Horror films are typically about that one guy with the mask and the knife that moves reeeal slow, or that one ghost child who likes to eat souls. Well, horror fans, it’s time to get acclimated to a new genre of horror film, and it’s positioned to be the most terrifying one ever.

Horror movies about climate change, environmental disasters, GMOs, and scientifically engineered nasties, are “in.” This shouldn’t be surprising, considering the world is in a whole lot of trouble. (Hellllo, climate change.)

While this horror genre is still in its infancy, we’ve recently seen a few titles that any horror fan and climate enthusiast could enjoy.

1. “Consumed”

This film is a tad less horrific than the others and much less gory (in fact, there’s no real gore at all), but it still manages to get its point across. (The point being that GMO food isn’t labeled and we really don’t know what it could be doing to our guinea pig-esque human bodies… Playing screenings now.)

2. “Unearth”

“Unearth” was recently backed on Kickstarter and thank goodness for that because we can’t wait to see this horror story come to life. I mean, just read the description:

“Inspired by increasing environmental concerns ripped from today’s headlines, “Unearth” is a uniquely American horror story about two neighboring farm families whose relationships and very lives are put to the test when one of them chooses to lease their land and have it drilled for natural gas.” (No word on a release date.)

3. “Unnatural”

This is probably the silliest pick on the list, but what is a horror list without a creature feature? In this film, scientists decide to genetically modify Alaskan polar bears after global climate change makes it tough for them to live. Needless to say, the science project doesn’t go well and horrific things happen. (Available on VOD.)

4. “The Bay”

This is the oldest film on the list, but it’s worth a watch. “The Bay” is a found-footage film that tracks what happens to a small town when invasive sea creatures take over the town’s bay. A lot of people end up incredibly sick and dead, and it’s all because of a cover up. Be aware: This film is not for the faint of heart or those with squeamish stomachs.

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Halloween is approaching so fast! Celebrate this incredibly fun and spooky holiday by streaming any of the following scary movies.

On Netflix

1. “Rosemary’s Baby”

If someone pulls out some tannis root on your first date, run like hell. “Rosemary’s Baby” is the classic, slow-build scary movie. It clocks in over two hours, but holds your attention for its entirety. The film follows Rosemary, a young married woman, who gets pregnant. As her pregnancy progresses, strange and devilish things start to happen. Streaming for free with a subscription.

2. “Evil Dead 2”

If you’ve yet to give “Evil Dead” a watch, worry not! You can easily screen “Evil Dead 2” without getting confused (thanks to the first 10 minutes of the film). The film follows Ash — and a band of unlucky victims — as he fights the Deadites. Streaming for free with a subscription.

On Amazon

3. “Shivers”

Many laud this film as David Cronenberg’s first foray into “body horror.” It’s one of his best scary movies. It follows the unlucky residents of high-rise apartments. One by one, each person starts to become ill with a strange, sexually transmitted disease. Streaming for free with an Amazon Prime subscription.

4. “The Woman in Black”

This top-notch ghost story follows a sad widower as he visits an abandoned haunted estate. All he wants to do is get some papers in order, but the ghost that haunts the house (and the village’s children) has other plans. Streaming for free with an Amazon Prime subscription.

On Hulu

5. “American Psycho”

Patrick Bateman just wants to fit in. Thing is, he is having a heck of a time being just “one of the guys” because of his penchant for murder.

6. “Eraserhead”

This is David Lynch’s masterpiece, in my opinion. This black and white film follows a man as he tries to traverse the often weird, disgusting, and horrific aspects of fatherhood.

On Vudu

7. “Trick ‘r Treat”

This modern classic is a spin on the vignette movies of yesteryear (think “Creepshow”). It follows three main story lines that are equally gross, humorous, and disturbing. Rent for as low as $2.99.

8. “Friday the 13th”

This classic really doesn’t need an introduction. “Friday the 13th,” the first in the slasher series, follows the various demises of Camp Crystal Lake attendees. An awesome soundtrack and blood-soaked clothes await. Rent for as low as $2.99.

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The horror genre is an amazing place to explore the horrible stuff society does to the “other,” so, its ability to depict feminist storylines is rife with opportunity.

Now, not all horror is created equal. There are plenty of films that are not feminist friendly. The whole “have sex and get murdered” slasher shtick is hardly progressive (but sure is a lot of fun) and gory torture porn is nothing more than a boring, story-empty 90-minute waste. But there are many classic films in the genre that allow female characters to shine (even if some of these ladies are a bit deranged).

Of course, there are different ways that feminism can be displayed in horror. Some displays of feminism are brutal and gory, while others are just plain fun.

“I Spit on Your Grave” is one of the most empowering horror films ever made. Jennifer, a writer, is brutally attacked and sexually assaulted by a group of men. After the attacks, though, Jennifer seeks revenge. Sure, this is a rape-revenge film at its heart, but I’ll be darned if people call it exploitive and simple. This film is hard to watch because it is so real. But Jennifer is never exploited in the film – she is the every woman – she is every female who has ever been sexually assaulted. And while, sure, all sexual assault victims don’t get the chance to exact their revenge on their attackers, it is fine that Jennifer does – her attacks are meant to be cathartic. The fact that she doesn’t allow these brutal attacks to change her, or break her, is incredibly empowering.

On the lighter end of the strong feminist character in horror, we’ve got “Frankenhooker.” Now, at first glance (and by just looking at the film’s cover) you may say, “OK – that’s a nearly naked lady on the cover – how is this feminist?” It is! The film follows Jeffery, the depression stricken fiancé of Elizabeth, as he tries to rebuild his former love out of Manhattan sex workers (stick with me). Needless to say, the plan doesn’t go so well. As we watch Elizabeth “get to know” her new body, all the typical silly stuff occurs – she tries to remember who she is, ends up dabbling in sex work and wonders how the heck she got the body of a Playboy model. Once she puts all the pieces together, though, she is a force to be reckoned with. In the end, she gets the chance to rebuild her boyfriend and make him “better” and more “attractive” after he befalls a deadly attack. Needless to say, Elizabeth gives as good as she gets, and does so with authority, and in heels, no less.

“Phenomena” is a film that’s right in the middle of feminist horror. It’s not silly, but it’s not serious – it’s just right. The film follows Jennifer as she gets her footing at a new, Swiss boarding school. Just as she arrives, a string of gory murders starts to pick up. Jennifer, however, is armed with a special tool to help her ward off the killer – she can communicate with insects. Through her intelligence, quick thinking, and calmness, Jennifer is able unmask the murderer and survive her experience at the boarding school unscathed, and stronger than she was before she arrived.

If you’re still thirsty for some more great female-fronted horror films, here are a few more suggestions:

“Jennifer’s Body”
“Silence of the Lambs”
“Alien”
“May”
“Ginger Snaps”

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