If summer is for hot girls, then the season of slow decay is for the wistfully weird girl. While the like of Beetlejuice’s Lydia Deetz and The Craft’s witchy quartet have raised generations of teenage gothics and baby bats, cinema’s odd girl lineage is far more vast and varied than one may think.
From puberty by way of body horror and heroines gone utterly mad, to general bedroom-rotting malaise and everything in-between, this loosely-defined and comfortingly niche genre is perfect for those looking to replace a typical Halloween movie marathon with something a tad darker and left of center.
Whether you’re in search of indie deep cuts, sleeper cult classics, or modern favorites, Teen Vogue has compiled a list of 9 titles that truly embody weird girl autumn to sink your teeth into, for this spooky season and the next. (And if you think there's a film that might be missing from this list, it's probably already on this one. 👻)
1. Ginger Snaps (2000)
Two outcast sisters Ginger and Brigitte are navigating high school — plus, some supernatural horrors are taking place in their sleepy suburban town. After the titular character starts her first period, she begins undergoing a more sinister transformation, coupled by an unrelenting thirst for blood. A true weird girl classic, Ginger Snaps looks to the darker sides of puberty and pulls from suburban dread as its inspiration.
Stream Ginger Snaps on Tubi and Prime Video.
2. House (1977)
Of all the films inspired by Jaws, this Japanese comedy horror is an unlikely top contender. One summer, a teenage girl and her classmates in Tokyo take a summer trip to the countryside to visit her aunt. There, things quickly turn sour as all descends into chaos. Cannibal pianos, cats, and household items fueled by vengeance are just a few of the many special effects that give this film its kooky and naive charm. After all, its very premise was inspired by director Nobuhiko Obayashi’s pre-teen daughter’s own ideas for a scary movie — and this 1977 staple plays out your worst, illogical childhood fears coming to life.
Stream House on HBO Max.
3. Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023)
A contemporary take on the classic vampire trope, this dramedy follows artsy teenage vampire Sasha who drinks blood like it’s juice yet refuses to kill. That changes, however, when she befriends a suicidal boy named Paul and the two become an unlikely duo. Atmospheric and arthouse-inspired, the film explores the frustrations of outcast adolescence and fitting in, all while Sasha struggles to keep her vampire instincts at bay. Consider it a coming of age for the undead.
Stream Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person on YouTube or Prime Video.
4. Alice (1988)
Dissatisfied with previous iterations of the Lewis Caroll novel, Czech director Jan Švankmajer reimagines the tale as a part-stop motion, part-illustration, part-film surrealist odyssey. Though not an outright horror flick, this film takes animation techniques and puppetry to new, terrifying extremes, while staying true to the original story. Far more bizarre and nightmarish than any Disney dream, the world of Alice is one of uncanny dolls, marionettes, and a hurried, taxidermied rabbit come to life.
Stream Alice on Ovid.
5. Eyes Without A Face (1960)
A plastic surgeon sets out to restore his daughter Christiane’s face after she is left disfigured by a car wreck. Though presumed to be dead by the outside world, she resides in their home, skulking through its halls in a stark white mask covering all but her eyes. Slowly, local young women begin disappearing without a trace, and the truth emerges. This dreamy, noir-horror classic explores conventions of beauty and femininity, as well as the lengths we go to achieve perfection — and at what cost.
Stream Eyes Without A Face on Hulu.
6. Poor Things (2023)
This list would be incomplete without the campy, ultra-stylish film that inspired a flurry of Halloween costumes last year. A gothic fairytale set in late-1880s London, lead protagonist Bella Baxter (portrayed by Emma Stone) is brought (back) to life by a mad scientist (Willem Dafoe). She navigates an unfamiliar, kaleidoscopic world and its many inhabitants — good and bad. Falling somewhere between Frankenstein and Dracula, this movie explores faith, free will, and self-discovery in an era of great change.
Stream Poor Things on Hulu.
7. Possession (1981)
Although it’s far from your typical scary movie, Possession is equally intense and at times disturbing. Set against the barren backdrop of West Berlin, a couple’s marriage quickly unravels after accusations of cheating and relentless fights with little to no resolve. Like a drawn-out nightmare you can’t wake up from, this French-German movie captures the dissonance and alienation of a relationship falling apart. Not to mention, there’s a monstrous plot twist and truly unforgettable subway scene at the end. David Lynch meets cosmic horror in this psychological drama.
Stream Possession on YouTube or Prime Video.
8. Carnival of Souls (1962)
After surviving a road race gone terribly wrong, protagonist Mary moves to a new town to become a church organist. As she struggles to fit in and find her way, she plunges deeper and deeper into hysteria, centered on visions of a ghoulish stranger who seems to follow her every step. This ‘60s film is a true low-budget classic that eerily slips between what’s real and unseen.
Stream Carnival of Souls on Prime Video or HBO Max.
9. Suspiria (2018)
Though the original 1977 Suspiria is already on our best Halloween movies list, Luca Guadagnino's contemporary retelling is equally chilling and stylish as its predecessor. Protagonist Susie (Dakota Johnson) leaves smalltown Ohio to join an esteemed dance academy in Berlin, following the suspicious disappearance of one of its students. As Susie proves her skill within the academy, she comes to uncover the true ancient forces lurking beneath its façade.
Stream Suspiria on Prime Video.
