There are many well-done horror movies about pregnancy as this can be an effective time in a character's life to dial up the terror and prove that things are out of their control. Rosemary's Baby, False Positive, and countless other films see a woman becoming increasingly scared as she gets further along and wonders what's happening to her.
There are also several horror movies that focus on mothers and daughters as this can be a difficult relationship with a lot of emotion and disagreements. From slashers to a recent film about a curse, these movies can be appreciated for the way that they explore this memorable bond.
Scream (1996)
The original Scream is loved for almost too many reasons to name. Fans love Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), one of the smartest horror movie protagonists. Ghostface has one of the most iconic masks in horror movies. And the 1996 film also explores the relationship between Sidney and her late mother, Maureen.
Sidney is mourning the fact that her mom was raped and murdered and thinks that Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber), who is in jail for the crimes, did it. She hates Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) at first because Gale maintains Cotton's innocence. The movie may focus on deconstructing the slasher genre and making jokes about the horror genre. But it also explores that Sidney faces life without her mother and feels terrible about this brutal loss.
The Final Girls (2015)
The final girl horror trope is one of the most talked about and this 2015 film focuses on the bond between Max Cartwright (Taissa Farmiga) and her late mom Amanda (Malin Akerman). Max holds onto memories of Amanda and cherishes Camp Bloodbath, the '80s slasher that her mom starred in. When Max and her friends are literally trapped in that movie, Max uses her strength to fix the situation, but also feels close to the parent who she lost.
The Final Girls is a teen slasher with memorable quotes as it's quirky, but the movie also takes the mother/daughter connection seriously. Max misses Amanda and wishes that she could be there to help her as she grows up and copes with regular teenage problems and daily life.
Ma (2019)
Sue Ann Ellington, who goes by "Ma," is one of the most underrated female villains in a Blumhouse horror movie. Octavia Spencer's character may be the focal point of this underrated film, but there is a great mother/daughter relationship between Maggie (Diana Silvers) and Erica Thompson (Juliette Lewis).
The movie explores the relatable changing relationship that Maggie and Erica have. Ma offers Maggie and her friends her basement so they can hang out away from adults. Maggie is looking for some independence from her mom. In a fascinating twist, what's going on with Ma has everything to do with how Erica and other teenagers treated her when they were teenagers. As the events of the story pick up and everyone realizes the terrifying truth, Maggie appreciates the safety and stability of her small family unit.
Run (2020)
Run, the Sarah Paulson thriller similar to Misery, tells a story of a horrible mother/daughter relationship. Diane Sherman gaslights and manipulates her daughter Chloe (Kiera Allen) into believing that Chloe has an awful illness and has to stay home most of the time. Chloe wants to go away to college and have a fun, exciting life, and even before she discovers what her mom has done, it's clear that a part of Chloe resents her mom.
Run is one of the best horror movies on Hulu and shares how this parent/child relationship has gone very wrong. Chloe races to save herself and undo the terrible things that her mom has done, while audiences learn more about why Diane has done what she has done.
Smile (2022)
The 2022 horror movie Smile has impressed fans of the genre with its solid storyline about a curse. It's an incredibly well-made film and it's about the terror that Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) is dealing with presently, her bad memories of the past are never far away.
Rose and her sister Holly (Gillian Zinser) have been terribly affected by their mom's death. Rose is engaged and Holly is a married mother, and their mother's passing has changed their lives in different ways. The movie shows how trauma and tragedy can be passed down and has a lot to say about treating mental health properly. Rose feels guilty for not being able to save her mom, when of course that isn't something that she should feel terrible about at all. The film does feature some of the scariest smiles in horror movies but also examines how daughters are affected by the difficult times that their parents go through.