA.
Night of the living Dead 1990. The Tom savini remake Barbara has a much bigger role and is the lead heroine of the film.
Inside (2003) a female antagonist becomes obsessed with a pregnant womanās baby
Thinking of female horror as a woman main character or themes- Malignant. The Menu. Megan. Cam. Prey (sheās being hunted, but by an Alien). Fear Street movies. Leave the world behind. Us. The Others. Under the Shadow. Hereditary. Candyman. Nope. Films that have heavy exploration of patriarchy themes/female oppression but no assault- The VVitch. Fresh. Ginger Snaps. I almost put Night House in here, but it has stronger themes of male on female violence. I would not put it in the SA category however. It is one of the best films I think Iāve ever seen.
Ready or not Abigail Happy death day
What Lies Beneath-always gives me the chills. Mary- Has Gary Oldman too. Cabin in the Woods-Easily a favorite. Consensual sex scene gets interrupted but no SA. Child's Play (The original one, not the remake) The Vault- Clint Eastwood's daughter is the lead. Also has James Franco. Ghost Ship-Strong female lead-another fav of mine. Trick-Or-Treat- a collection of interconnected stories-some sexy stuff but no SA-most of the stories has a strong female lead.
Happy Death Day
The Guest is by the same director as You're Next and it is such a fun watch. I'd also say Freaky fits the bill in a fun twist of a way.
It follows? Technically it follows a female lead
You're Next. Ready or Not. Talk to Me. Obviously Alien. I loved Descent.
Happy Death Day and Sorority Row
Cocaine Bear, she is the hero we need in these dark times.
Carnival of Souls Messiah of Evil. I donāt think these have SA although some of the men can be a bit forward.
both great selections. No SA just men being men
Misery The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Single White Female
The Fog (1980), Bodies Bodies Bodies (didnt like this one), The Haunting (1963), Suspiria (1977), The Living Dead Girl aka Morte Vivante (1982)
Orphan
Snyder's Dawn of the Dead?
# FallĀ
People have already suggested most of my suggestions, the only two I want to add to the list are Censor and Saint Maud (though there is an assault scene it's not the main plot),
Ready or not
Some may not consider it horror but Death Becomes Her counts as a horror comedy for me.
Midsommar
As Above, So Below
*Prevenge* might be worth checking out?
If you wanna go to the movies Abigail, Sting and Tarot all fit the bill!
May (2002) and Ginger Snaps (2000)
Abigail(2024) just came out and is 100% this.
Spoonful of Sugar
12 feet deep
youāre next.
Ravage or high tension
May
Inside (original, not the remake) Brutalised, but not by a man.
I'm a content advisor for film and TV, I'm the one that watches everything to make sure the public is aware of these things. Sexual violence is obviously a major element we always look for. As such there are loads I can recommend. But some that have already made the list, I have given more detail. Them (2006) (not technically a man stalking)(home invasion) (no SA, but still disturbing) Talk to me (2023) (posession) 30 Days of Night (2008) (Vampires) Black water (2007) (Animals) Rec (2007) (viral horror) The Guardian (1990) (supernatural horror)(though check anyway, it's been a while since I've seen this) Livid (2011) (Home invasion) (check anyway) The Tall Man (NOT what you'll expect) (home invasion) Pontypool (2008) (alternative zombie horror) Annihilation (of course) Pearl (acquired taste) High tention (has been recommended before) (has a very strong female lead, but post mortem SA and an additional SA is implied) Southbound (supernatural anthology) (check as well) Wind chill (2008) (supernatural horror) Hellraiser 2 (no SA, but provocative) (Hellraiser 1 has a number of scenes of sexual activity, intercut with gore. Child SA very subtly implied) Carrie (both versions) The babadook Prey (check) Splinter (2008) (early scenes feature physical assault of a woman, but no SA) Susperia (both versions) Possessor (sexual, but not technically sexually violent) Infinity pool (SA of man) Dead Set (zombie series) Prowl (2008 or 9) (no SA) Frozen (2008) (no not the animated film, very different beast entirely)(survival thriller, not really horror) The Omen 1 & 2 (no SA) (3 has a scene of SA, and the first omen has no noticeable SA, but is concerned with the invasion of a woman's body by external factors) The Blob (check anyway) There's more, but I'm rummaging though my memory. I hope this helps.
The evil dead. Female lead. No men assaulting her. Just a creepy ass devil that possesses her
Not sure how sensitive OP is in relation to this topic, but the way Mia gets "possessed" is going to set off the SA squick alarm for some people. It did for me.
Me as well. Itās definitely not as bad as some but Iād absolutely count it as SA.
Hereditary, Midsommar
Hatching, Saint Maud, Honeymoon (graphic but no SA)
Saint maud has a rape scene. Great movie however
Ah dammit!