Geminis are undoubtedly one of the most maligned Zodiac signs. The Twins—who reign from May 20 to June 20—are often called an array of insults from mischievous to two-faced to manipulative. One Instagram astrologer had the unmitigated gall to name Geminis one of the most annoying signs.
Lies, all lies, and I’m not just saying that because my birthday is May 31.
But one point I can concede is that there are certain circumstances when twins, specifically their duality, can be scary. You only need to look as far as horror classic The Shining or cult favorite Basket Case to prove the point.
In honor of Gemini Season, let’s count down the most intriguing “horror twins” of all time.
Niles and Holland, The Other (dir. Robert Mulligan, 1972)
Not to be confused with the brilliant film “The Others” starring Nicole Kidman, The Other is a low-key 70s masterpiece. The plot centers on identical twins Niles and Holland, who are growing up on an idyllic farm. The boys are doted on by their grandmother, a Russian immigrant who not only teaches them her native language but “The Game,” a way of embodying the spirits of animals, such as birds, so they can vicariously experience the exhilaration of flight. But the tranquil setting soon shows its cracks as Niles and Holland get into more and more mischief in their community. It all culminates in a shocking twist and a pile-up of bodies that may make you swear off ever watching this movie again.
Alexie and Alexa Grady, The Shining (dir. Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
You can already tell things won’t go well for Jack Torrance and his family when they pull up to the ominous Overlook Hotel. For starters, Jack is already on edge, a struggling writer with a massive creative block forced to serve as the caretaker of this enormous, isolated estate in order to make ends meet. (Trust, there is a reason this job is open, and let’s just say it wasn’t due to a peaceful parting of ways with the last employee.) Jack’s wife, Wendy, and son Danny try to make the best of a quickly unraveling situation, with Danny taking his tricycle for a spin through the halls.
It’s not too long before he meets the first of a bevy of horrific specters: the Grady twins, Alexie and Alexa. Clad in matching pale blue dresses with pink bows and speaking in blood-chilling unison, it’s clear that the girls are eager to have Danny join them as their forever playmate. The catch is that he’d have to die first at the hands of his unhinged father.
Duane and Belial, Basket Case (dir. Frank Henenlotter, 1982)
Body horror is the basis of this engrossing movie about a man and his twin, so misshapen that he is relegated to living in the titular basket. He communicates solely through telepathy. The “normal” half of this duo, Duane, is on a quest with brother Belial to punish the medical team that separated them, though it soon becomes clear that Belial’s lumpy appearance and sharp teeth are not his most frightening features. Instead, it is his growing envy of his sibling, who in addition to their murderous mission, is spending more and more time with a romantic interest. As Duane and Belial begin to turn their rage toward each other, the finale’s family reunion is not a happy occasion. The film spawned several sequels, but I can only recommend getting your twin flame fueled by the first cult classic.
Elias and Lukas, Goodnight Mommy (dir. Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz, 2014)
I love Naomi Watts, but the only version of this film I acknowledge is the Austrian original. Get over the subtitles and sink deep into the story of twins Elias and Lukas, adventurous young boys who are left mostly to their own devices in a huge mansion as their mother recovers from a mysterious cosmetic surgery procedure. “Mommy” spends the film with her face tightly wrapped in bandages that, somewhat understandably, start to confuse her sons. She is also unnecessarily dismissive of one of them, Lukas, to the point that they both begin to question whether she is indeed their mom. I don’t want to spoil the secret, but note that The Other walked so that Goodnight Mommy could run. In fact, I recommend watching them back to back as a double feature.
Gabriel and Madison, Malignant (dir. James Wan, 2021)
Secrets abound in this round-up, but the terrifying twist in this outing from director James Wan is one I wish I could un-see and experience again fresh. I won’t ruin it for you if it hasn’t made your watchlist, but know that the twin trope is alive and well in this story. A young pregnant woman experiences horrific abuse by her partner that leads to her unlocking a long-hidden mystery about herself and various victims of an elusive killer. The special effects, taut pace, and jaw-droppingly crazy plot points make this one mandatory for movie night this Gemini season.
Smoke and Stack, Sinners (dir. Ryan Coogler, 2025)
There isn’t too much that is terrifying about Smoke and Stack, both roles perfectly portrayed by Michael B. Jordan. But their circumstances are indeed frightening as they fend off a ravenous band of vampires from their fledgling, mob money-fueled jook joint. Oddly enough, the bloodsuckers led by ancient Irish vamp Remmick are not even close to the most chilling adversaries in this blockbuster film. Smoke and Stack’s face-off with the blatant racism of the period, specifically Ku Klux Klan members envious of their purchasing power, is enough to keep you on edge. I gripped the armrests of my movie theater recliner as I heard one of the bigots spit the word “boy” at two fully grown, super muscled up men with a treasure trove of weapons.
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