scream queen
Slasher film staple
A scream queen is an actress known for roles in horror films, particularly one who frequently plays victims and delivers memorable screams of terror.
The term usually implies B-movie horror rather than prestige productions: Jamie Lee Curtis was the original scream queen after Halloween.
It can be affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Knife-wielding horror villain
- goreGraphic bloody violence
- frightSudden intense fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
macabre · bloodcurdling · jumpscare · gruesome · supernatural · monster · killer · masked villain
Sigourney Weaver · Courteney Cox · Jennifer Love Hewitt · Naomi Watts · Shelley Duvall · Vera Farmiga · Jenna Ortega
Rising young actress
- ingenueArtless young woman
- leading ladyPrincipal female performer
- heroineBrave female protagonist
- final girlSlasher film's survivor
performer · low-budget · typecast · campy · audition · role · character · filmography
Shrill, piercing cry
- bloodcurdlingExtremely frightening or horrifying
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- high-pitchedHigh in frequency
- terrifiedExtremely frightened
Woman needing rescue
- imperiledPut at risk
- captiveOne held by force
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
- helplessUnable to act independently
frightened · terrorized · stalked · trapped · hunted · pursued · cornered · vulnerable
slasher
Knife-wielding horror villain
nightmare · macabre · bloodcurdling · jumpscare · gruesome · supernatural · monster · killer · masked villain · chainsaw
Jamie Lee Curtis
Linda Blair · Sigourney Weaver · Courteney Cox · Jennifer Love Hewitt · Naomi Watts · Shelley Duvall · Vera Farmiga · Jenna Ortega
starlet
Rising young actress
- ingenueArtless young woman
- leading ladyPrincipal female performer
- heroineBrave female protagonist
final girl · performer · low-budget · typecast · campy · audition · role · character · filmography · debut
shriek
Shrill, piercing cry
- bloodcurdlingExtremely frightening or horrifying
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- high-pitchedHigh in frequency
terrified · wail · cry · howl · gasp · whimper · vocal · lungs · terror · panic
damsel in distress
Woman needing rescue
- imperiledPut at risk
- captiveOne held by force
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
helpless · frightened · terrorized · stalked · trapped · hunted · pursued · cornered · vulnerable · prey
- horrorhorror, terror, fear, dread, haunted
- Horror FilmsThe Exorcist, Halloween, The Shining, Friday the 13th, Night of the Living Dead
- horror tropesjump scare, final girl, haunted house, masked killer, slasher
- movie rolesleading man, ingenue, villain, sidekick, comic relief
- actorsactor, actors, actresses, film actor, actress
- femaleswoman, girl, lady, mother, daughter
scream queenmonster
Frightening imaginary creature
the monster · boogeyman · creature · masked killer · Jason Voorhees
scream queenaction hero
Film's combat-driven protagonist
tough guy · ice queen · femme fatale · hardboiled detective · strong silent type
queen, scream, screaming, queens, queenly, screamed, screamer, queening, queenship