There's no shortage of innovation in the horror movie genre, but an enormous percentage of horror films fall back on the classic male killer/female victim setup. Some of the most iconic and underrated horror films in history are based around a woman in the villain role.
In reality, the percentage of serial murders committed by women is probably in the single digits or the low teens at most. It was a common misconception as recently as the 90s that women simply didn't commit that kind of crime, but though it is rare, the world of cinema features a wide variety of villains who happen to be women. Spoilers ahead for every film mentioned.
Audition
The magnum opus of Japanese cult director Takashi Miike is undoubtedly this 1999 horror piece. Miike is an extremely prolific filmmaker, directing over 100 films in his three decades in the industry. Audition is an intensely unnerving, challenging, and deep film that has been interpreted in a variety of different ways over the years. The plot concerns a widower who is convinced by a friend to put out a casting call for a new bride. After being immediately enchanted by a woman at the event, he attempts to seek out more information about her and finds a series of troubling mysteries.
Information about his new fascination is extremely hard to find, and at every dead end, he discovers several missing person cases and disturbing crime scenes. The film's female lead Asami is one of the most threatening characters in horror movie history, and the eventual truth is part of what makes the film a legend in the genre. Audition is a must-see that is also one of the hardest films to watch of all time.
Friday the 13th
Those only vaguely aware of one of the most recognizable franchises in horror history know that the killer is typically hockey mask-clad zombie Jason Voorhees. While this is typically the case, the 1980 slasher film that started it all came with a big twist at the end. The film reveals in its final moments that the killer isn't Jason, but his vengeful mother Pamela Voorhees.
This first outing is just as silly and exploitative as its many sequels, but in her brief screen time, Pamela is a convincing villain with a strong motivation. Her unhinged rage at the camp counselors that let her son drown spills over onto everyone who fills the same role. The fact that the killer is Pamela Voorhees is a detail that has little impact on the plot or the kills until it is revealed near the end. Pamela is brutally murdered near the end of the film, but she serves as a motivation for Jason throughout the franchise.
May
Made on a very small budget, Lucky McKee's directorial debut is a gripping psychological horror film that has developed a cult following. Angela Bettis stars as May, a fragile and lonely young woman who struggles to make connections. She meets people, tries to relate, and continuously finds herself alone.
Amy's only friend is a carefully maintained doll named Suzie. As she slowly gives in to crippling delusions and overwhelming past stress, May becomes a killer. May is a powerful journey into the psyche of someone who is actively falling apart. The film is subtle, at least at first, and deeply unnerving throughout. Not enough people have seen May, and the film's excellent performances and gripping suspense deserve more attention.
Stoker
Park Chan-wook, the legendary director of 2003's Oldboy and 2016's The Handmaiden, crafted this disturbing film as his English-language debut. The film was written by Wentworth Miller, perhaps best known for portraying Captain Cold on the Arrowverse shows Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. Heavily inspired by Hitchcock'sShadow of a Doubt, Stoker is the tale of a dysfunctional family, racked by a sudden tragedy.
When India Stoker's father is killed in an accident, her previously unmentioned uncle moves in under mysterious circumstances. India's psyche shifts as her life turned upside down, and as bodies start to pile up, she turns from victim to killer. This is not a slasher film, it's a disturbing piece with ever-present growing tension as the stakes grow. Park's incredible visual direction and the note-perfect performances from Mia Wasikowska, Nichole Kidman, and Matthew Goode make this film far more than the sum of its parts.
Crimson Peak
Guillermo del Toro's ninth feature film is a hugely underrated gothic romance tinged with ghostly horror. But as all fans of del Toro's work know, the monster is never the actual villain, and in this case, a woman is the true monster. The film centers around Edith Cushing, an intelligent heiress who is seduced and whisked away by mysterious baronet Thomas Sharpe.
The new couple moves into Tom's decrepit gothic manor along with his unhinged sister, Lucille. Edith meets various ghosts, falls mysteriously ill, and begins to uncover the dark secret of the manor. The film's big reveal points to Lucille as the true murderer. Jessica Chastain's performance in the villain role is absolutely powerful, and this film is as good as the rest of the director's incredible output.