Pink Horror: Putting a Name to the Terrors That Have Always Been There

A femme-focused subgenre is growing.

pink horror
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  • Photo Credit: Sincerely Media/Unsplash

With the release of the Barbie movie and the epic successes of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour, has 2023 been the year of the woman? Well, in short—yes.

But the rise of feminine power goes beyond just these monumental examples. In fact, this shift has been felt in even the darkest and creepiest reaches of media, within a genre that has historically exploited the pain of women: horror.

Women have always been a vital part of horror—Shirley Jackson and Mary Shelley, anyone? Plus, more and more incredible women are releasing captivating horror works each day. Considering women have always operated at the pulse of this genre, what’s the big change?

Works focusing on the issues that are important and central to women are finding their way to the forefront of genre conversations. With this rise in woman-centric scares, a new subgenre has been born: pink horror.