15 Iconic Murderous Mothers from Scary Movies You Won’t Forget

Ari Aster has a lot of thoughts about mothers, and it comes through no more apparent than in his short film Munchausen. Focusing on a mother (Bonnie Bedelia) who fears for her son (Liam Aiken) leaving for college, she poisons him to prevent him from going. Her bedside manner is excellent but demonstrates how the road to hell is littered with good intentions. Sure, you'll be poisoned and slowly die, but you can't trade that for a mother's love.

The Child's Play franchise loves moms, and none is more emblematic of the madness of the franchise than Tiffany Valentine (Jennifer Tilly). She raised two lovely kids while working as a single mom in Hollywood after taking over Jennifer Tilly's body. Most of all, she is super supportive of her children and their queer identities while being very progressive. Best of all, you get Tiffany the Doll and human Tiffany—two moms for the price of one.

We can't pick our mothers, and she perfectly suits Damien Thorn. A literal jackal, she gives birth to the Anti-Christ and dies in Cerveteri, Italy. Although she would be buried in a grave under the name of Maria Scianna, she left a lasting mark by bringing the son of the devil into this world. It only makes sense that an unnatural freakish union would lead to the arrival of the Anti-Christ. Some kids make the honor roll; others sow the seeds of the end of the world.

Ms. Robeson or Mommy (Wendy Robie) is a cult-classic figure on this list. Serving as a perfect satirization of Reagan's America, Mommy encapsulates the worst aspects of that capitalistic nightmare. She appears doting and sweet before revealing the evil and hypocritical nature locked within. If you visit her and Daddy's house, ignore the noise from within the walls. Mommy could only come from the brilliant mind of Wes Craven and highlights his critical nature as a filmmaker.

If you fear bugs, you may want to avoid Dulvey, Louisiana, and Marguerite Baker. As the matriarch of the Baker family, she makes sure the family enjoys some classic Southern dishes with unique twists made from the bodies of their victims. Oh, and don't ask where the bugs come from; you don't want to know. You will only leave with an empty stomach if you become one of the molded.

They say blood is thicker than water, and Diamondback (Jenette Goldstein) best exemplifies that. As the "mother" of the group, she ensures that the adopted vampire clan stays in line while hunting for victims and seeking shelter in the desert. Despite not being their birth mother, she cares about her family and ensures everyone contributes. When driving across America, be wary of picking up hitchhikers cause it could be your last.

One of the more recent picks, Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), made quite the splash in the latest film of the Evil Dead series. Cursed by the Naturom Demonto, she becomes possessed by the deadites, tortures her family, and kills her neighbors. Aside from physically attacking her family, she psychologically torments them by weaponizing their love and affection for her. She is not the first evil mom in the franchise, but she proves how terrifying mothers can be if they hold no attachment to their families.

Adapted from the works of Henry James, Viola Willoughby-Lloyd (Kate Siegel) haunts Bly Manor after being murdered on the grounds. A faceless ghost, she has no memories of her past life and drags unsuspecting passersby into the lake, where they meet a watery demise. Even in death, she still searches for her child and contributes to the body count on the grounds. Don't touch the chest in the middle of the lake or walk around the manor at midnight.

As one of the Ghostfaces from the best film in the series, Mrs. Loomis (Laurie Metcalf) stands as one of the scariest and most unhinged. Other than her tenacity, her status as a camp icon has carved her a well-placed slot on the slasher list. After the death of her son Billy (Skeet Ulrich) in the previous film, she swears revenge on Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and tries to murder her on her college campus. If you make a negative, disparaging remark about her son, kiss your life goodbye.

The X-Files had plenty of horrific episodes, and none was more shocking than the season four episode "Home." The episode focuses on the FBI agents investigating the inbred Peacock family for the murder of a deformed baby. At the episode's climax, they discover that Mrs. Peacock (Karin Konoval) lives under their bed as a quadruple amputee and, to put it lightly... has babies with her sons. The social taboo and homages to rural horror made Mrs. Peacock and the episode a classic.

Existing as a J-horror icon, the pale skin and long black hair of Kayako Saeki (Takako Fuji) have scared countless viewers across the globe. Believing Kayako to be having an affair, her husband kills her, leading her to become a ghost and cursing their home. She and her son have a high body count due to tormenting and murdering anyone who enters their space. Well known for her distinct croak, Saeki is one of the more unique names on the list.

Despite Silent Hills getting canceled, P.T., or the "playable teaser" of the potential video game, made quite the splash along with the ghost of Lisa. In the game, you walk around an L-shaped corridor of a house in a constant loop heading towards the door at the end of the hall before arriving back at the beginning. Lisa appears as you follow a few more loops and unlock more of the narrative. Yet, you can accidentally trigger a jump scare of Lisa, where she will pop up behind you and then kill you, forcing you to restart the loop.

A modern-day found footage classic, The Taking of Deborah Logan, focuses on a group of students making a documentary about Deborah Logan (Jill Larson), an older woman with Alzheimer's. Though her initial eccentric behavior is chalked up to the disease, it is later revealed to be a result of good old-fashioned possession. The film serves as a reminder to care for your mother even in her old age while watching out for signs of possession.

The matriarch of the serial killer "family," Dollface (Gemma Ward), harasses, taunts, and slowly kills the hopes of a couple in the middle of nowhere. Never raising her voice or speaking, she stands as an imposing threat when working together or independently. Even standing motionless with her creepy mask sends chills up my spine. Beware a knock on your door, you might not live to see the light of tomorrow morning.

For a little contrast, enjoy this list of our favorite Final Mothers, and stay safe out there!