The 10 Most Frightening Female Stalkers in Films

      In real life, the majority of stalkers are men; however, many films invert this norm by highlighting female stalkers.

      According to the U.S. Department of Justice in 2023, stalking is described as “a form of gender-based violence that exists in every community and neighborhood.” They further state that “statistics indicate that one in three women and one in six men will experience stalking in their lifetimes.”

      In 1998, the Justice Department reported that although stalking is a gender-neutral crime, “the majority (78 percent) of victims are female, while most (87 percent) perpetrators are male.”

      So, what accounts for the prevalence of female stalkers in films? One reason might be that filmmakers aim to challenge expectations. Additionally, it could be beneficial for men to witness, in films where they are stalked by women, what it feels like to be on the receiving end of obsessive and unwanted affection. To the stalker, the situation might resemble a romantic comedy, whereas the person being stalked may perceive it as a horror film.

      Here are nine of the most chilling female stalkers depicted in movies.

      Evelyn (Jessica Walter) in Play Misty for Me (1971)

      In Clint Eastwood's directorial debut, Play Misty for Me, Walter plays an obsessive fan of a local disc jockey, portrayed by Eastwood, who repeatedly requests the jazz standard “Misty." After a chance encounter at a bar, they end up spending the night together, but Evelyn's possessiveness escalates, leading to violent outcomes.

      Although unsettling, it provides an entertaining experience, especially knowing that Eastwood would later become a renowned filmmaker and Walter would portray the iconic character Lucille Bluth in Arrested Development.

      Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) in Fatal Attraction (1987)

      Fatal Attraction's success arguably heralded a decade filled with films about female stalkers. Similar to Disclosure (1994), which addresses workplace sexual harassment, Fatal Attraction turns a typically male-on-female crime on its head.

      The narrative follows Dan Gallagher, who enters into an affair with Alex (Glenn Close), unaware she's a sociopath who becomes increasingly controlling. As she terrorizes him and his family, one of the film’s most infamous moments features her boiling a pet rabbit.

      The film made a substantial impact, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 1987 and earning six Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture. It also spurred the erotic thriller trend of the late '80s and early '90s, with “boiling the rabbit” becoming a metaphor for a partner who has gone off the rails.

      Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) in Misery (1990)

      In Misery, Kathy Bates delivers a remarkable performance against the backdrop of director Rob Reiner’s successful streak in the late '80s and early '90s.

      Unlike Alex Forrest's sexual manipulation, Annie Wilkes uses a facade of maternal compassion toward Paul (James Caan), a bestselling author who, after a car accident, finds himself in her isolated home. When she discovers Paul's intention to kill off her favorite character, Misery Chastain, her demeanor shifts dramatically, revealing her willingness to do whatever it takes to maintain control over him. The film’s tension peaks during the unforgettable hobbling scene.

      Bates rightfully earned the Academy Award for Best Actress, making Misery the only film based on a Stephen King book to receive such an honor.

      Hedy Carlson (Jennifer Jason Leigh) in Single White Female (1992)

      Single White Female features Jennifer Jason Leigh as a woman who stalks her roommate, Allison Jones (Bridget Fonda).

      While Hedy initially comes off as quiet and reserved, the film heightens the strangeness as she mimics Allison's distinctive short red hairstyle. However, this is merely the beginning of her unsettling behavior, which escalates involving the death of Hedy's twin sister.

      The film presents creative and shocking violence, including stabbings with a stiletto heel, warranting a deeper analysis of their significance.

      Mrs. Mott (Rebecca De Mornay) in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

      In a markedly sinister take on the female stalker narrative, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle features Rebecca De Mornay as Mrs. Mott, who seeks revenge against Claire (Annabella Sciorra) after she accuses her doctor husband of sexual misconduct.

      Following the devastation of his suicide and her own miscarriage, Mrs. Mott hatches a plot to infiltrate Claire’s life and destroy her family. The film spirals into chaotic extremes, with incidents of framing an innocent handyman and a shocking breastfeeding scene that culminates violently, all cleverly punctuated by the appearance of a white picket fence.

      Drew Barrymore as Ivy in Poison Ivy (1992)

      Poison Ivy flips the script on typical stalker dynamics, presenting a story