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10 Grand Hagsploitation Horror Movies

No wire hangers, just 10 great psycho-biddy thrillers.
Hagsploitation
By  · Published on October 21st, 2019

5. Greta (2018)

Greta Huppert
Focus Features

It isn’t at all hyperbolic to say that Isabelle Huppert can do it all. In the 2018 Neil Jordan thriller, the legendary French actress stars as the eponymous character, a deranged dame who lures the unsuspecting Frankie (Chloë Grace Moretz, “best friend” of Boo Crew member Rob Hunter) to her Manhattan home under the guise of friendship. Unbeknownst to Frankie, Greta has more sinister ideas in mind. This is where Huppert truly gets to delight in violence and destruction. While she’s always been gifted at playing disturbed (see The Piano Teacher, La CérémonieElle, etc.) with Greta she is afforded the opportunity to go full-camp. Naturally, Huppert runs — or should I say dances? — with this opportunity and never looks back. (Anna Swanson)


4. Strait-Jacket (1964)

Strait Jacket

In this delightful thriller from William Castle, the wonderful Joan Crawford plays Lucy, a woman who, after catching her husband in bed with his mistress, decides to take an ax to both of them. Unfortunately, her young daughter also witnessed the atrocities, and when Lucy is released from the asylum 20 years later, she’s forced to deal with the ramifications of mother’s past — especially when bodies start piling up again. As expected, Crawford shines as the maniacal Lucy, while Castle’s stylish direction and nods to Alfred Hitchcock brings some class to proceedings. (Kieran Fisher)


3. Dead Ringer (1964)

Dead Ringer

It’s a well-known fact that when it comes to identical twins, one of them is born evil. At least that’s the case in Dead Ringer, which follows a woman who murders her wealthy twin sister and assumes her identity. However, impersonating one’s sibling is a tougher job than she anticipates, and she’s forced to contend with social engagements and legal dealings that are outside of her comfort zone. Bette Davis plays the dueling roles to perfection, and it’s easy to believe that she was two different people. (Kieran Fisher)


2. Mommie Dearest (1981)

Mommie Dearest

While not as heavy on the horror as a hagsploitation classic like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Mommie Dearest may be the best representation of the subgenres campiest edges. Not to say that the film isn’t horrific — remember, the infamous “wire hangers” line is delivered in a moment of unbridled child abuse — but Faye Dunaway’s magnetic, over the top performance as Joan Crawford is such a powerful force that the rest of the film can barely contend with it. Sure, you could say she is an uncompromising scene partner, unwilling to let any other actor exist within her orbit, but when we are over here gushing for a Joaquin Phoenix or Daniel Day-Lewis endurance test, the scenery chomping Dunaway deserves to have the same amount of respect for her commitment to a performance. And oh what a performance! (Jacob Trussell)


1. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Baby Jane

Whenever a pang of jealousy hits my heart, I think of the two contemptuous beasts at the center of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? The film is a Hagsploitation twofer. You get the demented Baby Jane (Bette Davis) exuding a wretched loathing for the sister who overtook her stardom and (maybe) fell under the weight of the family wheels. Then there’s the more delicate and tormented Blanche (Joan Crawford) leaning heavy into her injuries to wield power over the maniac sibling. Pick your poison; they’re both monsters worthy of disgust. Letting the basest form of self-doubt creep into their psychology infects decades of their lives with fear, anger, and hatred. Inevitably, their war spills into the lives of others, leading to death and ruination. (Brad Gullickson)


Don’t be a hag; read more entries in our 31 Days of Horror Lists!

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Anna Swanson is a Senior Contributor who hails from Toronto. She can usually be found at the nearest rep screening of a Brian De Palma film.