When The Vibes And Soundtrack Are Killer (Literally) | 3 “Horror” Films That Are More Vibe Than Murder
American Mary (2012) – Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska
Think Kill Bill’s surgical suite meets a Berlin techno club at 3 a.m. , and then throw in a vengeful punk rock queen with deadpan wit for good measure.
This darkly seductive tale follows Mary Mason—med-student-turned-vengeful-body-artist—on a scalpel-wielding spiral into a world where aesthetic obsession becomes the ultimate weapon. Katharine Isabelle slays (literally) in a performance so cool it makes scrubs look runway-ready, while the film’s grunge-tinged aesthetic and brooding soundtrack vibe like the lovechild of a fetish club and an indie arthouse screening.
It’s blood-soaked empowerment for anyone who’s ever been ghosted by societal norms or just really hates their boss. Perfect film if your favorite accessory is a scalpel and your playlist includes darkwave bangers for moral support.
No jump scares here—just vibes, couture carnage, and a lingering sense that revenge has never been this fashionable.
Under the Skin (2013) – Jonathan Glazer
What if an alien came to Earth disguised as Scarlett Johansson in a thrift-store fur coat, driving a van through the damp streets of Glasgow, luring lonely dudes into an inky black void? That’s Under the Skin—part arthouse fever dream, part alien seduction tutorial, and 100% filmed like moody-ass music video that vibes harder than it scares.
Jonathan Glazer crafts something that feels like a lo-fi punk zine come to life, with its stripped-down grunge aesthetic, unnerving minimalism, and a soundtrack by Mica Levi that sounds like a dying alien learning how to play a cello (in the best way possible).
This is horror for people who hate being spoon-fed plot, love existential dread with a side of soft-spoken nihilism, and care more about *the vibe* than the “kill count.”
It’s slow, erotic, completely disinterested in your comfort, and somehow cooler than you’ll ever be. Scarlett as the silent predator is the gothic patron saint we didn’t know we needed.
The Love Witch (2016) – Anna Biller
Ever wonder what would happen if Lana Del Rey’s closet, a Pinterest mood board, and a ’60s gaslight anthem walked into a coven and committed murder? Enter The Love Witch, an acid-dipped Technicolor fever dream where every frame is so stylishly curated it hurts (seriously, Anna Biller designed the costumes herself).
Samantha Robinson’s Elaine is a femme fatale armed with witchcraft, liquid eyeliner wings sharp enough to cut glass, and a merciless thirst for love—emphasis on death-by-thirst.
With its psych-rock score, elaborate sets dripping in vintage glamour, and an aesthetic so lush you’ll feel drab in comparison, this one’s less horror and more vibe overload. Perfect for those who prefer their kills beautiful, their fashion impeccable, and their feminist commentary served with a knowing wink and a martini. It’s murder, but make it fashion.