Count yourself lucky if you have a brother or sister who will drop everything to help you out of a bind. And in the horror genre, there are definitely plenty of those to go around. Granted, those same binds could also be caused by a sibling. Even so, an assist from bro or sis can make all the difference in a character’s survival—or doom, in some cases.
Now, the following ten horror movies feature a variety of sibling situations. A few are agreeable, whereas in other instances, being related only leads to more trouble.
Night of the Comet (1984)
Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney in Night of the Comet.
If there is any silver lining to the cataclysmic event in Thom Eberhardt‘s Night of the Comet, it’s the two main characters finally becoming closer. Here, Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney play sisters who have outlived just about everyone else in the world, forcing them to now look out for each other. “Feel-good” isn’t usually the first word to describe apocalyptic movies, but its use here is appropriate.
The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972)
Shirley MacLaine, Perry King and Lisa Kohane in The Possession of Joel Delaney.
For a very complicated relationship between brother and sister, Waris Hussein‘s The Possession of Joel Delaney is an easy choice (but not an easy watch). Shirley MacLaine‘s character tries to save her less put-together brother (Perry King) from what looks to be a case of sinister possession. The outcome, however, is far, far from that of your typical exorcism movie.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
Kimberly Beck, Corey Feldman and Ted White in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter.
The fourth Friday the 13th movie, The Final Chapter, introduced recurring character Tommy Jarvis. And although Tommy (Corey Feldman) would eventually go it alone, his relationship with his older sister Trish (Kimberly Beck) is a highlight in that not-so-final Friday. They go to great lengths to protect one another from the infamous Jason Voorhees. Tommy would later return in the fifth and sixth movies, but Trish’s whereabouts were unknown until Friday the 13th: The Game filled in the gaps.
Silver Bullet (1985)
Gary Busey, Corey Haim and Megan Follows in Silver Bullet.
While not everyone considers Dan Attias‘ Silver Bullet to be the greatest werewolf movie in existence, it is certainly one of the better ones. And Stephen King, who adapted his own novella here, is largely why that’s the case. His writing for the young brother and sister (Corey Haim and Megan Follows) at the core of the story, plus their uncle (Gary Busey), elevates an otherwise straightforward werewolf tale.
Pin (1988)
David Hewlett and Cynthia Preston in Pin.
The brother and sister (David Hewlett, Cynthia Preston) in Sandor Stern‘s ’80s hidden gem, Pin, have a weird relationship, to say the least. Believe it or not, though, this adaptation of Andrew Neiderman’s novel of the same name actually tones down the siblings’ bizarre relationship. Nonetheless, what the movie does include is still a bit uncomfortable at times. Two very traumatized young adults get by in life by seeking solace from their dead father’s (Terry O’Quinn) medical dummy, only to then grow apart as one of them learns to be more independent.
Jack Be Nimble (1993)
Alexis Arquette and Sarah Smuts-Kennedy in Jack Be Nimble.
Siblings separated at a young age, then finding each other later, isn’t unique to cinema; it happens all the time in real life. Yet in Garth Maxwell‘s gothic horror movie, Jack Be Nimble, staying apart might have been for the best for Alexis Arquette and Sarah Smuts-Kennedy‘s characters. The nature-versus-nurture theory is put to the test here as the two protagonists’ different upbringings play a huge part in how they now cope with trauma.
Ginger Snaps (2000)
Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle in Ginger Snaps.
The namesake of Ginger Snaps is fortunate in at least one way. In John Fawcett‘s classic coming-of-age horror movie, Katharine Isabelle‘s afflicted character has the most loyal sister anyone could ever wish for. Emily Perkins‘ Brigitte does everything in her power to help Ginger deal with her lycanthropy. And as the sequel and prequel both show, neither death nor time can keep them apart.
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Im Soo-jung and Moon Geun-young in A Tale of Two Sisters.
A Tale of Two Sisters takes family tragedy to the next level. In Kim Jee-woon‘s adaptation of an old folktale, Im Soo-jung‘s character returns home after a stay in a psychiatric hospital. And when she’s not protecting her sister (Moon Geun-young) from their wicked stepmother (Yum Jung-ah), she’s catching glimpses of an eerie entity in the house. Things, of course, are not what they seem in this popular South Korean horror movie.
Oculus (2013)
Brenton Thwaites and Karen Gillan in Oculus.
The family reunion in Mike Flanagan‘s Oculus is not a happy one, considering how Karen Gillan and Brenton Thwaites are trying to prove the brother was wrongfully accused of murder. And the only way to exonerate him is to, somehow, prove a supernatural mirror was responsible for the crimes. The movie also offers younger versions of the main characters by featuring a dual-narrative format. In either timeline, the powerful bond between these siblings is unmistakable.
Things Will Be Different (2024)
Adam David Thompson and Riley Dandy in Things Will Be Different.
In Michael Felker‘s debut feature, Things Will Be Different, an estranged brother (Adam David Thompson) and his sister (Riley Dandy) commit a robbery, then hide out at a farmhouse in another timeline. Their situation only gets stranger as someone attempts to kill the siblings. Teeming with suspense and strong performances, this lo-fi sci-fi horror movie is not one to be missed.