Horror Movies that deserve to be part of everyone’s Mother’s Day tradition

When it comes to figuring out what to watch on Mother’s Day, there are, of course, several genres that have solidified themselves as go-to choices for the maternal holiday that each offer a slew of tear-inducing titles with heartwarming and family-friendly narratives. But if people are looking to change things up tradition-wise and dip into the dark side of cinema for mom’s special day, the horror genre has a few terrifying tales that are surprisingly a perfect fit for the occasion.

Everybody who has experienced the beautiful joy of motherhood knows that it can tend to essentially feel at times, to put it dramatically, like a wild ride complete with all kinds of thrills, chills, and twists no one saw coming. So, if people are trying to find a new way to embrace these hair-raising elements of matriarchal duties, why not celebrate Mother’s Day with horror movies offering up cleverly crafted, thought-provoking mom-related tales of terror that are as frightening as they are fascinating?

Mama

In the realm of horror films, many may not realize it, but Mama emerges as a remarkably fitting choice for Mother's Day viewing. The film is executive produced by the notorious GDT, better known as Guillermo del Toro, who has made masterful monster movies like Pan’s Labyrinth. Sitting in the director’s chair is Andy Muschietti, who made his presence known in the genre with It and It Chapter 2. The movie that paved the way for that success is the 2013 horror feature starring Academy Award winner Jessica Chastain.

Mama follows two young girls who, through a tragic event, end up missing in the wilderness for five years. They are found in a feral state and adopted by their uncle, Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and his girlfriend, played by Chastain. However, raising the two children becomes much more difficult when it becomes apparent that an otherworldly entity has followed the children to their new domestic life, wasting no time making it known that it isn't thrilled about someone else raising the girls.

The movie has excellent execution when it comes to jump scares, as they are surgically placed to amp up the tension without hurting the storyline. But it's the creepy crawling maneuvers and mannerisms of the feral children and the nightmarish design of the titular monster that will play on repeat in people’s nightmares long after they hit the credits. Ultimately, the film manages to tell a haunting story that touches upon the complexities relating to the maternal connection between a woman and child, making it an ideal, while unconventional, Mother's Day movie.

You Are Not My Mother

Don’t let the title fool you folks because You Are Not My Mother is a stellar scary movie choice for Mother's Day. The Irish film made its debut at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival and, since its arrival, has gone on to achieve an ample amount of critical acclaim from many respected outlets, culminating in a Certified Fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks in part to its cast, led by Hazel Coupe, known for her work on Sanctuary: a Witch’s Tale and Unicorn: Warriors Element, with Ingrid Craigie from Blackshore, and Carolyn Bracken, who can be seen in Dublin Murders. The well-crafted motion picture was written and directed by Kat Dolan, who has helmed episodes of hit shows like Kin and The Tourist.

Set against the eerie backdrop of a secluded Dublin suburb, the film follows a girl named Char, who lives with her ailing grandmother Rita and her mother Angela, who suffers from depression. But Char’s less-than-ideal living situation gets even worse thanks to her mom’s mysterious disappearance and the strange way she begins to act upon her return. As her household life continues to spiral out of control, Char’s search for answers begins to uncover haunting revelations about her family’s past.

You Are Not My Mother proves early on to be a gripping tension-fused affair that slowly revs up the trepidation, as well as the unnerving atmosphere ever so slightly as it unfolds. On top of that, Bracken’s unhinged and relentless performance is so disturbingly brilliant, viewers will have watched and looked away. All this and more make this horrifying holiday movie worth watching on Mother’s Day.

Relic

While the name may make it seem old or outdated, Relic remains a timeless option for horror fans to enjoy on Mother's Day. The nightmarish Certified Fresh feature from 202o premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and features a cast of notable players, such as Emily Mortimer from The Newsroom, Robyn Nevin from The Matrix sequels, and Bella Heathcote from Professor Marston & Wonder Women. The Australian psychological horror film's writer and Director is Natalie Erika James, whose credits include the Rosemary’s Baby prequel Apartment 7A.

Relic’s story kicks off when a woman named Edna vanishes, causing her daughter Kay and granddaughter Sam to investigate, and in doing so, they find substantial evidence throughout the household that points to her decline. When Edna suddenly returns, her behavior starts to get out of control, and strange things begin to happen around the house, making it quite clear that some kind of evil presence may be to blame. The haunting visual depictions of decay and rot within the house not only enhance the perfectly paced tension but also assist in steering the stirring narrative to its chilling conclusion. If people are looking to experience an unnerving take on the horrors of time slipping away on Mother’s Day, look no further than Relic.

Umma

The 2022 feature film Umma is absolutely making it on the list of frightening films to watch on Mother’s Day. Sam Raimi, a man known for his work on Spider-Man, but highly revered for his contributions to horror cinema, such as the Evil Dead franchise, is credited as the film’s producer, with Iris K. Shim having penned the screenplay and called the shots as director. The cast consists of recognizable talent like Fivel Stewart from The Recruit and Atypical, as well as Dermot Mulroney from Secret Wars and Scream VI. But the true MVP is Golden Globe Winner Sandra Oh, who fans will know from any of the many titles making up her prolific filmography like Quiz Lady or Killing Eve. The actress leads the way in a feature that received positive reviews from several notable outlets like Radio Times, Common Sense Media, The Los Angeles, and IndieWire.

Umma follows Amanda, a self-sufficient woman raising a teenage girl by herself on a farm with little to no technology or electricity, who, despite seeming like she has everything under control, has a rampant fear of becoming like her estranged mother, which is only exacerbated by the arrival of her ashes from Korea. Not long after, strange things begin to occur, and a ghostly entity begins to make its presence known, indicating her mom may not have left this world behind. Once horror fans press play on Mother’s Day, they will quickly notice that throughout the tension-filled narrative, Umma’s story manages to explore the complexities surrounding the cultural divide different generations are known to experience and puts an interesting spin on a mother’s fear of losing her daughter, or worse, not being a part of her future at all. 

Hereditary

Hereditary most certainly stands out as a top-tier choice for Mother's Day scares, a frighteningly ambitious claim that can easily be backed up by the 2018 horror flick's outstanding run of success. The Certified Fresh motion picture, written and directed by renowned filmmaker Ari Aster, who also helmed Midsommar and Beau is Not Afraid, first arrived on the scene via the Sundance Film Festival, which led to a theatrical run resulting in $82 million at the box office against a humble budget of $10 million. There are some notable cast members, such as Alex Wolf, Ann Dowd, and Gabriel Byrne, but the MVP is Toni Collette, who received universal acclaim for her performance.

The movie follows Annie (played by Collette) and the rest of her grieving family as things begin to unravel after the death of her secretive mother, which includes strange occurrences, brutal deaths, creepy cults, and surgically placed supernatural scares. There is no denying the script, direction, and cast all get top scores on this one, but where this frightfully clever feature really shines is the eerily exquisite manner the cinematography and sound create a haunting and suspense-ridden atmosphere. Given everything it does right, it is safe to say that Hereditary is an excellent example of elevated horror that masterfully escalates the tension with its slow-burning narrative, subtle but engaging supernatural elements, and an unforgettable surprise ending that will leave viewers on Mother’s Day stunned, petrified and wanting more all at once.

If you enjoy my articles, lists, stories, and more, make sure to click SUBSCRIBE to not miss any new content. And if you want to help support WRITTENBYDJR, please feel free to PLEDGE SUPPORT or leave a TIP. Any support is always extremely appreciated, and I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to read my work.

Make sure to check out WrittenByDJR.com and ProducedByDJR.com. Also, check out my work on Amazon Prime Video and Vimeo, and make sure to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @WrittenByDJR.