25 Incredibly Well-Made Horror Films Directed By Women

8. Jennifer Chambers Lynch - Chained (2012)

Jennifer Lynch's extremely violent slasher Chained revolves around serial killer and taxi driver, Bob (Vincent D'Onofrio), and his long-suffering prisoner Tim, affectionately dubbed €˜Rabbit€™. The film is quick to establish its tone and brutality when, in the opening scene, Bob - a huge and imposing on-screen monster - drags his latest victim into the kitchen and lays her out with a €˜business as usual€™ approach to violence that's fairly disturbing. There are no rose-tinted spectacles, no thrills and no special effects, just heavy hands, thuds and high-pitched screams of anguish. This all takes place in front of nine-year-old Rabbit - who is screaming and begging Bob to stop. After a series of violent events in the same vein, Rabbit ultimately grows up to become Bob's murderous protégé. Chained certainly has its shortcomings - some suspension of disbelief is required; the moral dilemma is somewhat ham-fisted; Bob€™s backstory is banal - but manages to overcome them, for the most part. It€™s unsettling when it needs to be, but it€™s more effective as a character study; Rabbit€™s strange relationship with Bob is indeed an engaging one and certainly makes for a traumatic watch.