While the 1980s often get all the love when it comes to horror films, the 1970s were equally impressive in terms of scary cinema.
In fact, if anything, the 70s had a more daring and avant-garde spirit, leading to some very unusual genre pictures.
Plus, with second-wave feminism in full swing, the female characters started to get the spotlight in a way they never had before, Final Girls and all.
So here are seven fantastic feminist horror films of the 1970s, several of which were even written or directed by women. We are women—hear us roar.
Messiah of Evil
Written and directed by the Oscar-nominated husband-and-wife team of Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck, Messiah of Evil is one of those outstanding gems that not nearly enough horror fans have seen.
A woman goes in search of her missing father in a remote seaside village, only to discover something deeply unsettling and supernatural waiting for her there.
This film has not one but two of the most genuinely scary scenes I’ve ever seen committed to celluloid—and even though I’m a horror aficionado, I’m not easily scared, so that’s very much saying something.
I honestly can’t recommend this one highly enough, so consider giving Messiah of Evil a place on your streaming queue.
It’s one very wild ride.
Season of the Witch
When it comes to George Romero, everyone of course immediately thinks of zombies.
But if I had to pick my absolute favorite of Romero’s films, I might just go with this 1972 film about an unhappy housewife who delves into witchcraft and discovers a world of unlikely trouble in the process.
An exploration of how women are shuffled to the side, especially once they’re wives and mothers, our protagonist Joan proves that there’s life after being a housewife—and that life might just be more magical and dangerous than you ever expect.
If you’re looking to up the bewitching ante, then pair Season of the Witch with The Love Witch, and you’ve got one fantastic double feature of terror and enchantment.
The Velvet Vampire
Written and directed by the incomparable Stephanie Rothman, The Velvet Vampire is the best vampire film you’ve probably never seen.
Starring Celeste Yarnall as Diane LeFanu, this ultra-stylish tale follows a young couple who falls into the clutches of a rich vampire who lives on a sprawling desert estate and drives horror’s coolest dune buggy.
It’s every bit as weird and dreamlike as it sounds. Melodrama to the max, everything about this movie looks great from its incredible clothes to its beautifully colorful cinematography.
And if nothing else, the concept of a desert vampire is too good to pass up, so check this one out as soon as possible.
Sugar Hill
When people think zombies in the 1970s, they tend to go right for Dawn of the Dead. And hey, as a Pittsburgher, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
But there are more zombies than just the Pennsylvania brain-munching variety. Case in point: Sugar Hill. Marki Bey is fantastic as the eponymous fashion photographer who ends up raising an army of the undead to avenge the death of her boyfriend who was murdered by mobsters.
Without a doubt, Sugar Hill is among the fiercest and most fashionable horror protagonists of all time and a perfect feminist icon for the twentieth century and beyond.
This is such a supremely fun film and one of the best zombie movies ever made, so run, don’t walk, to your streaming queue and add this to your watchlist immediately.
Someone’s Watching Me!
At some point, I’m going to do a whole article just focusing on this absolutely unsung John Carpenter classic, but for now, let’s just suffice it to say that you should put this one on your streaming queue ASAP.
Made for TV in 1978 and starring Lauren Hutton, a working woman moves into a posh apartment, only to become the target of an increasingly unhinged stalker who leaves her unwanted gifts and watches her day and night.
There’s a lot to love about this film from its dread-soaked atmosphere to its great sense of 1970s style. Perhaps most noteworthy is Sophie, a character played by Adrienne Barbeau, who’s an out lesbian in an era when television rarely if ever acknowledged that queer characters existed.
Although many of the plot points end up right where you might expect them, this is still a taut, smart thriller that deserves more fans, so if you come across it, most definitely give it a try. It’s more than worth your time.
Images
Directed by Robert Altman, this surreal film is like nothing else you’ve ever seen.
A children’s book author is plagued with strange hallucinations that keep following her, especially once she decamps for a remote cottage with her boorish husband.
With reality and fantasy constantly blurring together, the film itself might not be immediately striking for its feminism, but something about the way it depicts its unraveling protagonist’s mental health feels very fresh and empathetic even today.
Star Susannah York even got a co-writing credit because she created her character’s children’s book, In Search of Unicorns, which acts as a wraparound through the film.
An oddball little gem to be sure, and one that’s sure to get under the skin of many horror fans.
The Stepford Wives
The Stepford Wives is one of those horror touchstones that’s entered the cultural consciousness in a way few other movies have. After all, even among those who haven’t seen it, most people know what you mean when you say someone’s like a Stepford wife.
While it’s a bleak expose on gender norms, it’s also one that’s decidedly on the side of the women. After all, at no point does the film suggest that the audience should see the diabolical husbands as anything but the monsters they are.
In an era when there was a tremendous backlash against women’s rights, that was a radical statement. Out of every film on this list, this is likely the one most horror fans have already seen, but it’s absolutely worth revisiting.
The searing and heartbreaking performances from Katharine Ross and Paula Prentiss are worth the price of admission alone.
Featured still from “Messiah of Evil” via International Cine Film Corp.
