With last week’s release of Immaculate starring Sydney Sweeney and The First Omen coming to theaters on April 5, it seems more than appropriate to examine some of the best pregnancy horror movies. Many readers may first think of classics like Rosemary’s Baby, which concerns a woman carrying the devil’s child. While this list will cover some films with similar concepts to Rosemary’s Baby, the subgenre is more dynamic than many think.
From telepathic unborn children to a brutal home invasion, the movies on this list are all different takes on the dark side of the beginning stages of motherhood.
Inside
Part of the New French Extremity, a horror film movement popular in the 2000s, Inside is a harrowing and brutally violent home invasion film that is not for the squeamish. Written and directed by modern horror masters Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, Inside tells the shocking story of a pregnant woman named Sarah who loses her husband in a tragic car accident. One night, while Sarah is alone in her home, a sinister woman breaks in, intent on taking what is inside.
Inside is a striking movie because it is extremely disturbing, yet the audacious set design and striking color schemes make this movie strangely beautiful to look at, even when the carnage is at full force. Not a typical pregnancy horror film, Inside is a slasher that depicts an unspeakable situation and is fully equipped with plenty of gore and two badass female leads.
Inside is currently streaming on Tubi.
Prevenge
A horror comedy with a bizarrely inventive plot, Prevenge stars English comedian Alice Lowe as Ruth, a pregnant woman whose husband dies during a rock climbing excursion. Ruth soon starts communicating telepathically with her unborn baby, who tells her to get violent revenge on the people who failed to save her husband’s life.
Prevenge is hilarious but also emotionally charged. Lowe, who was seen in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, showcases that she is a powerhouse with her brave directorial debut, which is one of the best pregnancy horror movies.
Prevenge is currently streaming on Shudder and AMC+.
Shelley
A lesser-known Danish horror film that holds a mysterious allure, Shelley is an atmospheric movie that plays out like a 70s Polanski film but for a modern audience. Shelly tells the story of a wealthy couple who cannot have children, so they ask a Romanian maid to be their surrogate. Things slowly go awry, and it soon becomes apparent that supernatural occurrences are at play.
Shelley succeeds as a psychological thriller because it is so well-layered, and the esoteric plotline will keep viewers guessing until the very end of one of the best pregnancy horror movies.
Shelley is currently available to stream on Tubi.
Antibirth
A gonzo body horror delight starring Natasha Lyonne and Chloe Sevigny, Antibirth is a surreal descent into madness that has one of the most shocking childbirth scenes ever put on screen. Antibirth concerns a drug-loving party animal who becomes pregnant after taking a strange drug.
Antibirth features uncanny elements such as unnerving mascots at a children’s birthday party and a bizarre creature that is as fascinating as it is grotesque. The film is funny and grimy, blending sleaze with eccentric storytelling.
Antibirth is currently available to stream on AMC+.
Husera: The Bone Woman
A fairly recent release, Husera: The Bone Woman is a nightmarish retelling of Mexican folklore but with a modern lens. The film follows Valeria (Natalia Solián), a woman who desperately wants to have a baby with her husband. When the dream finally comes true and Valeria does become pregnant, the happy time is overshadowed by hallucinations and an ancient evil that wants Valeria and her baby.
Husera feels closer to pregnancy horror films of the 70s, but its visual aesthetic is extremely unique and fear-inducing. Husera is a psychological breakdown that is memorable and features a demonic dance of sorts in its climax that is almost impossible to shake.
Husera: The Bone Woman is currently available to stream on AMC+ and Shudder.
Titane
The winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, Titane is a dynamic body horror masterpiece that is basically two separate movies in one. The sophomore directorial effort from Raw director Julia Ducournau, Titane tells the dark tale of Alexia (Agathe Rousselle), a serial killer and exotic dancer with an inclination for cars, which began when she received a metal plate in her head after being in a bad accident as a child.
In the second act of the film, Alexia is forced to change her identity and pose as a missing boy in order to escape the law. One flaw in her plan is that she is pregnant with a child through remarkable circumstances. Titane begins as a female-led, cyberpunk take on American Psycho, before turning into a painstaking drama about loss, gender, and love. The film features the birth of a baby who is born with titanium in its body, and this reveal makes this mind-bending film even more unforgettable.
Titane is currently available to stream on Hulu.
Baby Ruby
Baby Ruby is a little different from the other films on this list since it showcases the horror of postpartum depression, rather than just focusing on the pregnancy itself. Baby Ruby follows an influencer named Jo (Noémie Merlant) who starts losing time and having terrifying hallucinations after the birth of her child, leading her to become frightened of her own baby.
Baby Ruby is a realistic, metaphorical thriller that showcases a very relatable experience inside of a frightening and enjoyable package. One dream sequence involving Jo dead at the hands of her own baby will be ingrained into the minds of many viewers, which is why it makes our list of the best pregnancy horror movies.
Baby Ruby is currently available to stream on Hulu.
The Brood
Written and directed by David Cronenberg shortly following a divorce, 1979’s The Brood is a visceral classic horror film that tackles motherhood in a way no film has before or after. The Brood is about a woman who creates children through her own rage during psychotherapy sessions.
The Brood is a scary film, featuring impeccable designs for the monstrous children at the heart of the story. One scene of body horror featuring actress Samantha Eggar licking a demented baby clean is iconic and twisted, but a classroom murder scene is probably The Brood’s most disturbing.
The Brood is currently Available to stream on Max.