I discovered the existence of bubblegum horror the same way I discover all my favorite things — bored and scrolling through Instagram. Since I am a horror fan and the Instagram algorithm is scarily good at showing me horror content that I’d like, I wasn’t surprised when a post displaying movies in the subgenre appeared on my feed. However, when I saw one of my favorite movies, Lisa Frankenstein, under the heading of bubblegum horror, I knew I had to look further into this. What surprised me? The fact that this subgenre of horror contained almost all of my favorite horror movies, and was the accidental reason that I got into horror.
So, what is bubblegum horror? Bubblegum horror, according to ELLE India, is “…the cinematic embodiment of reclamation. It pairs candy-coloured aesthetics, pinks, sparkles, and doll-like femininity, with visceral horror and biting satire.” The existence of bubblegum horror is a direct defiance of what the horror genre has been defined as, and is carving out a space that didn’t really exist before. Horror is known for its dark lighting, suspenseful pacing, and extremely violent kills — almost seen as a film genre for boys. Girls had rom-coms with the bright colors, fun outfits, and almost Barbie doll-esque aesthetic. Rom-coms weren’t seen as serious movies, thus giving them the derogatory nickname of “chick flicks.” Bubblegum horror takes these “girly” views, with their female leads and glitter, and thrusts them into the violent world of horror, showing that women can be just as, if not more, brutal than their male counterparts.
Bubblegum horror is also the newest creation in a genre that hasn’t really been a safe space for women. If you were a woman in a horror film, good luck. As a woman in a horror film, up until recent years, you had two tropes that you could fall into: you were either oversexualized with scenes that had gratuitous nudity and were then killed first, or you were a “final girl,” which meant that you survived, but because you were “masculinized and desexualized” and probably had a man help you. These tropes only really began to shift in the 1990s, where female roles in horrors began to broaden from these two tropes. The idea of a “final girl” prevailed, but now she’s tougher. She didn’t survive by luck, but she fought her attacker head-on. Bubblegum horror also pushes the envelope on who the killer could be in a horror movie. The pretty girl who would normally die first in a horror movie from the 70s? In bubblegum horror, she’s the new killer, and is sometimes even scarier than her male counterpart would’ve been.
When talking about bubblegum horror (my new favorite subgenre), I would be remiss to not give some of my favorite movies that embody the genre perfectly. Whether it’s the bright, colorful aesthetic or the power that the female lead holds, these movies are phenomenal and definitely worth the watch.
- Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
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The movie that started the list for me is the (wildly unappreciated) film, Lisa Frankenstein. When Lisa accidentally brings a dead bachelor back to life, the two go on a rampage, going after everyone who had wronged her before. The film twists classics like Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, all while bathing the lead characters in the bright neons of the late 80s. With kills set to songs of the 80s and the protagonist Lisa framed in blue eyeshadow and red lipstick, Lisa Frankenstein is teenage girl angst and rage at its finest.
- Last Night in Soho (2021)
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This was one of those movies that really reminded me that movies with gorgeous visuals and sound can have really dark storylines and themes. The exposition of Last Night in Soho sets up the movie to almost be a science fiction movie or a coming-of-age story, then throws you headfirst into a psychological horror with no indication of the shift. Last Night in Soho follows fashion student Eloise who holds a gift of being able to slip into the past, where she lives vicariously through aspiring singer Sandie. The glamour of Sandie’s life quickly turns dark and deadly, however, and the ghosts from her past begin to torment Eloise in the present. It’s dark and honestly depressing at points, all wrapped up in a glittery 60s setting to disguise the horrors.
- Freaky (2020)
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A great encapsulation of taking a “girly” movie and flipping it is Freaky. Freaky is the classic body-swapping premise like in Freaky Friday but flips it — the two that swap are a 17-year-old girl and an older male serial killer terrorizing the town. Freaky is great because it has all the hallmarks of a great coming-of-age story, such as romance and finding one’s identity, but puts it against the threat of literally having your body being inhabited by a serial killer. Now that’s freaky.
- Jennifer’s Body (2009)
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A cult classic, and for good reason. Jennifer’s Body takes the trope of “oversexualized teen girl in a horror movie” and turns it on its head. When Jennifer is part of a failed sacrifice, she is then possessed by a succubus to take revenge on the boys in her school, killing them as retribution. Jennifer’s sexuality isn’t used against her, instead, she gets to wield it like a weapon (in some really cute clothes, might I add.)
- The Craft (1996)
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Another film that twists a coming-of-age story with horror beautifully is The Craft. Set against the background of a private Catholic high school, four girls decide to take up witchcraft to make their lives better. It works…until it doesn’t, and things begin to turn. However, as the magic starts to darken, so do the girls’ desires, and a few deaths aren’t going to stop them from getting what they want.
- Pearl (2022)
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Pearl is quite literally a brutal psychological horror wrapped in the Technicolor sheen of a Golden Age Hollywood film. The film blends horror and almost fantasy-like qualities of films like The Wizard of Oz to create a demented tale of stardom and psychosis. Pearl wants nothing more to be a star, specifically a dancer like in her favorite pictures, but she’s trapped on her family’s farm under the weight of familial expectation. Pearl refuses to let anything stop her dream, however, and if there has to be some bloodshed, then so be it. Complete with a grand orchestral score and a captivating female lead, watching Pearl feels like watching a twisted fairy tale come to life. While Pearl is an origin story, there’s no need to watch the other films to enjoy Pearl, in my opinion.
- The Substance (2024)
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Have you ever dreamed of a more perfect you? With the Substance, you can achieve that goal. Faded Hollywood star Elisabeth Sparkle wants nothing more than to be back in the limelight after being forced out for her age, and a black market drug called the Substance promises that for her by creating a more “perfect” version of herself. However, as with any drug, this one has consequences, and Elisabeth’s “perfect” counterpart Sue has a darker edge than anyone could expect. The Substance perfectly encapsulates bubblegum horror, with the dark horror encased in a pink, glittery Hollywood setting. Need another reason for this movie to be included on the list? The most brutal scene in the entire film is literally presented in a blue princess gown and diamonds.
- Heathers (1989)
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Heathers walked so Mean Girls could run, and I stand by this. If you want to see teen female rage turned up to its fullest extent, Heathers is the way to go. Veronica is an outcast, then adopted by the queens of the school, the Heathers, and is made popular… even if being at the mercy of the Heathers isn’t great. But when fellow outcast J.D. proposes a plan to bring the Heathers and other popular classmates down, Veronica is on board, that is, until the bodies begin to fall. Heathers is a cult classic for a reason, and there’s something so intriguing about murder plots set against the very preppy setting of Westerburg High and the Heathers themselves.
While these are just a few of the *many* bubblegum horror movies that I could recommend, the subgenre is actually more expansive than you might think! I highly encourage checking out these movies, and so many others that fall into the subgenre, because who doesn’t love a little bit of pink glitter and feminine rage with their horror movies?