Ladies of Horror: It Follows

Written by Cat Wilson of catthewilson.com
Today’s pick is the supernatural horror film, It Follows. College Student, Jay, has sex with her new boyfriend, but she contracts from him a curse in the form of a shapeshifter creature that will follow her until it kills her or she passes the curse onto someone else. What makes this a feminist horror film is how the sexuality is handled. In many horror films there is a lot of virgin worship and moralizing around sex. In this film, sex is how this curse started, but it is also a way to end it. Also, when Jay tells her friends and sister about her STD like monster, they do not slut shame Jay or see this curse as a her fault. They are horrified at how she was coerced into this situation and stick by her, even when they see how dangerous this creature can be.

Trigger warning: Even though Jay’s sexual encounters are consensual, another character is raped.

Ladies of Horror: The Taking of Deborah Logan

Written by Cat Wilson, catthewilson.com
Today’s pick is found footage film The Taking of Deborah Logan. This film uses Alzihmer’s, an already scary subject, as vehicle for terror and possession. The three major characters are Mia on the documentary film crew, Deborah and Sarah, Deborah’s daughter. As the film progresses you learn about the Deborah’s brave even heroic past all while she loses herself to an evil spirit. Sarah is a lesbian who loves and tries to protect her mother. Finally, some queer representation and Sarah is not some male fantasy either. (I’m looking at you, The Hunger) Sarah’s lover is the town Sheriff, so we even have a lady police officer.
Trigger Warning: This film is in the running for our most frightening pick. There are some jump scares and general creepiness.

Ladies of Horror: Jennifer's Body

Written by Cat Wilson of catthewilson.com
Today’s pick is another highly divisive film. Jennifer’s Body written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama. This film can be seen as an example of the harmful seductress trope mentioned by Anita Sarkeesian in her series Feminist Frequency.

The harmful myth this reinforces is that women use their so called “sexual power” as a way to manipulate, trick and control men. […] Some men claim that women hold more power is society based on this this absurd myth. -Anita Sarkeesian

Your humble author believes there is more going on in this film. Jennifer is possessed by a demon against her will; sacrificed by power hungry men and because of them becomes a monster. Jennifer’s best friend, Needy is definitely sexually active (a refreshing change compared to the virgin worship in some slasher films), but Needy does not use sex to manipulate. Jennifer’s Body could be seen as a cautionary tale again weaponized sexuality because of the destroyed friendships and damage it causes. As director Karyn Kusama said:

What we need to be seeing isn't just women in movies... we need to be seeing women who challenge us and disturb us and make us uncomfortable and make us think.

Ladies of Horror: Rosemary's Baby

Post Written by Cat Wilson catthewilson.com

I think it’s highly ironic Roman Polanski directed Rosemary’s Baby, maybe he didn’t understand the commentary on women rights and reproductive freedom running under everything in the film. The story was originally written by Ira Levin, author of The Stepford Wives. Don’t let the title fool you this is a story about Rosemary. Her husband is so unimportant to the story his name is “Guy.” Rosemary is the naive girl we all were once long ago and every aspect of her life is controlled for her reproductive abilities. The film is not “scary”, things don’t jump out at you, however trigger warning because it deals with drugging, rape and control. Rosemary could be a poster child for the #metoo movement.