Since the turn of the 20th century, horror — first in literary form and later in movies — has reflected social anxieties about a rapidly changing world.
In a 21st century plagued by such concerns as global warming, rise of AI technology, democracy in peril and the demonization of “the other,” horror in the past 25 years has become unusually fertile terrain, ushering a new golden age of screen terror.
Status
The horror genre has always suffered from a marginal, disreputable status, unlike that of the more prestigious biopic or historical epic.
However, that very inferior status has enable horror films to take greater risks artistically, to be more radical politically, to be more subversive ideologically.
Women: Debuts in Horror Films
Some of the most boldly assured first features by women in the past 20 years have been in the horror genre
Movie Genres: Horror–Attributes, Status, Women Directors
Research un progress, July 30, 2025
Genre
Since the turn of the 20th century, horror — first in literary form and later in movies — has reflected social anxieties about a rapidly changing world.
In a 21st century plagued by such concerns as global warming, rise of AI technology, democracy in peril and the demonization of “the other,” horror in the past 25 years has become unusually fertile terrain, ushering a new golden age of screen terror.
Status
The horror genre has always suffered from a marginal, disreputable status, unlike that of the more prestigious biopic or historical epic.
However, that very inferior status has enable horror films to take greater risks artistically, to be more radical politically, to be more subversive ideologically.
Women: Debuts in Horror Films
Some of the most boldly assured first features by women in the past 20 years have been in the horror genre
Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook
Julia Ducournau’s Raw, Titane, Alpha
Rose Glass’ Saint Maud