2022 has been a great year for horror enthusiasts and filmmakers alike. From vicious murder clowns (that made people vomit and faint in the movie theater) to young adults that play a game that goes incredibly wrong, there was something for everyone to watch who enjoys being scared. In the midst of various films, there were many that had an element in common: changing the ways in which women are presented in horror.

Granted, women have been a part of the horror genre since the beginning, and half the population is women, so that's not necessarily unique. Nevertheless, there has been a striking evolution in the horror genre in regard to how these women were portrayed or how they created these scary stories, culminating in 2022. There has been a huge advance in stories where women are not simply sidekicks or a metaphor to implicate a way of thinking, as was quite common in the '80s with the final girls and conservative values in slashers.

Here are some productions that are a part of this new wave that became so apparent this past year, and how they used women's realities and their presence to create important (and terrifying) stories.

Women in Horror

Pearl
A24
 

Female characters in horror have always been somewhat common. Even right at the beginning, they were helpless victims that the monsters were after, or sometimes ghostly apparitions. 2022 has shown a range of female participation in horror stories that is extremely exciting for fans and filmmakers alike — as it shows a possibility of what the genre could be in the years to come. It isn't that there's just female protagonist characters in these productions: they are informing and dictating the narrative about them, coming exclusively from their perspective.

Some fan-favorite characters were not forgotten, either. The audience still gets to see one of their beloved final girls, Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell), one more time in Scream (2022) and get a new one in Terrifier 2 with Sienna (Lauren LaVera). There were also the remakes of stories where the female character didn’t receive the spotlight, as in Tim Burton’s new Netflix series Wednesday.

Related: X Review: Ti West Dissects Horror in This A24 Masterpiece

One occurrence that has to be mentioned, and will probably be for a very long time, is the character in Ti West’s horror trilogy: Pearl, played by Mia Goth. The actress received a Spirit Award nomination for her unbelievable performance. Pearl and her motivation to be famous is what drives the movie Pearl and is a hidden force in X — her despair is the factor that makes the film so compelling to watch and leaves room for Mia Goth to shine. Her character that is so fascinating and has generated so much anticipation to see her again, once the prequel that was secretly shot was announced. Now, with MAXXXINE, Goth plays a different character, Maxine, that was also a part of X, and fans can't wait to see what's in store for her.

Women's Realities in Horror

Fresh Sebastian Stan
Hulu

The main theme of a lot of these movies is focusing on women’s realities: highlighting social norms and what is usually expected of women, especially how to behave. Smile tackles this by telling a story where the main character has to pretend to be okay after not dealing with huge trauma using. The movie transforms a turn of phrase usually said to women, ‘Smile more,’ into true horror. A24's Men is another example, creating a story that feels like a nightmare. There is the rom-com about a girl that is done with online dating turns into cannibalism Fresh. There is even Barbarian, where the different approaches to everyday life are vastly different when it comes from a man or a woman.

Related: MaXXXine: A24 and Ti West Announce Third Installment of X Horror Franchise

All these stories have different perspectives on tackling similar issues. Umma gives a dark look at motherhood and guilt, something that is still taboo today. While Piggy shows a drastically different moment in a girl's life: the teenage experience. Piggy is a gory movie that talks about a lot of things, as well as the pressure and type of commentary a girl that is heavier ends up hearing. The Spanish slasher explores the idea of the perfect body that is so often imposed on women everywhere and of all ages. These are movies where the core issue of the narrative is taken from these characters without ignoring their gender, but rather exploring what it means to be a woman today.

Not Only on the Screen

The group tries to solve the murder mystery
A24

It is important to remember that horror has been a majorly male genre, especially regarding the director's chair. However, it is necessary to state that this change has not happened only in front of a camera: the backstage crew was also affected in 2022. The film Bodies Bodies Bodies was directed by Halina Reijn and written by Sarah DeLappe and the story by Kristen Roupenian. Watcher was directed and co-written by Chloe Okuno, with a female protagonist played by Maika Monroe. These are just some examples of stories that couldn't be more different, and yet have this element in common, with both receiving some level of success.

2022 has been one of the most vital years for the genre altogether, but it is incredible what it means for women who would like to take a turn at creating, acting, and writing scary stories. It is great to be able to notice so many productions that are a part of this, and these are only a few examples. 2023 has the promise of some great releases that can only indicate that this will become a common element in the years to come.