Compiling a list of horrors most noteworthy scream queens is no easy feat. To include every talented woman that I have had the honor of witnessing on the silver screen would take an entire encyclopedia volume. So, instead of giving you the official list that you might have expected to see when you clicked on this article, I have instead opted to go entirely on opinion. The women featured here are based on my favorite and most influential horror movies. So, without further hesitation, here we go. My top five scream queens I would love to make scream.
5. ASHLEY LAURENCE
To me, Hellraiser always took it a step further than some of the other popular horror franchises. The series explored the world between pleasure and pain, and in some cases blurred the lines between the two extremes to show us that sometimes they were one in the same. The ancient battle between good and evil was exemplified in modern times as the ongoing battle of Kirsty Cotton vs. The Cenobites.
Kirsty is the modern example of a strong-willed independent woman. To have survived the events with her stepmother and Uncle Frank in the first film is a feat in and of itself, but to wake up in a psychiatric hospital and inevitably explore the labyrinths of hell itself in another encounter with the cenobites would be enough to make anybody give up on life. She eventually gets married, survives a horrific car accident, is presumed dead, and faces the cenobites yet again to offer Pinhead five souls in exchange for her own. To make matters even more tragic, four of the souls are women who are sleeping with her husband; the fifth is someone who is planning on killing Kirsty.
Kirsty Cotton is a tragic character, yet in each film she seems to still carry a “glass half full” mentality. Not to mention, Ashley Laurence is just beautiful to behold- and her innocent look (beautifully rendered by simple facial expressions), even after all she has been through, is just flat out sexy. If Hellseeker is the last time we will see Ashley Laurence portray Kirsty, then at least she went out with a fight.
Kirsty Cotton is a tragic character, yet in each film she seems to still carry a “glass half full” mentality. Not to mention, Ashley Laurence is just beautiful to behold- and her innocent look (beautifully rendered by simple facial expressions), even after all she has been through, is just flat out sexy. If Hellseeker is the last time we will see Ashley Laurence portray Kirsty, then at least she went out with a fight.
4. SHERI MOON ZOMBIE
There is no deeper significance with this character. There are no archetypes to reveal, and certainly no cultural relevance or subconscious iconography to explore when it comes to Vera-Ellen Firefly. Simply put: She is a straight up bad ass. Certain philosophers could have a field day with the question of nature versus nurture, but when I see Baby, my nature just takes over and I could care less which route one decides to take.
We could talk about some of the hot topics that come up when horror fans bring up the name Rob Zombie. We could expand upon the fact that House of 1,000 Corpses might have been a rehash of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre; or we could raise our eyebrows at the lengths Mr. Zombie will go to just to cast his wife in his movies (these seem to be some of the universal complaints when I am talking amongst my fellow horror fans), but the truth is, I could care less about any of these complaints as long as he keeps casting Sheri Moon Zombie!
In both movies (House of 1,000 Corpses and The Devils Rejects) we find a woman with a no-holds-barred attitude. She takes what she wants, and almost all of the time she gets it by any means necessary. Baby is dominant in every relationship we see her in- with her mother, her brother, her father, and of course her victims. But what made this character so crucial to my many years of watching these movies was that by the end of The Devils Rejects, I was on the edge of my seat (literally) rooting for her. I wanted her to break out of that chair and snap Officer Wydell’s neck right off of his shoulders, and this is all the while knowing full well the actions she had performed and the violence she was capable of.
In both movies (House of 1,000 Corpses and The Devils Rejects) we find a woman with a no-holds-barred attitude. She takes what she wants, and almost all of the time she gets it by any means necessary. Baby is dominant in every relationship we see her in- with her mother, her brother, her father, and of course her victims. But what made this character so crucial to my many years of watching these movies was that by the end of The Devils Rejects, I was on the edge of my seat (literally) rooting for her. I wanted her to break out of that chair and snap Officer Wydell’s neck right off of his shoulders, and this is all the while knowing full well the actions she had performed and the violence she was capable of.
3. NEVE CAMPBELL
The analytical side of me wants to examine Sidney Prescott’s growth as a human being that we witness while watching the Scream films. It’s obviously a metaphor for every human hardship that ultimately shapes our personality and outlook on life, while the killer represents the external forces that want to conform or change the individual to suit his or her own needs. Individuality prevails in this franchise, as we see with the Sidney Prescott character.
All of this aside, as true as it may or may not be, it’s only an afterthought. If the self-critical nature of these movies doesn’t hook you, then the natural beauty of its lead actress sure as hell will. In all honesty, this might be the only scream queen on my countdown that appears solely based upon her looks. That is not to say that I don’t love the Scream movies, on the contrary. They were important landmarks in the genre and set a standard and a direction that many directors are following to this day. To be frank, the first Scream film was a wake-up call to producers and singlehandedly got the horror genre back on track.
All of this aside, as true as it may or may not be, it’s only an afterthought. If the self-critical nature of these movies doesn’t hook you, then the natural beauty of its lead actress sure as hell will. In all honesty, this might be the only scream queen on my countdown that appears solely based upon her looks. That is not to say that I don’t love the Scream movies, on the contrary. They were important landmarks in the genre and set a standard and a direction that many directors are following to this day. To be frank, the first Scream film was a wake-up call to producers and singlehandedly got the horror genre back on track.
Even if the audience can suspend disbelief that seven different killers at four random moments in Sidney’s life would dawn the same Ghost Face mask and embark on a journey for blood, this would STILL take a backseat to the characters reaction of the events unfolding around her. It serves as one of the only horror movie franchises I can think of where the audience is brought back to see another installment of the protagonist. It wouldn’t work as well with other stories (Nancy’s Nightmare on Elm Street just doesn’t have the same ring to it). Yet for some reason this works incredibly well for Scream. Sidney Prescott is gorgeous, obviously. But it is her innocence in the first film and ultimate maturity of the fourth that makes her a true scream queen.
2. JAMIE LEE CURTIS
Everyone saw this one coming. Any scream queen countdown that does not include the one and only Laurie Strode is incomplete. She embodied innocence in the legendary Halloween series, and remains a fan favorite over thirty years later.
The relationship between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode made cinematic history with one film; but it was the franchise that kept the hardcore fans satisfied. What was it about Halloween that made this particular series stand out among all the rest? It certainly wasn’t the plot, or the treatment of some the films most beloved characters, or the “fast turnaround” between movies. So what could it be? This is a question I will not attempt to answer, as my personal bone to pick with the Halloween series is too extensive to explore in this countdown.
Jamie Lee Curtis is phenomenal in her performance, and it was the first time the average American saw a horror film based upon real people in real suburban neighborhoods. Suddenly the fear wasn’t set in some abandoned castle, outer space, or archaic manuscript. It was set squarely on the shoulders of the movie goer and played upon the fear of the unknown that lurks in his or her own backyard. This was absolutely crucial to our genre and changed everything forever.
It would be impossible to mention Jamie Lee Curtis and not touch briefly on her mother, the beautiful and talented Janet Leigh. To say that Janet paved the way for Jamie is a huge understatement, and to not recognize the importance of Psycho in the horror genre is blasphemous. Psycho was a precursor of what was to come, and without it, Halloween may very well have never happened at all.
Jamie Lee Curtis went on to do many more staples in every fans collection, such as Prom Night, Terror Train, and The Fog (also featuring Janet Leigh). Another noteworthy film starring Jamie Lee Curtis, though not horror related, is Trading Places. Just fast-forward until you see it. Trust me, you will know it when you see it and I PROMISE you will not be disappointed!
The relationship between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode made cinematic history with one film; but it was the franchise that kept the hardcore fans satisfied. What was it about Halloween that made this particular series stand out among all the rest? It certainly wasn’t the plot, or the treatment of some the films most beloved characters, or the “fast turnaround” between movies. So what could it be? This is a question I will not attempt to answer, as my personal bone to pick with the Halloween series is too extensive to explore in this countdown.
Jamie Lee Curtis is phenomenal in her performance, and it was the first time the average American saw a horror film based upon real people in real suburban neighborhoods. Suddenly the fear wasn’t set in some abandoned castle, outer space, or archaic manuscript. It was set squarely on the shoulders of the movie goer and played upon the fear of the unknown that lurks in his or her own backyard. This was absolutely crucial to our genre and changed everything forever.
It would be impossible to mention Jamie Lee Curtis and not touch briefly on her mother, the beautiful and talented Janet Leigh. To say that Janet paved the way for Jamie is a huge understatement, and to not recognize the importance of Psycho in the horror genre is blasphemous. Psycho was a precursor of what was to come, and without it, Halloween may very well have never happened at all.
Jamie Lee Curtis went on to do many more staples in every fans collection, such as Prom Night, Terror Train, and The Fog (also featuring Janet Leigh). Another noteworthy film starring Jamie Lee Curtis, though not horror related, is Trading Places. Just fast-forward until you see it. Trust me, you will know it when you see it and I PROMISE you will not be disappointed!
1. DANIELLE HARRIS
And here she is. My number one scream queen (and the only one on the countdown to appear out of character), the beautiful Danielle Harris. Whether she is reprising the role of Marybeth Dunstan, directing thrilling films like Among Friends, or continuing to star in and release exciting horror movies like The Black Waters of Echo’s Pond, Blood Night, Cyrus, Hallows Eve, The Victim, and of course Halloween, Danielle Harris has been and continues to be a constant face in the horror community.
It’s in her blood and there is no denying her place in horror history. Jamie Lloyd is still a Halloween fan favorite and her performance as a child cemented her destiny of being associated with the title of Scream Queen. The horror fan has absolutely everything with Danielle Harris: Sexuality, talent, believability, excitement, great story telling and not to mention a compelling social commentary with almost every movie.
It’s in her blood and there is no denying her place in horror history. Jamie Lloyd is still a Halloween fan favorite and her performance as a child cemented her destiny of being associated with the title of Scream Queen. The horror fan has absolutely everything with Danielle Harris: Sexuality, talent, believability, excitement, great story telling and not to mention a compelling social commentary with almost every movie.
The odds were against her from the beginning in the Horror world. She had to fill the enormous shoes of Laurie Strode and still carry her own as an individual character removed from her predecessor. Not only did she achieve this, but the performance propelled her to be famous within our community not only for Halloween, but for everything she has been a part of since. Jamie Lee Curtis couldn’t even do this, as her name was and will always be synonymous with Laurie Strode.
It is for these reasons and so many more (do a quick Google image search and you will find 27,400,000 other reasons) that Danielle Harris will always be my number one Scream Queen. I look forward to every movie she is in, and after Among Friends, can’t wait to see the other pictures she writes and directs.
It is for these reasons and so many more (do a quick Google image search and you will find 27,400,000 other reasons) that Danielle Harris will always be my number one Scream Queen. I look forward to every movie she is in, and after Among Friends, can’t wait to see the other pictures she writes and directs.
HONORABLE MENTIONS...
This list is not exhaustive or conclusive by any means, and while I have an outlet to publish these humble articles, I would feel somewhat incomplete by failing to at least mention some of the other contenders for the scream queen crown. I grew up with the modern age of horror films, therefore I have had to play catch up on a lot of the true classics that should never be missed. I am happy to report that I have seen my share, and though the movies that had the earliest effects on me ultimately won in my top five, here are a few that almost made the official list.
Linda Blair might very well have my vote for the most beautiful woman to ever live, let alone grace the screen. She petrified millions of viewers with her portrayal of Regan MacNeil in the Exorcist, a film so horrifying that it hasn’t been rivaled in over 40 years. Though the Exorcist franchise is usually left out of conversation save for the first film, it was 1977’s Exorcist II: The Heretic that introduced the jaw dropping beauty of its lead actress, Linda Blair. It is for this reason alone that The Heretic is even in my personal collection. |
Heather Lagenkamp will always be Nancy Thompson. Many other actors and actresses that have started in horror, or made frequent visits to the genre, have usually been able to soar past the heights of our misunderstood and morbid niche of the cinematic world and claim worldwide recognition; but not Heather Lagenkamp. And this works in our favor, both hers and ours. Johnny Depp, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore and Sharon Stone all began their careers in horror, and once the world discovered them, we lost valuable assets to our genre. That isn’t to say that these actors didn’t come back and revisit us a time or two, but it was never quite the same as when they were originally ours. With Heather Lagenkamp, she was, is, and will always be uniquely ours. We are the most rabid and diehard fan base in the film world, and Heather Lagenkamp is a staple in our fondest memories. |
I remember the day House of 1,000 Corpses came out on DVD (I was too young to see it theaters, so waiting was my only option). I had saved up enough money from my job as a bus-boy at our family owned restaurant to ensure that I purchased it the second it was released. I rushed home, ran up the stairs to my room, popped it in my brand new DVD player, hit the start button, and sat on my bed to await the ensuing terror.
I have never been one to rush passed the trailers, so I watched them all intently. Suddenly, one commercial began playing that seemed much darker than all the rest. It seemed evil, and I was transfixed from the second it started. I couldn’t look away, and I didn’t want to. The trailer was from an older movie, much older than any I had previously explored, and as the title dripped across the screen I mumbled the words aloud: “The House That Dripped Blood”.
I immediately paused the movie, counted the change I had left over from my purchase, and ran back down the stairs to beg my father to take me back to town so I could rent this terrifying movie I had just become aware of. Reluctantly he agreed, and what transpired next was one of the scariest nights of my adolescence.
Okay, so in retrospect, this movie isn’t particularly terrifying, and it might be the last movie that comes to mind when someone says the name Ingrid Pitt aloud (both The Wicker Man and The Vampire Lovers are better films than The House That Dripped Blood), but as a child the dark atmosphere and eerie iconography that this movie provided was exactly what I needed to set the stage for my life-long affinity for and obsession with the horror genre, and Ingrid Pitt especially sent a hormone fueled young boy right over the edge. Watching her performances, even to this day, Ingrid gave an almost ethereal and other worldly transience to the screen, as if we were seeing a window directly into the ancient past. She will always be remembered as one of the original scream queens for all of these reasons. Rest in peace.
I have never been one to rush passed the trailers, so I watched them all intently. Suddenly, one commercial began playing that seemed much darker than all the rest. It seemed evil, and I was transfixed from the second it started. I couldn’t look away, and I didn’t want to. The trailer was from an older movie, much older than any I had previously explored, and as the title dripped across the screen I mumbled the words aloud: “The House That Dripped Blood”.
I immediately paused the movie, counted the change I had left over from my purchase, and ran back down the stairs to beg my father to take me back to town so I could rent this terrifying movie I had just become aware of. Reluctantly he agreed, and what transpired next was one of the scariest nights of my adolescence.
Okay, so in retrospect, this movie isn’t particularly terrifying, and it might be the last movie that comes to mind when someone says the name Ingrid Pitt aloud (both The Wicker Man and The Vampire Lovers are better films than The House That Dripped Blood), but as a child the dark atmosphere and eerie iconography that this movie provided was exactly what I needed to set the stage for my life-long affinity for and obsession with the horror genre, and Ingrid Pitt especially sent a hormone fueled young boy right over the edge. Watching her performances, even to this day, Ingrid gave an almost ethereal and other worldly transience to the screen, as if we were seeing a window directly into the ancient past. She will always be remembered as one of the original scream queens for all of these reasons. Rest in peace.
Betsy Palmer! It’s easy to tell a casual movie goer from a hardcore horror fan. If the conversation ever comes up naturally, pose this simple question: Who was the killer in Friday the 13th? Most people I talk to will always say Jason (the original Scream even poked fun at this notion, in which Drew Barrymore’s character was “tricked” by the antagonist). Why is it that Pamela Voorhees is an afterthought in the mainstream audience? The entire series simply would not work without her. She is the motive for every killing attributed to Jason’s career; and Jason’s death was her motive for the original slaughter at Camp Crystal Lake. It’s a symbiotic relationship of the afterlife, a motif that transcends the limits of cinema: The relationship between mother and son.
It’s also badass. The very first time I watched Friday the 13th, I would have never guessed that the person guilty of impaling people through the neck with arrows, hacking victims apart with an axe, and slitting throats wide open with hunting knifes was a woman, and an old woman at that! If that doesn’t scream “Scream Queen”, then I don’t know what does.
It’s also badass. The very first time I watched Friday the 13th, I would have never guessed that the person guilty of impaling people through the neck with arrows, hacking victims apart with an axe, and slitting throats wide open with hunting knifes was a woman, and an old woman at that! If that doesn’t scream “Scream Queen”, then I don’t know what does.
Therein lies the magic that men see in women. We could care less what she has done in the past, what secrets lie within her eyes, or what skeletons she hides in her closet (in this case, quite literally). Once we find out whose skeletons those are and how long they have been there, a sexy woman can make a man forget about them entirely- as long as she sticks around.
L.A. Gore has been writing professionally for many years, with his articles appearing in numerous publications including Bibliotheca Alexandria, Waters of Life, Pangaia, Witches and Pagans, Playgrounds and The Circle. He has spent most of his life studying ancient and modern religion, and most of his work thus far represents his findings. He is a self-proclaimed horror movie fanatic, with over four hundred in his personal collection. A few of his personal favorites are Hellraiser, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Phantasm, Suspiria, Return of the Living Dead and Dead Alive. |