Written and directed by Roman Polanski, based on the novel by Ira Levin 

Forced pregnancy is especially hellish in Rosemary’s Baby, which sees the titular young woman move into a new apartment with her husband, and shortly afterward, become pregnant under circumstances that are slowly, dreadfully, revealed to be diabolical. Throughout the movie, we see Rosemary becoming increasingly isolated by her husband; her neighbors; and even her doctor, whose only true concern is the baby she is carrying, and not Rosemary, who gets progressively sicker as her pregnancy progresses. This film is a classic for a reason, and its director, disgraced for his sexual abuse of a young girl, adds a thorny layer of irony to the whole affair. 

Directed by Bryan Forbes; written by William Goldman, based on the novel by Ira Levin 

The Stepford Wives is a master class in domestic horror. Set at the height of second-wave feminism, it centers the terrifying idea that your husband wants not a wife with her own thoughts, opinions, or desires but a facsimile whose only purpose is to serve and obey. Talented photographer Joanna Eberhart moves with her husband and kids from New York City to Stepford, Connecticut, and is instantly bewildered by the neighborhood women’s submissive behavior toward the men around town. Soon, the eerie culture permeates her household, and the outspoken and confident Joanna is left to her own devices to discover what’s in the water — and all those damn men’s meetings — before it’s too late. I watched this movie for the first time a year ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it since because of how timely it still somehow feels 50 years after its release.

Written and directed by Ti West 

Financial struggles force college student Samantha to take a babysitting job at a remote mansion. Upon arrival, she learns that she won’t be babysitting a child but an elderly woman. Samantha is hesitant to stay, but the promise of $400 for the night overrides her doubts — and sends her straight into a trap. The villains financially manipulate Samantha into ignoring her intuition and then set about trying to use her body for nefarious purposes. Despite its more modern release date, this movie feels like something plucked from the 80s and is the perfect Fall horror flick. 

Written and directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis 

Hunter Conrad is a young housewife who is feeling suffocated by domestic life. In a desperate bid to regain control, she begins eating inedible objects of increasing concern: a marble, pushpins, batteries, worse. Instead of compassion, she’s met with anger and more constraints, including a grown man her husband hires to babysit her. When Hunter becomes pregnant, and her husband’s strictures become even more unbearable, she goes to ever-greater lengths to reclaim her freedom. This film is set in the present and yet feels like it borrows so much from the movies that came before it — Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives — in the best possible way. It’s suffocating and horrifying but also, I believe, deeply important.

Directed by Arkasha Stevenson; written by Arkasha Stevenson, Tim Smith, and Keith Thomas 

Bodily autonomy gets the religious treatment in The First Omen. After letting off some steam at a disco one night, novice nun Margaret wakes up the next morning uncertain of what happened. Hint: it involves pregnancy, the antichrist, and a sweeping fear of secularism among Catholic radicals. Margaret learns these truths in a horrifying but deeply poignant scene that reflects the state of reproductive rights in today’s America. This movie is equal parts agonizing and mesmerizing and one of the best horror entries of 2024.

Written and directed by Drew Hancock 

Yet another modern blockbuster that hearkens back to The Stepford Wives, Companion is a modern-day exploration of a man’s desire for a partner who, instead of thinking for herself or leading her own life, exists only for him. Iris is madly in love with main character Josh. She’s eager to have sex whenever he wants, on the same page with him about everything, and more than willing to make herself scarce whenever he’s sick of her. That is, until Iris makes a discovery that rocks the very foundation of their relationship and sends her on a bloody — and bloody fun — rampage through female rage, revenge, and self-discovery.

Written and directed by Curry Barker 

This list would be woefully incomplete without Obsession, perhaps the most discussed horror movie of the year. In it, we meet Nikki Freeman, a young woman with dreams and desires who quite literally loses herself after her longtime platonic friend Bear makes a wish for her to love him “more than anyone in the world.” Man, does that wish come true. Instantly, Nikki is obsessed with Bear, and Bear alone, and as her desperation to win his unbroken affection builds, her antics escalate past psycho ex to serial killer. But as the film gradually reveals what’s happening within Nikki’s body to bring Bear’s wish to light, we’re left with a portrait of a much more insidious villain. Obsession is considered one of the best horror films of 2026 for a reason: it is thought-provoking, has excellent acting, and leaves you hollow by the time the credits roll.