Viewers have seen somewhat of a renaissance of the horror genre in the past several years, with some iconic new characters and faces to remember alongside revivals of old fan favorites. But, what happens when the horror factor hits closer to home? The role of a mother in a horror movie has never been a one-size-fits-all gig – each story gives audiences a different and intricate look into the mind of a parent under terrible circumstances. A recent piece of media criticism from the New York Times reads, "Though these mothers often carry past domestic traumas — abuse, neglect, infant loss — their stories signal that there is something psychologically harrowing about the role of motherhood itself."
Lately, the experience of being a female character with children in a horror movie seems to touch on the terrors of the realm of domesticity, complicated family ties, and the monstrosity of motherhood. There are some movie mom-sters who remain more memorable than others long after the story ends. While all of these leading ladies take their maternal instincts to another level, we'd be in a hurry to leave their nests as soon as possible. Without further ado, here are the most terrifying moms in horror movies, ranked.
7 Annie Graham - Hereditary (2018)
A24 has truly shattered expectations for what it means to be a horror movie in the past five years alone, with their string of out-of-the-box successes such as Midsommar and The Witch... and who could forget Hereditary? This spine-tingling film tells the tale of the Graham family and their matriarch, Annie (Toni Collette), as they deal with the death of Annie's mother and the increasingly strange events that follow. As things progress, Annie's psyche begins to fray, painting a portrait of a woman consumed by her growing grief, and maybe something else more sinister. Some of her most crucial moments include the infamous dinner table scene, arguing with her husband in front of the fireplace, and her final visit to Charlie's tree house.
6
Norma Bates - Psycho (1960)
A boy's best friend is his mother... what would Psycho be without the influence of Norma Bates? This classic Hitchcock film is an adaptation of Robert Bloch's 1959 novel, and the mother-son bond on steroids has remained the same throughout multiple iterations of the story. In Psycho, the intensity of their relationship drives Norman to do terrible things, and he finds himself listening to his mother's threatening voice from beyond the grave. The TV series Bates Motel reinterpreted Psycho for a new generation, following Norma's beginnings. Generations after the original film was released, she remains an iconic horror movie mom.
5
The Other Mother - Coraline (2009)
Ever heard the saying, "Mothers are like buttons, they hold everything together?" This lady really took that personally. In Coraline, young Coraline Jones is looking for an end to the monotony of her regular life, where her parents never pay enough attention to her. After crossing through a mysterious hidden door in her wall, she gets her wish in the form of her Other Mother, a woman who appears to be overflowing with love for her daughter. Coraline discovers that she's really an ancient beast known as the Beldam, a spindly spider-like being who steals and traps the souls of unlucky children. The claymation film was recently brought back to theaters for a one-day event celebrating 15 years of LAIKA Studios.
4
Mother - Goodnight Mommy (2014)
Goodnight Mommy is an underappreciated work of Austrian horror that received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film in 2015. When their mother (Susanne Wuest) returns home from an invasive plastic surgery on her face, twin brothers Lukas and Elias don't know what to make of her. They have a sneaking suspicion that the woman in their house is not their real mother, which is only confirmed by her increasingly odd and often aggressive behavior – uncharacteristic of the loving parent they once knew. With her bloody bandages and angry attitude, her face may haunt you long after the credits roll. If you haven't already, give Goodnight Mommy a watch for an atmospheric slow burn.
3
Mama - Mama (2013)
A mother's love for her children seems to know no bounds, especially for Mama. This 2013 movie was produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by Andrés Muschietti, who went on to direct the 2017 IT and IT: Chapter 2, so you can count on the scare factor of this film. Two young girls are found neglected in a cabin in the woods, and after their rescue, they continue to reference a supernatural creature they call Mama. The shrieking spirit of a woman will stop at nothing to get these children back into her gnarled hands, wreaking havoc on the girls' new family with disastrous consequences. Her demon-like face, wild hair, and grotesquely bent figure may just show up in your dreams tonight.
2
Margaret White - Carrie (1976)
The real monster in Carrie is undoubtedly her mother, Margaret White (Piper Laurie). Stephen King's first novel begat a horror movie mother whose behavior is simply terrifying. Steeped in religious fanaticism to a dangerous delusional degree, Margaret does not take kindly to Carrie's budding womanhood, curiosity about sexual maturity, and emerging psychic powers. She continually berates Carrie and locks her in their prayer closet, imploring her "demonic" daughter to repent and beg for forgiveness. Margaret's abuse, alongside the bullying Carrie experienced, ultimately culminates in her unforgettable prom night that ended in more than just pig's blood.
1 Pamela Voorhees - Friday the 13th (1980)
Perhaps the most memorable movie mother on this list is Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer) of Friday the 13th. As the woman behind the horrifying happenings at Camp Crystal Lake, she literally hid behind the mask of her son Jason's tragic death, to carry out her inaugural reign of terror. It was her undying love for her son that inspired her to take up the knife and ensure revenge after his negligent death. Her legacy throughout the Friday the 13th franchise has prompted a potential new prequel series, which Tom McLoughlin has expressed interest in directing. McLoughlin directed Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives in 1986.