One of my favorite things to do on Halloween is to just chill out with my peoples/honey and watch horror movies. I'm a big fan of scary flicks, yet I always run into the obvious - that so many of them are pretty damn sexist.
So yes, I'll admit I've watched some horror films that are a feminist's nightmare - basically those cheesy, old school sexist flicks that are so silly and ridiculous, it's laughable. But I also can't tell you how many times I've had to turn off a movie five minutes in because the glorification of violence against women is so blatant.
Yet every once in a while, I come across a scary movie that actually manages to be sexist-free. I would say one example is The Descent, a scary-ass film with an all-female cast of really strong characters.
So tonight, Jessica and I are getting a bunch of scary movies to watch. Do any buffs have suggestions of some feminist-friendly horror we could get?
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The Descent rocks! I love horror flicks and that is one of my all-time favourites. It's creepy, it's gory and it's full of strong, smart women who kick some serious ass. I would argue that both Alien and Aliens has a feminist edge to them, and in the completely nerve-wrecking and amazing The Orphanage the protagonist is an intelligent, mature woman.
I couldn't agree more with you about The Decent. Besides that fact that it is basically sexist-free and features amazing, strong female characters, it's incredibly scary and has one of the best endings for a thriller/horror flick ever. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.
(I'm also in agreement with you on Alien and Aliens and - since we seem to have similar taste - I will definitely be checking out The Orphanage).
Yay! I'm glad you're checking out The Orphanage, because it really is phenomenal. And quite heartbreaking, actually! If you like director Guillermo del Toro, he has co-produced the film and also given it his blessing and support.
I'm curious about what version of The Descent you've seen, cos there are two different endings, aren't there? The version I've seen ends with Juno (imagining) escaping from the cave, getting in the car and driving, but then finding herself in the cave again, along with her daughter. Or something like that. I find that ending quite haunting, but I always wondered what the other (American) one was like.
That was the ending I saw here in the States. It was a DVD - so, maybe we got the director's cut or something. I had no idea there was another ending (I'm guessing it was some fluffy, happily-ever after crap) and I can't imagine another one but the one we both saw - it totally freaked me out, but it fit the movie well.
I don't do horror flicks. Horror books, yes, but not horror flicks. Honestly, I get enough weird dreams from Dexter, I don't need anymore. (I am very sensitive to anything I read or watch ... I will almost always dream about it that night. Sigh.)
And, as I don't believe in the supernatural at all, anything involving ghosts and the undead and whatnot tends to make me yawn. And anything "real" (like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, etc.) freaks me out too much BECAUSE IT COULD REALLY HAPPEN!
I am the same way! I always have weird dreams and watching scary movies just makes them worse. Which kind of sucks around Halloween time...
Ginger Snaps, Ginger Snaps 2, and May would be at the top of my list. But do yourself a favor and unless you become a huge fan of the Ginger Snaps franchise, skip the third one.
I also really liked Hard Candy but I don't recommend it for everyone. Teeth was a giant sized disappointment. If you've seen the trailer you've seen the best the movie has to offer.
Another movie that doesn't have a feminist bent exactly, but isn't anti-women in the slightest is The Mist. It is incredibly good which surprised me considering it's a Stephen King movie and there hasn't been a good remake of one of his books in a long time. But it's directed by the same guy who did Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.
My feminist guilty pleasure includes the Resident Evil franchise. I just never get tired of watching Milla Jovovich running around and kicking zombies in the head. She does all of her own stunts, including running 60 feet vertically down the side of a skyscraper. And watching the movie with her commentary on always makes me laugh when I'm having a bad day.
while ginger snaps was fascinating from a feminist perspective, i'm not sure i'd actually describe it as feminist, given the whole lycanthropy-as-menstruation metaphor. but it's still way ahead of most horror movies and a pretty entertaining flick.
On the feminist/non-feminist nature of horror movies (including the old school slasher flicks) I can't recommend strongly enough Carol Clover's book "Men, Women, and Chainsaws." It's a great study of how audiences identify across genders in viewing these movies.
Yep, I've read that, and it's an excellent analysis of slashers, even without the feminist slant.
severance! it's british. has some absolutely great female characters who aren't the stereotypical constructs of women in most horror films. i cannot recommend it enough.
Yes yes yes on Severance! A fun movie for Halloween in that it switches from horror-comedy to out-and-out horror and really plays with the cliches of the genre.
In fact, I think I'm going to put it on now while I make Halloween treats!
Oh wow. I've never heard of that movie before, but it sounds really good. I'll have to look for it!
Another Stephen King movie that, while not feminist, that isn't misogynistic is Carrie. In the movie, it is the females that are the ones pushing the plot forward. It's girls who provide the action. In Carrie, females aren't painted with a broad brush, they each have their motivations, complex or not, and characters that aren't just there for set dressing as tragic, beautiful victims.
Ooh, plus, whether or not Stephen King intended it this way, Carrie's mother is a great representation of the religious right's woman-hating and obsession with controlling women's bodies.
which ending? I really loved the ending so was a little sad when i saw the one they really wanted. Agreed that Alien and Aliens is awesome and I definitely would recommend the Orphanage.
NapoleonInRags. My husband (he's a cinema major) read that book and keeps bringing it up so it definitely left an impression. Though we watched a few of the movies in there, I Spit On Your Grave had to be the most disturbing movie I have ever seen and was the movie that made me think that movies with explicit rape sense should really have a disclaimer at the beginning.
I don't want to give it away for those that haven't seen it, but, I'll say the ending was realistic for situation in the film and it didn't leave the movie open for a sequel (but, of course, Hollywood can make a sequel for anything - even if it sucks).
Oh, actually I think I saw the other ending but they still shouldn't make a sequel even if the first movie rocked. well, it's good to know that cool people like both endings so I guess you can't go wrong with this one ;)
oh man, i remember, i had surgery about 2 years ago, and i wanted to see the descent, but i had it confused with the cave, so i rented the cave instead. horrible, horrible movie, though it was very funny and entertaining :p
i got to see the descend the next week, and i really liked it.
Bwahaha -- we did the same thing!!! And the Cave was SO BAD.
I am still a HUGE fan of The Ring. It's a little nonsensical (duh) in parts but so, so super creepy, and I love Naomi Watts. However, avoid Ring 2 with a passion; it is just horrible.
The Stepford Wives if you want a good old-fashioned scare. We are currently watching Burnt Offerings (my husband fell asleep so we have to finish it tonight!) and it holds up fantastically well; great creep-out. I wouldn't call it feminist but Bette Davis' part is a hoot. Just really great and almost campy stuff.
Love The Ring, especially with the protagonist being a strong-headed woman. What would make it perfect is if they didn't imply that because Rachel is successful, she's neglectful (see cell-phone-at-parent-teacher-conference scene, son-makes-own-lunch-and-walks-himself-to-school scene, blah blah). A- though. Scares the shite out of me.
i loved the ring, but it traumatised me for at least 3 weeks! plus i had an exchange student sleeping in my bedroom when i saw it, so i was sleeping in the living room, with the tv right in front of my bed!! it freaked me out, i had to get a towel over it, i couldn't sleep.
oh As far as The Ring goes (or any asian based horror movie goes for that matter) I'd recommend the original asian movie with subtitles.
I saw the American re make of The Ring first before watching the three Japanese movies and I definitely found the whole thing made a lot more sense and had a lot less cheap scares and was just ramped up with atmospheric dread. I was terrified of televisions for ages afterward!
hmm other good ones were The Eye and a Tale of Two Sisters. And while we're on the horror genre if anyone is into horror video games I'd recommend the Fatal Frame/Project Zero series. The first game featured Miku going into a house she knew was haunted to try and rescue her big brother not even knowing if he was alive or not, complaints can be made about the violent, ancient, ceremonies that usually happen in flashback in the game that happen to the chosen priestesses/women (although the second game the sacrifice can be made by male or female twins) and the third game put in shower scenes that weren't too bad but I'd still recommend them despite that
Omg, The Eye, A Tale Of Two Sisters, & Ringu were soooooo good. There was this Korean movie I saw recently, unfortunately I can't remember the title. It's about a mutated monster created by US scientists dumping formaldehyde down the drain. Suicide Club was amazing.
That Korean monsterflick; it's titled 'The Host'. It's pretty funny.
That Corean movie; Are you thinking about "The Host" ? Think that's its name.
Whups. Had some problems with my browser. Sorry about that.
Yes! I loved that movie.
The Cell. It does show stylized violence against the female victims of the serial killer so viewers sensitive to that may not wish to watch, but Jennifer Lopez is excellent and the film also features an industry rarity: a strong female victim who successfully fights back against the situation the villain has placed her in.
My roommate introduced me to the Alien series, of which Alien and Alien 3 are by far the best, with Alien 3 in particular having a lot of really juicy gender-related themes and Sigourney Weaver at some of her best. Make sure and get the director's/alternative cut of Alien 3, though, and not the crap theatrical cut, as the former includes a lot of extra foottage that really fleshes out the story to its fullest potential.
Silence of the Lambs does have characters who are sexist towards Clarice, but its an absolute favorite of mine and one of the movies I watch (in a bizarro marathon with Legally Blond) when I feel the need for a boost of "I can take the world and nobody can stop me!".
Not a movie, but fans of Frankenstein should run not walk to Patchwork Girl by Shelley Jackson, a femenist examination of what the life of Frankenstein's female monster (the "Bride of Frankenstein") would have been like had she been freed by Frankenstein's wife/ Mary Shelley.
28 Days Later is one of my favourites
28 Days Later also a good one – a tip for those viewing it: check out original ending on the DVD extras on this one (they didn’t use it because it didn’t screen well – audiences wanted a happier ending), so much better and more fitting than the theatrical ending.
I love that film, and Cillian Murphy is hot as!
i watched "the descent" on a work retreat in the mountains, and the walk back to my cabin after seeing that was horrible. as was the zero sleep i got that night.
so clearly i'm not a horror buff, but i really loved "teeth". not a horror movie, but a great funny flick with a feminist bent for sure.
The Cave was really bad (and kind of fun), but the plot was surprisingly close to the one in The Descent. I don't think either of them are that wonderful, but that doesn't stop me from liking The Descent. I even had it on my ipod for a while. That was pretty stupid as it was too scary to watch on the bus, even in day light.
I'm not much into horror. (I can't always stomach it and I don't like movies that are actually disturbing). But my partner knows all there is to know about the genre. He agrees that too many are unnecessarily exploitive (though, some exploitation is needed. They're movies about killing people!!) and some are only exploitive. Though he does love some of the cheesy, offensive classics, his favorites are movies that stretch the boundaries of the genre and actually say something.
I would say that any of the George Romaro zombie movies are a good pick. They aren't overtly feminist per say, but they're are specifically anti-racist (he was one of the first people to cast a Black man as the hero in a horror movie), with strong women, without the sexualized overtones and each one makes a statement about capitalist society, consumerism, overconsumption, etc.
I just recently watched Hard Candy (after everyone I know telling me that I remind them of the character Haley- Ellen Page). I would call it feminist, but I wouldn't call it horror. It's much more of a thriller. But it raises great debate, because some people feel there's justice in it and others the complete opposite.
Carrie is a classic and I think it makes important statements about religious extremism and what happens when girls submit to the stereotypes of being "catty" and seek to destroy each other, when they really should unify.
I completely agree about Romaro. Although the films aren't feminist, they are definitely not sexist or offensive and often have a progressive bent. Love them (except his last one Diary of the Dead which I thought was a big fuck you to his fans :( seriously, he knew better but made it suck after his masterwork Land of the Dead (it had some great commentary about classicism and how America treats veterans) was largely under-appreciated).
I just watched Diary of the Dead last week and it was lame. I was kinda annoyed that he put it out. The social commentary was very good and the characters annoyed me.
I also watched The Strangers that night and that was ok. Definately creepy. They're making a sequel, comes out 2010.
I meant to say the social commentary was NOT very good. Gah.
My all time favorite: Alien 2. But Alien and Alien 3 are right up there.
It doesn't really count as feminist, but I certainly wouldn't call it misogynistic either, but if you're willing to expand into "political" horror movies, I'd recommend "Homecoming," Joe Dante's entry for Showtime's "Masters of Horror" series about soldiers killed in Iraq who come back to life once shipped back home so they can vote.
I've never seen the descent but I think that it is great that a strong female character is represented in the movie. Many horror films are very sexist and usually contain scenes where the woman is killed right after some sort of sex scene after the men have been aroused. Horror movies are just another example of the male gaze.
I haven't seen the movie but I checked out the IMDB page. I thought it was interesting how the first phrase under "plot keywords" is "Loss of Husband" and the third is "Loss of Family" - Horror!
Pan's Labyrinth. It takes place during the Spanish Civil War and a little girl retreats into a fantasy world in order to escape her fascist step-father.
To me that's more fantasy though. I wouldn't call it horror, but it is a very good film
John Carpenter's The Thing has always been my personal favorite. All male cast but it's still got some great creature effects and chilling paranoia.
Aliens is great (the best in the series) I also enjoyed Jeepers Creepers which has a brother/sister combo (and Mac guy Justin Long).
If you'd like to go old school some more, The Howling (werewolf) Fright Night (vampire, though more funny) and let's not forget Poltergeist (ghost). :)
They screened The Descent as part of our film studies course as a case study on genre theory, and while I didn't go to the screening (I can't stand anything that makes you jump) I went to the seminar afterwards cos they're always pretty interesting. My lecturer said that horror as a genre is all about society dialoguing with itself about its fears at the time and made a pretty convincing case for The Descent being a metaphor for the Iraq war (a troupe of Brits led by an American, who go adventuring somewhere they don't belong, disturbing the natural inhabitants, no exit strategy etc etc). He also said that while the women are shown in non-traditional roles in the film, they are still punished for it by the end of the film...interesting stuff.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose has two strong female protagonists, but I would only recommend it if you can get into the whole possession/demon kind of thing. I was raised Catholic, so that kind of thing comes on real well for me.
The Mist doesn't really have any strong female characters, but I would agree that it manages to be a pretty decent horror film without objectifying a single female character.
The critics can say what they will about Vacancy, but I thought it was pretty decent, and it does have a strong female character who whips some serious snuff-film ring ass.
Ooh man, I have huge beef with Emily Rose. Sort of from a feminist perspective (smart girl goes to college and gets Satanified, her protectors are some dude and a priest) but mostly from a stop-Hollywoodizing-mental-illness perspective. Everyone should read up a bit on Anneliese Michel, the young woman the movie is "based on," and you will be filled with disgust for Hollywood. When it came out I kept hearing, "But they tell the story from both sides!" No, they just have an obnoxious prosecuting attorney as the only voice of reason, and we're supposed to ignore him 'cause the defense attorney is haunted at 3 a.m. and we know what THAT means.
Not directed at you, Ikkin, I had a lot of friends who liked the movie plenty.
The movie is not without flaw, for sure. I didn't like how it championed faith above all things, but I think it did leave the audience with a choice.
Oh yeah. And Silent Hill is good too. It has two strong female characters and anti-Christian fundamentalist themes.
But it does have a very grusome ending.
Slither was awesome. and Silent Hill is also one of my faves (although, most people didn't like it). i'll also second the Alien series.
Hell yes to Alien, but only the first one...the rest sucked, particularly no. 3 :P
Silence of the Lambs is definitely a favourite, and I love Jodie Foster's character. So awesome! Another fave horror flick is Identity, and I also don't recall anything to sexist about that. For a more subtle flavour of horror, go for The Others or The Skeleton Key. They're a little like the Sixth Sense in that the ending is completely unexpected, and you can really only watch it once, 'cause then the suspense is gone. But definitely worth that first watch!
Well I love horror movies. Especially the "I can't believe I still have a soul left over" Rob Zombie like flicks.
But for feminist kick-ass movies, I'd definitely vote for Tarantino's Death Proof and the Japanese film, Audition.
I'm with you. I was "Baby" for Halloween a couple years ago. I loves me some 1000 corpses.
I second the "Ginger Snaps" suggestion. Also "Behind the Mask" is a great horror mockumentary that sends up the survivor girl concept from films like "Halloween" and "Nightmare on Elmstreet," actually you could argue that nearly all the super-natural stalker movies are a bit feminist, since they almost all feature a female protagonist (yeah there's the whole sluts-die/virgins-live subtext, but I think that's really overhyped) My personal feminist-leaning fave from that type is "Candyman."
Alien alien alien alien! totally awesome!
also not quite horror but totally great and cathartic and violent: Freeway
I didn't like silent hill or think it was feminist (it has a female lead, and lots of female characters but it's "protective mom" vs. "evil witch" stuff mostly). Instead I'd go for
Carrie - maybe it isn't quite feminist but is awesome and scary
Wow, thanks for all these great suggestions.
I meant to mention "Audition," a Japanese film. Now, it's not super feminist though there is a lead female character who is about the scariest person you'd ever want to meet. It does get into a scene that I was able to handle, but you will never look at piano wire the same again. But it was utterly horrifying -- and in some ways I think it was in fact sort of feminist, as the male lead holds "auditions" for a new wife (unbeknownst to the women and I'm not giving away anything here) and he chooses the most delicate flower and um...well, she's not! >: )
Audition is one of the scariest movies I have ever seen. Excellent story, acting, and filming, (plus it has some really twisted humor and borders on a romantic comedy in places, which just makes the horror parts of the film all the more disturbing, a fave horror tacict of mine), but I have to warn anyone looking into the film that it turns very graphically violent towards the end. In the class I took on horror films, Audition was the only film we were not required to see, as our professor recognized that its climactic scenes would be too much for many people.
If ever there was a film for which the D: icon was appropriate, Audition is it.
The Happiness of the Katakuris is by the same director is more light-hearted (it's a musical, for one!) but just as good.
The original The Stepford Wives!! Dark, creepy, soooooo feminist. It's the perfect movie for Halloween!
I HATE movies such as The Hills Have Eyes, or others that feature rape scenes or sexualized violence. It's just not what I want to see in a scary movie.
For this Halloween I've rented the Mothman Prophecies (so scary) and The Mist on the recommendation of other posters.
If you guys like this stuff-
We run a feminist media company in Vancouver.
Here's our entry to the 2008 Bloodshots 48 Hour Horror Filmmaking Challenge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNx0ni1ueT8
If anyone wants to help us win the grand prize you can vote to the woman who runs the whole event- a horror film fanatic- email:
bigsmashproductions@gmail.com and write JULIANA in the subject line(until the end of today).
thanks and have a fun halloween
I wonder what other people here think of the Underworld movies. I'm a big fan of vampire movies, and I think Kate Beckinsale played a pretty kickass protagonist. At the start of the first one it's obvious that the vampire society is very patriarchal, but she pretty much turns everything on its head by the end. She's disobedient and challenges male power and succeeds rather than being punished for it. The other problem is that it has that one female main character and everyone else is male, which is pretty typical and annoying. I'd say it comes out overall not anti-feminist.
Sorry I don't have any suggestions for you but I just had to say OMG I LOVE The Descent!!! I too love horror movies and agree it's hard to find ones you can enjoy without trying to ignore all the sexist things that piss you off while you watch it.
Happy Halloween!
OK - i am an avid horrorlover since a wee lass - 2 GREATS are (and both are in my top 50 films of all time)
1. The Haunting (original version) GREAT female characters lesbian subtext (Claire Bloom & Julie Harris)-CREEPY as HELL
and
2. Don't Look Now - one of the most erotic sex scenes ever, creepy beyond belief, and an ending that will devastate you - profoundly atmospheric - great cast (Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland as the grieving parents) you will never be able to visit Venice ever again without a cold chill from this movie creeping up your neck.
oh yeah and the original silent Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
I wholeheartedly agree with The Orphanage being a must-see, but be aware that it is in Spanish with English subtitles - just in case subtitles aren't your thing. I'm thrilled that this movie is rising from obscurity!
Another psychological thriller worth noting on this list is "The Others" - some call it a blatant rip of off the sixth sense, but an adequately spooky movie nonetheless with a minimal of gore. The atmosphere is deliciously creepy without ever being over-the-top or cliched, and the performance by Nicole Kidman is top notch.
And don't forget Alfred Hitchcock when it comes to movies/directors who completely shy away from the cliches of horror movies- Vertigo, The Birds, Rear Window, Psycho, etc. may be dated are still outrageously creative and suspenseful.
You might be wary of David Lynch because every man on the universe watches his Mulholland Dr. specifically for the lesbian sex scene. I don't know if you could really call David Lynch feminist or non-feminist either way.
That being said...if you're into horrifying, psychological thrillers I watched the Lynch movie LOST HIGHWAY alone in my bed at 3 AM a couple of weeks ago and I am still recovering. It's not your traditional horror movie, but it really gets under your skin.
Here's a taste:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZLQW2qr5Hs&feature=related
i remember another movie i loved: wild zero. it's a japanese B-movie (jap. with english subtitles), with the main themes being rockabilly, explosions, and zombies (among other things). there's a drinking game on the DVD; the whole thing is hilarious :D
Damn it. I think my comment got deleted. Ok, some of these have already been said but that should just tell you how good they are:
The Orphanage
Ginger Snaps
The Mist
Death Proof/Planet Terror
Carrie
May
Sleepaway Camp
Masters of Horror: The Screwfly Solution
MOH: Pro Life
MOH: Sick Girl
28 Days Later
Teeth
I don’t recommend Audition. I was greatly let down and found it creepy, but also very boring. I would recommend A Tale of Two Sisters over this.
OMG yes tale of two sisters. CREEPY! also with subtitles, but wow. for those who have been recomending the orphanage, go check out other del toro movies. this man rocks my socks in terms of cinematic storytelling and out right creep factor. and his films are always so beautiful and rich.
the mist was... heartbreaking, and scary. i loved that the protagonist was a father, and how his relationship with his son was played out.
28 days and 28 months are some of my favorite plague zombie films.
haunted with aiden quinn was good and suspensful...and i have to admit i partly enjoy it for kate bekinsale's handful of nude scenes and her wild roaring 20s character.
and i'll admit to being a fan of the devil's rejects. even if it does make me a bad person, sherri moon zombie is HOT!!!
One REALLY SCARY movie is "Inside" which is a 2007 french film (original title : À l'intérieur ). It's about a pregnant woman who was in an car accident and killed her husband and a few months later on Christmas Eve she stays home alone to grieve and a woman is outside her house stalking her. Really graphic scenes make this a perfect scary movie.
If you want a WTF movie then rent Cannibal Holocaust. I watched it once and was both confused and severely bothered.
I love the others personally. I can't stomache most horror movies, but that one was kind of tame. I'm not certain how people see it as a rip-off of the sixth sense though. Is it because of the twist ending? Cause I thought that was playing off of the ambiguousness of Turn of the Screw (which it's very loosely based off of).
Longtime lurker and a definite lover of feminist horror. I second the suggestions above. Thanks for a great thread!
My two cents: The Descent is fantastic and scared the crap out of me, a veteran horror buff. Though it's more fantasy (a spiritual predecessor to Pan's Labyrinth), I also recommend The Devil's Backbone. Guillermo del Toro can break your heart with his tales of souls lost and adrift amid/after war.
And if you can find it, [Rec], the Spanish film (with subtitles) that was remade as Quarantine. I saw it in the theatre, so I'm not sure if it's on DVD yet. I found the female protagonist fairly engaging, and the film treated the characters as normal people rather than two-dimensional potential victims (though there were a couples "why did he/she do that?" and "Don't go in there!" moments).
Also in theatres in a lot of major cities is Let the Right One In, which is a gorgeous meditation on childhood and loneliness (with vampires!) from Sweden. Again, subtitle warning. Check out Rotten Tomatoes to see how it's impressed mainstream critics as well as genre buffs. I made a special trip to Toronto to see it and I plan on doing so again!
Happy Hallowe'en - thanks for lots of great reading!
I liked Ginger Snaps a lot. Now the Ring really got me. I saw it on dvd on a late stormy night all by myself, when ole girl came out that tv!!! I slept with the light on for days.
The scariest book/movie I ever read/saw was "Communion" by Whitley Streiber. Although not typical horror fare, it's supposed to be based on actual events of alien abduction that took place in upstate New York. The film stars Christopher Walken, so you know it's fabulous for that reason alone.
After I read the book, I swear I didn't sleep normally for about three months.
This would be doubly creepy for the Feministers, as I seem to recall a posting saying that you sometimes conduct your retreats Upstate. : )
And of course, this film is non-sexist---aliens do not discriminate as they need both males and females to implement their master paln. (Evil laugh.) : )
"Master plan"---spelling is hard.
Overall I'd agree that The Descent was a proper guilty pleasure--
but I was kind of pissed off at the end that the two best fighters decided to fight to the death over a guy.
I thought they were going to overcome the jealous-rage thing and combine forces and both get out alive.
But at least that happened way at the end so I got to enjoy most of the film. :)
the orphanage is pretty freaky. i just watched it and im pretty sure i'm going to have trouble sleeping.
High Tension. One of my favorite horror movies, and there's a lesbian subtext that's not so much sub.
If you see the making of Alien, it's interesting because the choice of casting Sigourney Weaver wasn't deliberately progressive, but more passive gender neutrality. The screenplay was written without any reference to gender and all the characters were referred to by their last name and they just cast some as women and some men. Ridley Scott just decided to cast a woman as the lead role.
even better - for the first third to a half, the movie has no main character at all - the lead is not someone you can guess at based on their gender or rank. It's not the captain, or the scientist, or the the pure/virginal/innocent, or anyone whose external traits would signal "leader." Instead, it's the only person who keeps their head together, who has their priorities straight, who really thinks. and she becomes the lead because of who she is and what she is like as a person.
god I love Alien.
Silent Hill was rad (especially on that emphasizing female characters thing). I'm an Asian horror flick fan- A Tale Of Two Sisters was a trip... you have to get the original Korean version though. Same thing with Shutter (the Thai version)- not feminist, but creepy.
Also a trip: Deep in the Woods (french), and Frailty (just plain weird). High Tension wasn't too bad, and 30 days of night explores some interesting xenophobic themes.
I forgot about Frailty. I really liked it when it came out. And I also really like High Tension. My pain complaint is that it switches between subtitles and dubbing. I don't know why it does that...
that should read main not pain...
Okay, I know I'm late on this one, but if you're planning on doing some post-halloween movie watching, watch the Orphanage. It is the scariest movie I have ever seen in my life and it will make you ball your eyes out in the end (in a good way).
I know this might not qualify as a horror movie but it has some strong female leads in it: the panic room.
What do people think of Rosemary's Baby?
I watched it randomly the other day and was totally struck by the women's rights issues that were present in such an old-school movie.
I don't know if I would call it feminist, but throughout the movie, Rosemary definitely struggles with trying to make her own decisions. Everyone around her is trying to control what she eats and drinks, what she reads (her doctor forbids her from reading anything about pregnancy, and her husband throws away her book!)...and basically tell her that they know what's best for her and that she should just settle down and be a good girl.
And as she figures out the truth about what's happening to her, she is classically dismissed as "crazy" and having hormonal imbalances.
The ending is completely puzzling...left me wondering if it was a pro-feminist piece disguised as a horror movie about Satanist or...?
"Silence of the Lambs does have characters who are sexist towards Clarice, but its an absolute favorite of mine..."
You say that as if the portrayal of the sexism against Clarice is a point against the movie. I consider the representation of the obvious sexism against her to be one of the major factors that makes it a feminist movie. She also has that excellent exchange criticiing her superior after he makes some comment to other cops about not talking about certain case-related matters "in the presence of ladies."
The sequel and prequel are both also great feminist stories - every woman in them is a complex, well-flushed out character. They're all strong fighters and completely astereotypical. And though this was changed for one of the movies, all three of the major "bad guys" end up being killed by women.
And, oh yes - Hannibal eats everyone who acts like a total sexist asshole to Clarice. :-)
What about Ms. 45? It has a pretty feminist lead character who's out to get revenge on the men who wronged her (and, of course, anyone else she can find). Also, the awesome final scene takes place on Halloween.
FWIW, I'd also like to second Candyman. It kinda falls apart at the end, but the first half is a very creepy and believable urban fairytale.
*Silence of the Lambs: One of my favorite movies. Clarice is my hero. But I like the books of SotL & Hannibal better than the movies.
*Suicide Club: Disturbing as hell but visually stunning.
*The Night of the Living Dead series, especially Land of the Dead.
*Candyman still terrifies me.
The 1963 Robert Wise film, "The Haunting". It's based on the novel by Shirley Jackson. Strong female characters. One of the main characters is a lesbian (Claire Bloom) with E.S.P. Still the scariest film I've ever seen.
Also "The Innocents" starring Deborah Kerr (1961). Based on a novella by Henry James. Totally creepy. Kerr plays a governess who experiences a haunting...or does she?
I also wrote an article about "torture porn" versus good horror films. I don't like torture porn because I think it's boring. Here's a link to the article"
Horror Movies And "Torture Porn"
I'm a huge horror movie buff. Some of my favorite horror movies:
"The Haunting" (original)
"Dead Birds"
"Dead End" (this one makes for a good Christmas horror movie)
"The Changeling"
"The Devil's Backbone"
"Below"
Quatermass And The Pit"
"Dark Water" (Japanese)
"Uzumaki" (Japanese)
By the way, there are several versions of "The Turn Of The Screw" by Henry James available out there. One is "The Innocents", starring Deborah Kerr, as mentioned by Chelsea Morning. All of the versions of "The Turn Of The Screw" are very good. There is even one starring Lynn Redgrave as the governess.
I know its a little late now... but oh well.
So yeah, Descent was great, and I also appreciate the thoughtful criticisms that a few folks brought up about it.
One more that I'd like to suggest is a french B-movie. "Bloody Mallorie".
Way fantastic!!!!!
Hey,
I am so happy that this topic has come up!! I adore horror movies, and am always happy when I find something that is feminist, or at least not anti-feminist.
So - I recommend Chopper Chicks in Zombie town - it's about a female biker gang, who end up in a town of zombies. Hilarious, and chock full of hot women in leather kicking ass.
Ginger Snaps (1 and 2), Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Jacques Tourneau movies (particularly I Walked with a Zombie - creepy black and white Jane Eyre themed zombie movie - completely amazing) - these are all great. Obviously The Descent and Alien are amazing, but you've probably already got the message! I'd love any more recommendations - always on the lookout for good horror flicks.
I also recommend Judith (Jack) Halberstam's book Skin Shows - a queer reading of some horror movies and books. Excellent book, and impeccable politics behind it ;0)
A Jane Eyre themed zombie movie? That sounds awesome, I love Jane Eyre.
May I recommend the And You Call Yourself a Scientist site? I enjoy reading most of the B-Masters sites, but Lyz Kingsley has my vote for the best of the lot. She has some wonderfully witty and insightful things to say about gender and science in speculative fiction films.
"Creep"! It's a British film with a female protagonist who is trapped at night in a London subway with a monster. Is V. gory and definitely watchable as a feminist!
xxx
Neil Marshall is absolutely one of my favorite directors. Dog Soldiers was really really good, The Descent was amazing, and though it's not a pure horror movie, Doomsday was incredible. The main character isn't treated any differently because she's a woman, and that's what I like about Marshall's work.