15 Female Filmmakers That Could Kill It At Horror [Hi, Jason Blum!]

Andrea Arnold
Andrea Arnold is an English actress and filmmaker, who won an Academy Award for her short film “Wasp” in 2005. She is probably best known, though, for directing “American Honey” and “Fish Tank” both of which have won the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival (she’s soon to be more famous for directing the second season of HBO’s “Big Little Lies” when it comes out in 2019). Arnold is known for her portrayal of the “passionate woman.” She often portrays women as emotional beings— they fight, they love, and are never treated as children, and as her camera moves with them they throw themselves into undefined and sometimes threatening circumstances. While Arnold has never directed a traditional horror film, though the already-disturbing “Red Road” has very apt psychological terror flourishes, all her work is viscerally impacting.  Arnold making a horror film would be inspired. Take the idea, pretend its yours, and run with it. – JR

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Obviously, that’s just the tip of the iceberg and picks we particularly love, but there are dozens and dozens of female filmmakers that we’d love to see tackle horror—a Blumhouse production or otherwise. Of course, there’s Lynne Ramsay, who Blumhouse says turned him down already. She’s arguably already made at least made two horror movies of the mind—the “You Were Never Really Here” (one of 2018’s best films) and “We Need To Talk About Kevin.” But she works to the beat of her own eccentric, artistic, idiosyncratic drum so one can only imagine someone like Blum has to say, “Look, I’ll make whatever you want,” and not, “Do you want to make [insert title of crappy Horror franchise here]?”

Females have directed some non-horror genre films for Blumhouse—Catherine Hardwicke’s “Plush” (2013) and an upcoming thriller from Veena Sud (known for directing the AMC TV series “The Killing“) called “The Lie,” so it is possible! You can do it, guys!

Some other names that come to mind include Kimberly Peirce (the “Carrie” remake), Coralie Fargeat (2017’s “Revenge“), Claire Denis (though she’s already made “Trouble Every Day” and kind of DGAF), Jenn Wexler (“The Ranger“). Catherine Hardwicke (“Twilight“), Issa Lopez (“Tigers Are Not Afraid“), Jodie Foster (“Black Mirror,” “Money Monster“), Jovanka Vuckovic (“XX; segment “The Box“) and Sophia Takal (“Always Shine“).

The AV Club has some nice, off-the-beaten-path picks too including Gigi Saul Guerrero (“ABC’s Of Death 2” short ‘M Is For Matador“) and Axelle Carolyn (2015 horror anthology “Tales Of Halloween“)

Melody Cooper (part of the Shudder Labs project), Chelsea Stardust (“Under The Bed“), Jill Gevargizian (“The Stylist“), Izzy Lee (“My Monster“) and again, many, many more. Horror is already a boy club ands a genre that has been criticized for misogyny for decades. One can easily change that and imagine just how—given most of the movies have been traditionally made by men—how creative the genre could still be. There it is, Jason. Call us if you like, we could help.