Most Powerful Quotes from the Women of Horror Movies & TV

Horror is a genre that subverts expectation. Fans of scary movies and terrifying TV love it for many reasons, but one of the most enduring is the way horror leaves us in suspense about what lies waiting just around the corner. The shadows are filled with killers but also memorable survivors.

Women in horror have gone through a major upgrade in modern cinema. In years past, they might have been forced into roles that were essentially damsels in distress or, at the very worst, fodder for the violence of villains. The first wave of final girls, like Laurie Strode of Halloween and Sydney Prescott of Scream, paved the way for something else. Now women hold a powerful place in many horror classics of today. Sharpen your knives. These ladies did not come to play.

Warning: Plot twist spoilers ahead!

---

“I, myself, am strange and unusual.” – Lydia Deetz, Beetlejuice

Lydia Deetz kicks off our list of powerfully horrific quotes with arguably her most famous line. This young girl is without a doubt in tune with her darker side, which helps her connect with the Maitlands and vanquish Beetlejuice once and for all. It’s good to allow yourself to be strange and even unusual. There’s power in embracing your darkness. Those who stand out have the best adventures (and ghostly dance scenes).

---

“Never $^@% with the daughter of a serial killer.” – Sam Carpenter, Scream V

It’s not an easy feat for a franchise like Scream to outdo itself. The super-meta film series has always had a knack for self-reference and clever allusions to previous horror classics. But the ultimate twist of the knife with Scream V is Sam Carpenter’s troubling heritage. Her family struggles drive her to do what’s necessary to protect her sister and in the end, we get a compelling franchise lead who carries the action and brings plenty of meta madness to the fray.

---

“You think that I am not a hunter like you. That I am not a threat. That is what makes me dangerous. You can’t see that I’m killing you. And it won’t either.” – Naru, Prey

Among her peers, Naru is underestimated. Even her brother doubts her ability to be a hunter. But this young Comanche woman will not be deterred — even when she’s up against a Predator. All by herself, she manages to take down the deadly alien, once and for all proving that her strength lies in what she knows she can do, not what others think of her.

---

“Someone once said that even the thickest darkness disappears with the faintest light.” – Yoon Ji-su, Sweet Home

A protagonist serves as a spark who guides audiences through perilous journeys. Horror is full of darkness, both literal and figurative, and always terrifying. But Yoon Ji-su reminds us that a tiny fleck of light is enough to cast out the darkness. A little hope goes a long way, especially when you have to fight monsters every day to survive.

---

“And to think, if it weren’t for you, I never would have danced at all.” – Red, Us

Speaking of protagonists, there’s often an opposite force at play when it comes to the plot. The antagonist pushes and pulls on the protagonist. Sometimes we see growth between the two but other times, it’s a relationship of pure hatred. Jordan Peele’s Us examines how the shadowy parts of ourselves can surface in unforeseen ways. The slightest choice can have rippling consequences on the lives of others. Even those we never imagined existing in the first place.

---

“Who are you outside of me?” – Claudia, Interview With the Vampire

Being a teenager is absolute hell. Add on to that becoming a vampire and you’re really in for a wild ride. When the vampire lovers Louis and Lestat turn Claudia into a creature of the night, they certainly get more than they bargained for with this young woman. They had intended to create a family, someone who could fuel their domestic fantasy. In reality, Claudia pushed them both to the brink of their sanity — and rightfully so. She forces her fathers to truly see themselves for the monsters they are.

---

“Sorry, Hell’s under new management now.” – Sabrina Spellman, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Forget what you remember about the ’90s sitcom. This version of Sabrina Spellman is positively infernal in the best ways. In fact, her father turns out to be Lucifer Morningstar, AKA Satan Himself. Sabrina’s journey toward embracing the family business is delicious to watch in all of its gore and hellfire. For a time, she even challenges her father that she can do better in keeping his realm in line. She might not keep this position permanently but it’s a devilishly good time to watch.

---

“I want what they have so badly, to be perfect, to be loved from as many people as possible, to make up for all my time spent suffering.” – Pearl, Pearl

Listen, Pearl is a star. There’s no denying it. But her journey to infamy is littered with body parts. Even so, underneath all the carnage, it’s hard not to feel (a little) bad for Pearl. All she wants is recognition and a life beyond the simple farm she has always known. Her heartbreaking monologue is evidence of the incredible depth she possesses. It’s a universal desire to be seen for our talents and Pearl certainly does everything in her power to get a taste of that fame.

---

“Because I want to run towards something, not away.” – Beverly, IT

True bravery is not ignoring your fear but facing It. The Losers Club discovers, each in their own way, this truth when they battle Pennywise. In IT (2017), Beverly Marsh is done running. Like her friends, she decides to face Pennywise once and for all. Everyone could stand to learn from Beverly’s brave example.

---

“I didn’t feel any sympathy from you. I like that. Sympathy feels like spit in my face, and I don’t do self-pity.” — Reba McClane, Hannibal

At first glance, maybe this sounds a bit harsh. But Reba has a point. There comes a time when we have to be self-sufficient, fueled by our own capability rather than the pity of others. When that time comes, we must find what we need from within. Sympathy is nice but it doesn’t get you through hardship. We do that for ourselves.

---

“CONTROL YOURSELF!” – Sue, The Substance

If you could utilize your own DNA to make a better, younger you … would you? That’s the question aging star Elisabeth Sparkle grapples with in The Substance. Coralie Fargeat’s body horror cringefest forces the audience to look inward at their own sense of self. What two sides are in constant battle for dominance? Thanks to the Substance, Elisabeth can live as Sue, a younger version of herself at the peak of her Hollywood fame. But the balance of selves must be respected. If not, well, there’s a price to pay.

---

“Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Candyman.” – Brianna Cartwright, Candyman

It takes true ingenuity to weaponize fear. The urban legend of Candyman haunted Cabrini-Green for decades, even infiltrating the surrounding Chicago suburbs. Say his name five times and Candyman will swarm in with vengeance. But Brianna at last finds a way to use the spirit’s power for her own defense in a wickedly satisfying, sweetly gruesome climax. She manipulates the chant by strategically saying Candyman’s name so she can control his target. The buzz certainly echoes in the alleyways when she whispers “Candyman.”

---

The next time fear creeps up on you, channel the power of these fantastic women of horror. Their strength will carry you far — even if it’s right into a killer’s path. Hey, you can’t win ’em all. That’s horror.

Who’s your favorite woman in horror? Join the conversation with other horror fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!

Do you have a taste for terror? Are you ready to party like a vampire and wake up screaming? Run while you can … Spooktacular has come home!

Kiss your nerves goodbye during Sideshow’s Spooktacular 2024, a celebration with ghastly giveaways, deathly deals, eerie exclusive perks, and more. Join us from October 21 – October 31 by visiting side.show/spooktacular and don’t forget — sleep is for the weak!