13 Girl Culture Films To Watch During Monstober
Written by Daphne Bryant
It’s October 1st, which means we can finally start posting about Halloween on the blog! I’ve been watching a lot of films lately, so in the spirit of “girl culture”, I thought I’d put together my horror movie recommendations for the girls and the gays. Here are thirteen (wink) girl culture films to watch this Monstober!
P.S.: Spoilers! Beware!
1. Twitches (2005)
Rated PG
One of my favorite Halloween movies growing up was Twitches, a 2000s fantasy film based on a book series of the same name and released as a Disney Channel original movie. Twitches stars Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry, iconic sisters who play twin witches (get it) from a magical dimension called Coventry. Due to an evil entity plaguing Coventry, the twins’ royal mother has Alex (Tia) and Camryn (Tamera) sent to Earth and given up for adoption. When the two girls, who live completely opposite lives on Earth, finally reunite, they discover that they both have powers: the ability to prophesize through stories and the ability to sketch the future, respectively. This is a quintessential DCOM in my book, a sentimental comedy-drama complete with exciting spells, Y2K fashion, a mysterious villain and sensitive sisterhood that transcends the screen.
If you end up loving the first film, then you’ll be happy to know that a sequel, Twitches Too, was released in 2007 and is also available to stream!
2. Monster High: Ghouls Rule (2012)
Rated PG/TV-Y7
Y’all know I had to include a film from the Monster High universe, and what better film to include than Ghouls Rule, the Monster High Halloween movie. Literally: I’m pretty sure it’s the only one that’s actually set during Halloween. Essentially, main character Frankie Stein discovers that monsters and“ Normies” (AKA humans) used to spend Halloween together, is inspired, and rallies her friends to try and fight the present stigmas and get back to a place of mutual belonging and respect. The movie itself has some serious racism and xenophobia parallels, and tackles tough topics such as passing, hate crimes and the censorship of student rebellions really well.
I won’t spoil anymore of it for you, but I definitely think it’s one of the more thought-provoking movies in the Monster High franchise, and it’s also the perfect thing to watch if you’re craving some childhood nostalgia. #ILoveDolls
3. Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Rated R
In this comedy horror bombshell Megan Fox stars as Jennifer Check, a demonically possessed high school student who kills her male classmates and devours their flesh in order to survive. Jennifer’s Body is a cult classic, and has both iconic scenes and outfits! Like, if you’re looking to dress up as a hot man-hating Halloween character this year, definitely add Jennifer Check to your list of potential baddies. Fox’s co-star is Amanda Seyfried, who plays Jennifer’s bookworm best friend Anita“ Needy” Lesnicki. I’m sure sapphic readers will be happy to know that Needy and Jennifer’s relationship has been mercilessly queered, and in the film Jennifer attempts to seduce Needy by kissing her.
There is no shortage of fan edits or Tumblr fanfiction surrounding these two ladies, so you’ll have plenty of content to mull over even after the credits roll.
4. Girl vs. Monster (2012)
Rated TV-PG
Here’s another Disney Channel goodie! 2012’s Girl vs. Monster is a comedy horror film starring Olivia Holt as Skylar, a teenage girl who discovers on the eve of Halloween that she is a fifth-generation monster hunter. This is a movie I can vividly remember watching when I was younger, and amongst other things, it gave viewers one of the most memorable DCOM songs from the 2010s:“ Had Me At Hello.”
Something that I really love is that Girl vs. Monster isn’t just about a girl defeating an actual monster. It’s also about Skylar battling her own demons, specifically her fear of performing on stage. Her newfound mission to hunt monsters with her parents eventually leads her to overcome stage fright, and it’s a really motivating message, especially for young musicians. See, all you have to do is be courageous! And maybe also kill a monster or two…
5. Carrie (1976)
Rated R
The imagery from the supernatural horror film Carrie, which is the oldest film on my list, will always be legendary. I mean, I hear Carrie and I immediately see her in her queen crown, and then I see her with blood all over, face blank; these are truly iconic images. Adapted from Stephen King’s semi-epilosatory novel, Carrie is about a shy teenage girl who is constantly mocked and bullied at her school. She later develops the power of telekinesis and uses it to wreak vengeance on her tormentors. Carrie is pretty much the ultimate anti-bully film. Like, why didn’t they show this in class growing up? #Kidding!
On a real note though, this movie is pretty genius and resonates in an uncomfortable way. As Rotten Tomatoes puts it:“ Carrie is a horrifying look at high school cruelty, and teen angst -- and it brings us one of the most memorable and disturbing prom scenes in history.”
6. Bodies, Bodies, Bodies (2022)
Rated R
Sometimes the spooky season calls for a super ridiculous movie. Bodies Bodies Bodies is set at a house party, where friends play a murder in the dark-style game called Bodies Bodies Bodies, and as I’m sure you can imagine, things go wrong very quickly. The black comedy film is directed and written by female filmmakers, which is pretty fucking cool.
What I love most about Bodies Bodies Bodies is that it’s not afraid to be cringe, and it unapologetically satirizes Gen Z culture. Everything that goes down is a metaphor, and progressive, political language shapes the script, forcing the audience member to laugh at themselves and their own hypocrisy. There are some pretty great jump scares too ;)
7. Happy Death Day (2017)
Rated PG-13
This Groundhog Day-style film has one of my favorite horror movie covers ever, a rose cake with a bloody knife stabbed right through it (#foreshadowing). Maybe I just really like cake, but I also think the premise of Happy Death Day itself is really engaging. Happy Death Day is a black comedy slasher following a college student named Tree, who is murdered on the night of her birthday and begins reliving the day repeatedly, until she eventually decides enough is enough and sets out to find the killer and stop her death.
The backdrop of a corrupted sorority allows Jessica Rothe to play a point blank mean girl who, in the process of solving her own murder, also discovers that she’s sort of a shitty person. It’s honestly incredibly refreshing to have a main character who is in no means a“ goody two shoes”; in some ways Tree is both the villain and the protagonist. If you still need some convincing, watch the genius trailer which features a remixed version of 50 Cent’s In Da Club. Go shawty, it’s your birthday! Yeah…that still lives rent-free in my head.
8. Grafted (2024)
Unrated
I’m embarrassed to admit that Grafted is the only international film on this list (a sign that I need to expand my horizons). If you’ve never heard of it before, Grafted is a New Zealand coming-of-age horror film, and it’s Sasha Rainbow’s directorial debut. The film follows an awkward but brilliant Chinese student named Wei, who wins a scholarship into a prestigious university to study medical research, and attempts to finish an experiment begun by her late father: the development of a serum that enables instant regeneration of human skin tissue, thus simplifying the technology and skill needed to apply skin grafts.
Once you know the story of the film, which was created by Hweiling Ow, the concept of skin grafting becomes even more profound. In an interview with the NZ Herald, Ow explains that she was inspired by her reality of being a migrant, and wondered what it would be like to live someone else’s life and experience their privilege and empowerment in a foreign country. Grafted’s execution might not be the best (some critics thought it lewd and trashy), but it’s worth watching if you’re a body horror queen!
9. MaXXXine (2024)
Rated R
MaXXXine is the third and final installment in Ti West's X trilogy, concluding the story of the character Maxine Minx, who is played by the coolest Scream Queen around right now: Mia Goth. The film is set in 1980s Hollywood and follows Maxine as she sets out for fame and success, all the while being targeted by a mysterious killer.
Not everyone loved how campy the film was when it came out, although it is the highest grossing one in the trilogy. Personally, I loved the colors, cinematography, sets and music, and of course it is beyond captivating seeing Maxine finally take on this starlet role. There’s some…interesting fundamentalist Christian cult elements too, if you’re into that sort of thing!
10. Bratz Kidz: Sleep-Over Adventure (2007)
Rated G
Bratz: Kidz Sleep-Over Adventure is a computer-animated film based on the Bratz Kidz doll line. When the new girl in town Ginger invites Cloe, Sasha, Jade, Yasmin and Meygan (who was sometimes considered the fifth girl in the Bratz squad) to her house for a sleepover, the girls happily accept the invitation. However, as the night winds down each girl takes turns sharing a spooky bedtime story, and the suspense grows until you’re essentially watching nightmare fuel. For a kids movie, it’s pretty freaking scary!
Here’s a fun little detail: Sasha's tale is eerily similar to the basis of Jordan Peele's "Us". Both feature a young black girl who visits a carnival with her friends/family. Once they're alone, they enter a hall of mirrors in which their doppelganger switches places with them. Talk about an eerie coincidence!
11. The Craft (1996)
Rated R
Witches mixed with parochial high school? Sign me up! The Craft is a supernatural horror film that follows four outcast teenage girls in LA, who pursue witchcraft for their own benefit and for lack of better words…must face the consequences. The Craft faced mixed reviews when it came out, but in the years since its release the movie has gained a kind of cult following, and is now considered part of the ‘90s teen canon. What’s interesting about The Craft is that it departs from clichés of the teen movie genre and incorporates darker themes, like (trigger warning) suicide, racism, and rape. The Wiccan influences intertwine well with these real-life, horrible scenarios to create true teenage horror.
Plus, the soundtrack bangs and is perfect for fall: on it you’ll find songs by nostalgic pop rock icons such as Elastica, Letters to Cleo and Jewel.
12. Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021)
Rated R
Fear Street Part One: 1994 came out the summer before my first year of college, and it sort of altered my brain chemistry. Getting deja vu? That’s probably because Fear Street is a series of supernatural slasher films based on R.L. Stine’s book series. The first film follows a teen named Deena (Kiana Madiera) and her friends after an onslaught of brutal slayings, as they try to navigate the landscape of Shadyside and attempt to take on an evil force that has been present in their notorious town for centuries.
This was truly Madeira’s breakout role, but Stranger Things fans will be happy to see their beloved Maya Hawke make an appearance as well. There’s a lot to like about Fear Street: 1994, from the sapphic subplot to the chilling retro mall scenes. Pay close attention while watching, as this movie will set you up for two haunting sequels that further explore the legacy of Shadyside (and what, or rather who, came before)!
13. Twilight (2008)
Rated PG-13
The cultural phenomenon Twilight hardly needs an introduction, but I’ll write one anyway. 2008’s Twilight is the first in a saga of romantic Vampire fantasy films based on Stephenie Meyer’s famous book series of the same name. It focuses on the development of a personal relationship between normal, human teenager Bella Swan and vampire Edward Cullen, and the subsequent efforts of Edward and his family to keep Bela safe from a separate group of hostile vampires.
While Twilight’s been ruthlessly memed due to its arguably bad writing and melodramatic acting,it put YA love triangles and forbidden romances on the map in a really global way. The Team Edward vs. Team Jacob fiasco laid the groundwork for shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty and My Life As The Walter Boys. For many who grew up loving the books and watching the movies, a return to the pop classic that started it all seems in order.
