Contrary to what people might think, springtime can be very horrifying, and there are more than a few horror films that embody the season of spring. Horror doesn’t always have to be focused on dark atmospheres and a lack of color to be scary. In fact, some classic horror films have daytime settings for a majority of the film’s runtime. Of course, you can watch these horror films at any time of year, and they’ll still be effective. However, sometimes a themed marathon makes for a good time. And yes, that occasionally means horror films that fold into the seasons we’re currently in. The following films are horror films most of us know as well as lesser-discussed films because why not?
Read on to find horror films to turn on for your springtime marathon:
Carrie (1976)
An all-time classic and hailed as one of the best Stephen King adaptations, Carrie still resonates with modern-day audiences. The film follows a bullied teenage girl named Carrie (Sissy Spacek) who has telekinetic abilities. When she gets the chance to enact revenge on her tormentors, everything goes completely awry. It’s a horror film that’s often lumped into the “good for her” subgenre, all while being very dreamy in its color schemes.
Carrie’s atmosphere is mostly bright, and it makes the uncomfortable moments even more uncomfortable. It’s a beautiful and horrifying look into a sweet girl with an abusive religious mother being pushed to her breaking point. Carrie genuinely gives revenge a new meaning during the prom scene. And it’s the perfect film to throw on if you’re looking for a springtime horror film.
Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)
People might not know that Prom Night got a very campy sequel, one that has very little to do with the first film. Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II follows a teen girl who is possessed by the spirit of a student who died during their high school’s 1957 prom. The effects are wacky (in the best way), Mary Lou is an iconic bad girl, and it’s highly entertaining. Its minimal association with the first film makes it mostly a standalone as well.
The film might not be that deep intentionally, but Mary Lou possessing main character Vicki (Wendy Lyon) gives her character a sense of renewal. The rebellious nature of Mary Lou makes Vicki let go of her inhibitions. Considering springtime is all about renewal, Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II fits neatly into the themes of spring.
The Ruins (2008)
If body horror grosses you out too much, The Ruins might make you want to take an endless shower. The Ruins follows a group of friends who travel to Mexico for spring break and land themselves in a perilous situation involving killer vines. It might sound more campy than serious, but this film is actually effectively gross and very hopeless.
The Ruins takes something so simple as a vacation and turns into a descent into hell for the characters. It’s an effective body horror film set during spring break, and it goes against the associations that people have with the season. The suffering that the characters experience feels endless, and there’s commentary surrounding tourism. If you want something gnarly for a springtime watch, look no further than The Ruins.
Backcountry (2014)
Nature can be so ominous and unstoppable, and Backcountry captures that in an all too realistic way. Backcountry is mildly based on a true story about a black bear attack in Canada in 2005. The film focuses on a couple who go on a hiking trip that turns deadly when they’re stalked by a black bear. It’s not a film that kicks off the violent events right away; it slowly builds to the moment and it’s quite scary.
Backcountry perfectly builds the feeling of suspense and dread with the characters making silly decisions. The film is set in the Canadian wilderness, which isn’t a fairytale in real life, and Backcountry knows that. Survival horror that doesn’t feature an otherworldly monster isn’t a concept, but it works well in this. And if you’ve been considering a hiking or camping trip in the wilderness, this might deter you.
Tragedy Girls (2017)
A slasher comedy about two teenage serial killers might not appeal to everyone, but Tragedy Girls is buckets of fun (or blood). Tragedy Girls follows best friends Sadie (Brianna Hildebrand) and McKayla (Alexandra Shipp) who are desperate to become famous and kill to do so. It’s an underrated horror film that’s still topical, all things considered. Not to mention, it was also filmed during springtime.
Tragedy Girls delights in its bonkers comedic moments and a lot of blood. It doesn’t aim to make you like Sadie or McKayla, but they are both charming in the most unhinged way. And there’s a homoeroticism between them that’s interesting to think about. At the end of the day, Tragedy Girls is great for this time of year and any time of year.
Pearl (2022)
Ti West’s ambitious X trilogy is certainly admirable, and Pearl is quite the fan favorite among fans. Pearl is a prequel to X and follows Pearl (Mia Goth)’s origin story in 1918 and how she came to be who she is during the events of X. The film is quite whimsical and is deliberately reminiscent of a Disney film in its atmosphere and direction. It just also happens to be a horror film with a woman who has no problems murdering people.
Pearl is shot well, has many quotable and memorable moments, and its mostly daytime setting makes the events more ominous in nature. Her unraveling mental state and lost dreams also provide insight into her character motivations in X. As far as horror origin stories go, Pearl doesn’t waste any opportunity exploring who Pearl is at her core. She isn’t meant to be rooted for, unless you find yourself doing so, but she’s meant to be understood a bit more.
Vanessa Maki is a queer Blerd, freelance writer, and artist. She has written for a variety of publications including Pink Advocate, Dread Central, The Mary Sue, Hear Us Scream and many more. She's a former regular contributor for Pink Advocate and The Mary Sue. Currently she's a contributor for But Why Tho? You can find her on Twitter and IG @theblackbuffy.
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