It’s Halloween season, and what better way to celebrate than by exploring the most iconic mothers in horror history? From sinister to protective, these 20 horror movie moms have “mothered” to varying degrees, leaving a lasting impression on audiences. Have a look at them and decide: which of these terrifyingly memorable mothers “mothered” the hardest?
1. **Pamela Voorhees (Friday the 13th)**
The original inspired many slasher flicks with her relentless protection of her son, Jason, even after his death.
2. **Evelyn Deavor (Incredibles 2)**
While not traditionally horror, her manipulative scheming makes her a menace to her own family.
3. **Leigh (The Boy)**
Pretending to be a caring guardian, Leigh’s mothering is anything but nurturing.
4. **Brahms’ Mother (The Boy)**
Her overprotectiveness borders on obsession, creating a haunted dollhouse of control.
5. **Margaret White (Carrie)**
Her religious fanaticism and brutal punishments push her to the brink of horror-mom territory.
6. **Judy (Hereditary)**
Her dark secrets and sacrifices have haunting consequences for her family.
7. **Norma Watson (The Town that Dreaded Sundown)**
Her motherly facade masks deadly secrets, contributing to the town’s chilling legend.
8. **Doris (The Exorcist)**
Her desperate efforts to save her daughter from demonic possession highlight a mother’s raw horror.
9. **Hannah Grace (The Unholy)**
A mother’s ghostly presence haunting and terrorizing the living in a horrific way.
10. **Kay (The Ring)**
Through her connection to the cursed tape, her motherly role becomes intertwined with supernatural evil.
11. **Mother (Mother!)**
An allegorical figure whose obsession with her home and child culminates in chaos.
12. **Eva (The Prophecy)**
A mother torn between her own survival and protecting her unborn child at any cost.
13. **Sarah (The Silence of the Lambs)**
Her nurturing disguise masks the terrifying depths of her psyche.
14. **Alice (The Others)**
Her obsessive love and denial turn ominous in her haunted house.
15. **Mrs. Ganush (Drag Me to Hell)**
Her curse and desperation unleash supernatural horror upon her tormentor.
16. **Mrs. Spencer (Pet Sematary)**
Her grief-driven actions revive her son, with terrifying consequences.
17. **Lily (The Haunting of Hill House, Netflix)**
Her tragic past fuels the haunting and despair that consumes her family.
18. **June (Hereditary)**
Her manipulations and despair push her family toward the brink of horror.
19. **Mother (The Loving Mother)**
A classic horror archetype, whose overbearing love spirals into obsession and madness.
20. **Mrs. Bates (Psycho)**
Her Lorena-like maternal obsession leads to the infamous shower scene.
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### And now, it’s your turn: which of these horror movie mothers “mothered” the hardest? Did they scare you the most with their overprotection, obsession, or sinister devotion? Vote or comment with your favorite—and see how the horror moms stack up in the ultimate motherly showdown! To explore more terrifying maternal figures, check out the full list on Hulu [here](https://hulu.com/?cmp=20986&utm_campaign=Buzzfeed_Hulu_Blog_Editorial&utm_medium=Editorial&utm_source=BuzzFeed).