Mother’s Day is typically a pastel-painted affair—think breakfast in bed, mimosa brunches, and heartfelt Hallmark cards. It’s a time to celebrate the women who raised us, nurtured us, and somehow survived our middle school phases without summoning a demon (we assume).
But let’s be honest: not every mom wants a bouquet of grocery store tulips and a “World’s Best Mom” mug.
Some moms want chaos. Some want carnage. Some want a two-hour meditation on inherited trauma and the creeping dread of existential doom.
This list is for you, Horror Moms.
So cancel the brunch rez, dim the lights, and fire up the projector. Whether she’s into psychological slow burns or full-on satanic freakouts, here are 10 horror movies that put motherhood front and center—in the most gloriously twisted ways possible.
1. Psycho (1960)
Mother-son bonding taken to the next (murderous) level.
Before mommy issues were a trope, there was Norman Bates—loyal son, shy motel manager, and knife-wielding taxidermy enthusiast. Hitchcock’s classic reminds us that even if Mom’s not technically alive, her voice might still be running the show. A perfect pick if your mom likes her horror with a side of film school cred.
2. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Because not all pregnancies are a blessing.
Mia Farrow’s haunting descent into gaslit paranoia (or is it?) remains one of the most iconic portrayals of maternal horror ever filmed. This one’s for moms who prefer cradle-rocking suspense, devil-worshipping neighbors, and the slow realization that the baby shower might come with a side of Satan.
3. Aliens (1986)
The only thing more terrifying than becoming a mom? Fighting one.
James Cameron’s sequel to Alien doubles down on the gooey terror—and also delivers one of the greatest maternal showdowns in movie history. On one side: Ellen Ripley, fiercely protective of her surrogate daughter, Newt. On the other: the Xenomorph Queen, laying eggs like she runs a sci-fi daycare from hell. Bonus points if your mom yells “Get away from her, you bitch!” on command.
4. Hereditary (2018)
A family drama… with beheadings.
If your mom enjoyed Ordinary People but thought it could use more séances and Satanic cults, this is the one. Toni Collette delivers a once-in-a-generation performance as a grieving mother watching her family unravel in ways both emotional and deeply supernatural. Not for the faint of heart—or faint of head. But for Horror Moms? Sure!
5. The Babadook (2014)
Being a single mom is hard. Especially when your grief wears a top hat.
What begins as a study in maternal burnout slowly morphs into a gothic tale of repressed trauma and shadowy terrors that go bump (and screech) in the night. If your mom ever joked about “running away for just a weekend,” this one might hit too close. But in the best way.
6. Immaculate (2024)
Hail Mary… full of terror.
Sydney Sweeney stars as a young American nun whisked away to a remote Italian convent, where she finds herself mysteriously pregnant—and not in a joyful, nativity-scene kind of way. Stylish, suspenseful, and soaked in religious horror, this one is perfect for Horror Moms who love their motherhood stories with a side of immaculate deception.
7. The First Omen (2024)
Every mother fears bringing something into the world. This one brings the Antichrist.
A stylish and surprisingly deep dive into the origins of evil, this prequel to The Omen explores the terrifying idea that motherhood might not be a gift—but a trap. Featuring chilling performances, eerie Vatican intrigue, and one seriously disturbing birth scene, it’s a must for fans of sinister slow burns.
8. Carrie (1976)
Hell hath no fury like a teenage girl with telekinesis—and a Bible-thumping mom.
Margaret White is maybe the scariest mother on this list—and that’s saying something. Played to perfection by Piper Laurie, she weaponizes religion, shame, and maternal guilt like Freddy uses knives. Carrie might be about high school horrors, but the mother-daughter dynamic truly scars. Happy Mother’s Day!
9. Goodnight Mommy (2014 or 2022)
You’ll never look at bandages—or twins—the same way again.
When two boys begin to suspect that the woman beneath the surgical wrappings isn’t actually their mother, things go from unsettling to downright unhinged. Whether you go with the icy original Austrian version or the Naomi Watts-led remake, this one’s a slow-burn nightmare about trust, identity, and familial fear. Perfect for Horror Moms.
10. mother! (2017)
Because sometimes being a mom means giving everything—literally.
Darren Aronofsky’s fever dream about creation, destruction, and toxic masculinity disguised as biblical allegory may not be for everyone—but for horror-loving moms who like their symbolism heavy and their Jennifer Lawrence panicked, it’s a wild ride. Bonus points if your mom finishes it and says, “That wasn’t that weird.”
So this Mother’s Day, skip the bottomless and go headless. Brunch and cuddle up with something darker. After all, motherhood isn’t just about love and sacrifice. Sometimes, it’s about demons, grief, aliens, and unraveling sanity for moms. And in the immortal words of Hereditary:
“I am your mother!”
Now pass the popcorn and champagne. And maybe a rosary.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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