Hear me out.  There are a couple reasons why you might want to watch a scary movie on Mother’s Day.  Firstly, maybe your mom just likes horror movies!  But if I may put my film nerd hat on for a second, one of the most important tricks in the horror toolkit is taking something people typically think of as safe and comforting and making it frightening.  When a director or a screenwriter focuses on familial relationships alongside or within the scares, they can reliably create a memorably chilling cinematic experience.  The following films include scared moms, scary moms, and sometimes both, and all of them are excellent picks for any horror fan at any time of year.

Alien

The Xenomorph, the iconic creation of artist H.R. Giger, is technically only doing what comes naturally for the propagation of her species.  Unfortunately, that involves using the crew of the Nostromo as hosts.  Only Ellen Ripley may have the strength not only to survive, but to fight back.  In the forty-six years (!) since this film’s release, Alien has become the gold standard for sci-fi horror.  Anchored by Sigourney Weaver’s unforgettable protagonist, the film provides both spine-tingling suspense and heart-pounding adrenaline rushes. The Xenomorph may be one of the all-time feats of cinematic creature design.  As far as the film’s applicability to Mother’s Day, the sequel just so happens to contain one of the most iconic Mama Bear one-liners in all of cinema.  You know the one.

The Others

When an A-list acting performance meets the horror genre, magic happens. In Alejondro Amenábar’s The Others, Nicole Kidman plays Grace, a mother who has recently relocated her family to a house on a remote island to await her husband’s return from WWII.  Gradually, Grace begins to suspect that something supernatural is going on in her new home.  Kidman’s mesmerizing performance breathes new life into the format of the classic ghost story.  Something similar to this film’s twist takes place in a far more famous movie, which I won’t name, but the flawlessly depicted atmosphere of creeping dread makes The Others a chilling work of art all its own.

Us

This surreal film by Jordan Peele features Lupita Nyong’o playing a pair of dueling doppelgangers.  As the seemingly ordinary Adelaide, she must fight to protect her family from Red, the fearsome matriarch of a family of Tethered, uncanny copies fueled by the desire to torment their doubles.  As the harrowing night wears on, Adelaide begins to realize that Red and the rest of the Tethered have designs that reach far beyond her family.  Finally, the film’s shocking twist recontextualizes all we thought we knew both Red and Adelaide.  Nyong’o’s performance in this film is truly one for the ages, and if stellar acting and writing weren’t enough, the film’s unique visual design and haunting music will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Cuckoo

When troubled teen Gretchen arrives at a resort in Germany with her father, stepmother, and stepsister, she realizes pretty quickly that something’s off.  She’s haunted and pursued by foreboding strangers and stranger events.  Soon, the emotional strife of Gretchen’s family intertwines with a sinister conspiracy that shatters all Gretchen thought she knew.  To explain how this film relates to the theme of this blog post would be to spoil an excellent twist, so I’ll refrain.  Suffice it to say that this film is an excellent pick for all fans of Weird Vibes (™).  The tension starts building right away and never lets up until one of the greatest final acts I’ve seen in horror cinema in recent memory.