10 Horror Movies That Are Also Coming Of Age Movies

Although the horror and coming of age genres seem to be on opposite ends of the movie spectrum at first glance, it’s surprising just how much the two share in common. Sure, The Breakfast Club and Saw are indeed worlds apart, but the themes and character archetypes found in the two genres often intersect in very similar ways.

Both tend to explore the inner turmoil and anxieties of their main characters, with the events of the movie forcing them to adapt or change in various ways to succeed. In fact, the two genres have so much in common that there’s a tonne of movies that are both horror and coming of age movies – and here are ten of the best of them.

10 Raw (2016)

Written and directed by French director Julia Ducournau, 2016’s Raw sees lifelong vegetarian Justine pressured into eating meat for the first time during a strange hazing ceremony at her new veterinary school. This leads Justine to develop a much more sinister appetite, as she begins to discover more about herself – and her family – than she ever thought possible.

At its core, Raw is a horror movie about self-discovery. While it’s easy to get distracted by the movie’s striking visuals and shocking violence, the movie is ultimately about desire of all kinds, dealing with Justine’s burgeoning hunger for sex and acceptance as well as flesh.

9 Summer of 84 (2018)

One of the more underrated mixtures of the horror and coming of age genres, Summer of 84 tells the story of Davey Armstrong and his friends, as they begin to connect his nice-as-pie neighbor with a string of missing young boys.

While most of the movie plays out as you might expect – even teasing an unfulfilling ending at one point – Summer of 84’s unexpectedly dark conclusion recontextualizes the entire movie, with Davey realizing that nothing will ever be the same again – now viewing his idyllic summer suburbia through a much more cynical lens.

8 Wildling (2018)

Anna has spent her entire life captive to a man known only as “Daddy,” who routinely injects her with a hormone suppressant that he claims will help her – but also stunts her growth. After being discovered by the local sheriff however, Anna is finally given the chance to grow and become a normal teenager.

But Anna’s transformation doesn’t stop there. She soon begins to fear she’s becoming something not quite human after her body begins to change in disturbing ways. Using an on-the-nose but effective transformation metaphor, Wildling stands out above its peers as a fascinating, unsettling take on the coming of age film.

7 Ginger Snaps (2000)

Although Ginger Snaps doesn’t get the credit it truly deserves, the movie is one of the most beloved entries in the werewolf sub-genre for good reason. Following the movie’s titular teenager Ginger as she’s bitten by a lycanthrope, her rapidly increasing aggression soon begins to concern her sister, Brigitte.

Ginger Snaps takes a satirical swipe at adolescence and the chaos that often accompanies it, with the result being a movie that’s entertaining on a surface level but layered with smart subtext – making it a must-watch for fans of the genre.

6 I Am Not A Serial Killer (2016)

Based on the 2009 horror novel by Dan Wells, I Am Not a Serial Killer is by far one of the most overlooked horror movies of the past few years. While it’s set up isn’t exactly the most ground-breaking – John, a young teen, suspects his neighbor is a murderer – it’s the film’s exploration of its protagonist’s sociopathy and fascination with death that makes it feel so unique.

John is still very much a curious teenager despite his sociopathy, and his journey is a fresh and relatively unexplored corner of the coming of age story. What’s more, the character plays well against Christopher Lloyd’s magnetic, supernatural killer Bill Crowley, all of which add up to a movie well worth your time.

5 Let The Right One In (2008)

Although its overly glossy American remake Let Me In misses the point of its predecessor entirely, 2008’s Swedish vampire movie Let the Right One In demands your attention. Focusing on Oskar, a lonely, bullied kid, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young vampire girl named Eli, the movie is considered one of the best movies of the 2000s, and it’s not hard to see why.

Despite being sympathetic, Let the Right One In’s protagonists are far from perfect, with every character in the film being flawed in one way or another. This makes the movie feel far more human than most in its genre – and it’s all the more impactful as a result.

4 We Are What We Are (2013)

Despite being a remake of a Mexican film of the same name, 2013’s We Are What We Are enjoyed significant critical success, reaching a wider audience than its predecessor. The story focuses on the mysterious Parker family, who hides their cannibalistic lifestyle from the rest of society.

After the death of their mother, young girls Rose and Iris begin to stray from their father’s bloody and oppressive regime, with disastrous results. What makes We Are What We Are so special though is its critical take on religious doctrine and tradition, using its unsettling violence to illustrate their pitfalls – as well as the inevitability of their continued existence.

3 Super Dark Times (2017)

Set in 1996, Super Dark Times follows the downward spiral of teenagers Zach and Josh after they accidentally murder the local bully, forcing them to cover up the crime. While the event completely derails Zach’s life, it begins to have a much more sinister effect on Josh, putting a heavy strain on the boys’ relationship.

One of the lower-budget entries on this list, Super Dark Times’ power lies in its writing and execution, painting an all-too-real picture of jealousy and paranoia between friends, despite its bloody take on the subject matter.

2 The Witch (2015)

The directorial debut of acclaimed director Robert Eggers, The Witch may not come off as a coming of age tale on the surface, given its period setting and folk-horror aesthetic. Following a highly-religious family driven off to a remote farm in the woods, it isn’t long before they’re tormented by the movie’s titular witch – and perhaps an even more sinister force.

The Witch focuses heavily on the family’s young daughter Thomasin, and her growing disillusionment with their Puritanical lifestyle. Ultimately, it’s their zealotry and unwavering fanaticism that allows Thomasin to be courted by the malevolent force in the woods – resulting in one of the most harrowing finales in recent horror history.

1 Carrie (1976)

A classic coming of age tale with a famously dark twist, it simply wouldn’t be right to exclude Carrie from this list. Following the titular Carrie White as she blindly navigates adolescence – thanks to the imposed ignorance of her fanatical mother – the story sees its relentlessly bullied protagonist come into her own in the darkest way imaginable, culminating in one of the most widely-known horror endings of all time.

Perhaps more relevant today than it ever has been, Carrie’s tale of teen angst boiling over into teen rage is disturbing and gratifying in equal measure.