Women in Horror: The Woman

 ** This review contains spoilers. **

Chris Cleek is a seemingly normal family man and lawyer. His family seems perfect in every way with a loving wife, a successful son, and two obedient daughters. One day when hunting, he finds a feral, cannibalistic woman bathing in a lake. After forcing his family to prepare a space for her in the cellar, he captures her to civilize her and save her from her savage ways. His perfect facade crumbles as he "educates" the woman and the sick person inside emerges. With his perfection, the family's veneer also falls away, exposing his son's violent tendencies, his daughter's pregnancy, and his wife's complacency despite her anger and her abject horror at his actions. Who will be victorious: the savage woman or the civilized man? Who is the more monstrous?

I heard about The Woman during last year's Women in Horror Month and wasn't able to watch it until very recently. I expected to like it, but I was blown away by the film. I absolutely loved it especially because of the wonderful performances of the actors and the underlying message. Chris Cleek is a very creepy character. Gleefully sadistic, he is magnetic and repellent at the same time. He acts as the ideal patriarch of the ideal nuclear family who just happens to be insane, ruling his family with an iron fist. All the women in his life are cowed and fearful as a result of his mentality that women are inherently inferior to men, except for his youngest daughter. His wife, Belle, ignores his abuse to the detriment of her children and his daughter, Peggy, escapes into her music and books to cope with her pregnancy (most likely the product of incest). Even the women and girls seen in passing in their neighborhood are victimized and abused by men outside of the Cleek family, showing that this isn't an isolated incident. His son, Brian, on the other hand, is being groomed to be exactly like him. The process proved to be successful with his disturbing, budding serial killer behavior.

Based on this view of the family and the brutal treatment of the Woman, it's easy to just assume that it's propagating misogyny. At its core, The Woman examines women's roles in society and views women in a much more favorable light than it appears. The Woman is a strong character untouched by the influences of civilization. When faced with Chris, she is the only woman to fight back. After continued abuse and the fact that Chris wields superior weapons, the Woman backs down, but is never fully controlled. The minute she is released and catches Chris off guard, she kills him and his son brutally. This shows that misogyny and the idea of women as the weaker sex are conventions of society and not inherently true. Belle is the first person killed after she is released. Many people are upset by this because they feel sorry for her as a victim of her husband. However, I feel it was justified because she allowed her children to be abused and warped by her husband. By doing that, she is just as guilty as Chris, if not more so. She could have left with her kids or called the police long ago and she chose not to, allowing the abuse to continue for years. Also, Chris Cleek is shown to be more brutal and less civilized than the Woman, the only living member of a savage and cannibalistic tribe. His family dynamic calls into question the traditional patriarchal family unit, proving that nostalgia for the past is supporting this dynamic in reality and perpetuating abuse. The world that surrounds these characters supports misogyny as a part of everyday life, with the only exception being Peggy's math teacher, Miss Hindle. This aspect is a commentary on the atmosphere in our own society and how we are numb or blinded to the misogyny we are bombarded with every day.

The Woman is a commentary on how women are treated in our society in the present and the past. The film had a few surprising twists and turns, including showing Chris to be way more depraved than I thought, which is saying a lot. The ambiguous ending leaves just enough to the imagination and also leaves the story open for another installment. I really like this film and hope Lucky McKee and Jack Ketchum work together on other projects in the future. I would recommend this to people looking for a challenging, thought provoking, and (at times) difficult to watch film.

My rating: 9/10 fishmuffins

Women in Horror: Ganymede

Josephine Early is the madame of a bordello, known in more polite circles as a lady's boarding house, in New Orleans. She also conducts even more covert dealings as an informer and advocate for the United States in the Civil War. Her newest project involves a gigantic underwater craft, stolen from the Confederacy, that could be the deciding factor in the war. If only anyone knew if it worked. Anyone who worked on it or knew anything about it is either dead or in jail. As a result, this project isn't the highest on the US's list since there's no guarantee Ganymede would be worth the effort. In desperation, Josephine asks an old flame, Andan Cly, to pilot it. A (mostly) reformed pirate, Cly decides to help out his old friend while simultaneously completing a legitimate deal in Seattle. As Cly makes his way to New Orleans, another threat presents itself to Josephine: zombis. Can Cly pilot the Ganymede without dying and can they transport the craft to the US before zombis or the Confederacy get to them?

Ganymede is the fourth installment in Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series. An alternative history of the Civil War is built with zombies, fantastical machines, and steampunk elements. I loved Boneshaker and I had to get my hands on Ganymede. It definitely doesn't disappoint. The individual characters are dynamic and interesting to read. Josephine is a bi-racial madame with a heart of gold. She's incredibly strong and fiercely protective of her loved ones, including her ladies and her brother. Able to handle herself in a fight, she even successfully fights off zombies. I liked that she was strong, but didn't lose her femininity or become completely emotionless because of it. Ruthie, one of Josephine's employees, is also a strong character who isn't afraid to use her feminine wiles to overcome obstacles. There is a surprising twist with her near the end of the story. Although the delivery was a little abrupt, the meaning is important and makes the story a little more interesting. Cherie Priest is especially skilled in creating a believable web of characters.

Although I really enjoyed Ganymede, I would have loved to see more of the social implications played out between the characters. Many of them are from different backgrounds and wouldn't really get along so well right away. The mixed race brothel led by a bi-racial woman would have turned a few heads or incurred scrutiny or conflict from the Confederacy or southern people in support of slavery. All of the interactions were a little too smooth, including that between Josephine and Andan. You'd think there would have been more tension and conflict between Andan's feelings for Briar, his current love, and Josephine. Each character was dynamic on their own, but more conflict should have been generated between them. Madame Laveau, an aged and powerful voodoo practitioner based on a real person, was also a wasted opportunity that could have had larger implications.

Ganymede is a fun adventure story with interesting characters. Although there are faults, the battle scenes were exciting and suspenseful. It's not my favorite book in the series, but it's still a fun steampunk novel.

My rating: 4.5/5 fishmuffins

Happy Single's Awareness Day!

Here are some songs for those not into Valentine's Day (which were weirdly way easier to compile than the V-Day songs)!

1) The Dresden Dolls - Coin Operated Boy



This is their first hit on their debut album and probably the song most people know by them. It's either a song about loneliness or one about sex toys. You decide. I think it's about the fear of relationships and real emotions.

2) Jenny Owen Youngs - Fuck Was I



Love is a tumor, something that will inescapably harm in the relationship in this song. It's a beautiful song with great imagery.

3) The Jane Austen Argument - Staying Single



Here are all the reasons not to be in a relationship, including some I have never heard before. I love that they include weird breakup stories from the audience that are more bizarre than I ever thought possible.

4) Voltaire - Future Ex-Girlfriend



Ah, the joys of being with intolerable people. This relationship only lasts a week, but some animosity is definitely built up. The Keanu line is the best. :)

5) Death Cab for Cutie - Tiny Vessels



This is a song from the point of view of someone awful. He told a girl he loved her, which wasn't true, and he won't talk to her about what's wrong. That girl could have no idea what is wrong and he's just going to dump her out of the blue. Douche.

Until next year!

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's Valentine's Day again! Here are some tunes for you to listen to if you're oh so in love and feeling mushy.

1) Zombina and the Skeletones - Guess What (I Love You)



Sung from the point of view of a lovestruck girl, this song is upbeat and cute. She writes a love letter to the boy of her dreams in this rockabilly number. It's perfect for asking someone out on this Valentine's Day.

2) Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen - Formidable Marinade



This track is from Amanda Palmer's Down Under album and features Mikelangelo. The man has a voice that is so deep and sexy, I could listen to it all day. This is also one of the most disturbing love songs ever. The cannibalistic and murderous imagery is chilling, but really awesome in this song.

3) The Raveonettes - Love in a Trashcan



Although the title sounds insulting, it portrays what others think about this particular girl. The person narrating the song thinks this girl completes him (or her). I think it's actually pretty sweet.

4) Kirby Krackle - Super Powered Love



This song is sang by a guy with a superhero girlfriend. He worries about her when she goes to fight evil while he stays home. Not only is it a fun, great song, but it shows a point of view not really seen that much. It's nice that he's doesn't feel like he has to compete with her or that he's less of a man. He just wants to help her in any way he can.

5) Nightwish - Ever Dream



This is a just a gorgeous symphonic metal love song.

Hope you enjoyed! <3

Women in Horror: Kissed

** This review contains spoilers. **

Sandra Larson has always been fascinated by death, especially as a sensory experience. As a child, she created rituals to bury dead animal that drove off her only childhood friend. These rituals were to her the only proper way to honor the dead. In college, she works at a flower shop, which inevitably leads her to Wallis Funeral Home, where she decides to work and study embalming. This is also where her obsession with death culminates in becoming a necrophiliac. During her study of embalming in college, Sandra meets Matt and impulsively decides to be completely open about her odd sexual proclivities. He becomes obsessed with her, trying to find out why she feels  the way she does about the dead and why he isn't enough. How far can their relationship last? How far will Matt go in search of answers and how much can Sandra feel for a living person?

I saw this movie a few years and ago and was completely fascinated with it. Although necrophilia is obviously disturbing and taboo, this isn't a film that wants to to disgust or repel, like Cerda's Aftermath or the German Nekromatik films. Some may find it boring because it doesn't have the in-your-face gore and extremely disgusting scenes that these other films have. At its core, it's a love story. Sandra is a normal, every day girl, for the most part. She really could be anyone. Her appearance is normal and her only weird aspect (besides the obvious) is that she doesn't interact with people much. The greatest part of the film is that Sandra isn't portrayed as a horrible, grotesque monster, which would have been very easy to do. She doesn't have sex with corpses because she's kinky or wants some sort of power over them, but because she sees it as a consensual spiritual experience. She believes there is still an energy and vitality in them after death and she can release and feel it with her love. Her actions are compared to that of the funeral director, who she discovers is also a necrophiliac. He prefers little boys (adding one taboo on top of another), obviously for personal pleasure, and reasons that they can't feel anything anyway. Sandra is horrified by it because it's a desecration of the dead, while she celebrates and respects those she is with. Molly Parker does a phenomenal job as Sandra, making her a sympathetic and sensitive character.

Matt is also an interesting character. He doesn't react as most people would when Sandra reveals her secret and he becomes obsessed with the reasoning behind it. He senses that she pulls away from their relationship. In an effort to be what she wants, he only succeeds in freaking her out and she holds him at an even greater distance than before. Although she has feelings for him, she's never been with anyone living and still feels drawn to dead people. His solution is to kill himself so he can be with her in a way she can connect with. The end scene is beautiful, haunting, and bitterweet.

Kissed is a wonderful film that shows necrophilia, an obviously distasteful subject, in an artful light. Sandra isn't condemned as monster. It acts as a character piece that shows the development of her fascination of death from childhood. It's a brave film that is easy to condemn, but shows this taboo in an unexpected way.

My rating: 8/10 fishmuffins

Even More Valentines!!

Not into zombies? Here are some other horror themed valentines so you can express you creepy love.

* This is for any Lovecraft fan eager to spread the tentacly, but adorable horror that is Cthulhu. You can buy prints of it here.

* Here are a couple that come from classic horror films. Who wouldn't want to be wooed by a cultured, educated gentleman? The fact that he eats people is just a personality quirk. And this alien just wants a hug!

* Lastly, we have this delightful valentine puts a dark twist on this romantic holiday.

<3

Zombie Valentines! Part 2

More rotting, loving zombie valentines!

* Zombie children need love too! This is one is a hand drawn one from Etsy, featuring a sweet zombie child. Don't let the innocent exterior fool you!

* This slightly more girly one is for those who love for the mind, not the body.

* This one is from Agorables (hee hee) on Etsy and captures zombie love beautifully. Check out their other cards for creepy cute cards for all occasions!

* The Walking Dead website has 3 lovely valentines featuring the gruesome zombies from their show. This one is my favorite!

That's all the zombie valentines for this year, but come back tomorrow from some more quirky and cute ones!