The psycho-biddy subgenre, also known as ‘hagsploitation’ or ‘Grande Dame Guignol,’ is characterized by thriller and horror films that feature older women in villainous or unstable roles. Here are the top ten psycho-biddy films that have left a lasting impression on the genre.

1.What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) – This film holds the top spot for its iconic performances by Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, and its unsettling depiction of a former child star’s descent into madness.

2.Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) – Another Bette Davis classic, this movie maintains the eeriness with a gripping story of isolation, insanity, and a mysterious death.

3.The Nanny (1965) – Bette Davis stars yet again in this chilling tale of a nanny with a dark past and questionable intentions.

4.Strait-Jacket (1964) – Starring Joan Crawford as an axe murderess who tries to start anew but cannot escape her bloody history, the film delivers suspense and shock in equal measure.

5.Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969) – Geraldine Page gives an outstanding performance in this thriller about an elderly woman who hires housekeepers that mysteriously disappear.

6.Lady in a Cage (1964) – Olivia de Havilland stars in this claustrophobic horror about a woman trapped in her home elevator, rendering her vulnerable to intruders’ torment.

7.Die! Die! My Darling! (1965)– Tallulah Bankhead stars in this psychological thriller playing a religious fanatic who holds her son’s ex-fiancée captive.

8.Sisters of Death (1976) – This film represents a more obscure entry in the genre with a plot centered around sorority sisters reunited by a mysterious invitation, which leads to unexpected terror.

9.Dead Ringer (1964) – Bette Davis plays dual roles in this classic film about twin sisters and mistaken identity resulting in crime and suspense.

10.I Saw What You Did (1965) – This film navigates the thrill of prank calls gone wrong and stars Joan Crawford as the unsuspecting target who uncovers the truth with deadly consequences.

These films are not only classic entries into the psycho-biddy genre but are also testament to the skills of their leading ladies whose performances brought complexity and depth to what could have otherwise been caricatures. They are essential viewing for aficionados of vintage thrillers.”