"I Spit on Your Grave, Rape Culture!"

      “I Spit on Your Grave” is the perfect example of the malignant cancer known as “rape culture” growing in the U.S. This film shines a clean light into the dingy corner infested with the horrors humans may produce. The movie portrays an author being raped by four men at the same time. This young woman is degraded, beaten, and left for dead. She trades her typewriter for a knife, and torments her abusers not just physically, but mentally, as well. 

This famous 1978 film is a staple in the horror community for many reasons. Heart wrenching when thinking of how close to reality this story lies; while some countries strive for gender equality by implementing laws to stir away from sexual assault, the U.S. legislation still applies the same old saying, “boys will be boys.” With light punishment being implemented on men of a certain race or social class, is it a wonder why the rape scene in this film scares people so much? I mean, it happens in real life, and the full weight of the justice system will not be placed on the actual criminal. This film resonates with our society today, just as it did when first released. 

            Our protagonist manages to pull herself together, and goes after the men who mutilated her human spirit, and takes justice into her own hands. There’s a moment in the story where the lead character walks into a church, kneels before an altar, and asks for forgiveness, for she is about to sin.

It’s understandable why this film would cause such shock when first released; the rape scene is long, uncensored, and stomach-turning. The film was banned in Norway, Ireland, and Iceland. It’s interesting how much of an outrage this film caused upon its release, and actions were immediately called for, like censorship. Why is it that a film with a brutal rape scene seems to spark more outrage than actual rape in the U.S?

            In 2016 there was nowhere you couldn’t help to hear about the Brock Turner case, where the Stanford student was accused of rape, and proven guilty via DNA proof, yet was given a light sentence. The case was criticized as judicial bias in favor of male and class privilege. The likelihood of rape taking place in a first world country sadly staggers- with knowledge of this beforehand, it’s no wonder this film engulfs us in terror and pity. The entire cast did an amazing job at enacting such horror. This scary classic embodies the worst of human malice. As the film progresses, we’re able to see more into the rapists lives, and meet them as regular people. The lead character terrorizes the rapists’ reality, handling psychological terror in a perfect manner. 

The subtlety in which our lead character handles her anger in the second half of the film seems really ballsy, as in, she gets too close to the rapists, close enough to kill her at any moment. “I Spit on Your Grave” is an epic film that remains memorable for various reasons like, it’s close relevance to a core problem in our society, the film’s extreme graphics, and traditional story of revenge. If you have not seen it yet what are you waiting for? Join us in the traumatization of “I Spit on Your Grave!”

"Mother!" is a Powerful Allegory about Man, God, and Earth's Relationship

“Mother!” was endowed with symbolism referring the bible, narrates the complicated relationship between God, Man, and Earth through time, but leaves plenty of unanswered questions. The film’s enriched with heavy subtext hinting at humanity’s monopolization of land and disregard for consequences on the planet. 

The actual storyline feels vague, and seems to come short at times. This subtext-heavy film highlights the gore humans are capable of, providing the horror scene with an enjoyable experience. 

            “Mother” is equipped with references to the bible. Early in the film, a gentlemen shows up asking for refuge, the following day his wife joins him, and later on a scar’s shown on his right side, making reference to Eve being made from Adam’s rib. The film later introduces two brothers getting into a brothel, excellent reference to Cain and Abel. 

The lead character’s a famous author who’s grown a cult-like following, and while his wife forces herself to put up with them, more keep coming. The film does a great job at simulating what Mother Earth would say to God about humanity. 

             It’s impressive how well the film correlates the relationship between the human race and our planet over time. As the story progresses, more uninvited visitors join the lead characters in their home. The uninvited guests keep ignoring any type of house etiquette, and as Jennifer Lawrence’s character yells and pleads to respect her home, they simply ignore her. 

There are prime examples throughout the movie where human’s abuse of the planet leave long lasting effects. While the symbolism is to be praised, the actual storyline comes a bit short, making us forget the characters as people, but simply see them as puns in an allegory. The story behind the two main characters seems to go unanswered, “what are they?”

             “Mother” does an incredible job at showing how Mother Earth would react to the destruction, and overpopulation being caused by humans. This film isn’t for everyone, but as a powerful allegory, deserves a chance. 

“It Follows” Embodies STDs Into a Smart Horrendous Monster

            “Now that we’re old enough, where the hell do we even go?” A young girl discovers that the last guy she had sex with passed on a demon to her, and has to pass it on to somebody else by sleeping with another person. This is a horror film, so our heroine’s not about to take the easy way out, she confronts the thing that follows. The story contains likable characters, making it harder for us to accept their possible faith. The film embodies fatal STDs into a monster that takes on different bodies, which tend to be dead relatives. “Sometimes I think it takes on the form of loved ones just to hurt you even more.”

            It’s not absurd to believe that this film correlates how STDs affect not just the victim, but their loved ones as well. 

             As we witness our heroine being followed by creepy people, we’re introduced to her younger sister and her sister’s friends. Together they help our protagonist find where this thing came from, and how to stop it. This movie makes a strong impression on how people fall as collateral damage when helping others. The entire production team did an amazing job at bringing this story to life in a certain mood. The framing was impeccable; one is able to grasp the severity of the situation through the lighting. Congratulations to the director for the believable and likable portrayals the actors delivered. 

            This indie film is worthy of praise; it’s able to provide sufficient jump scares and eerie moments without costly special effects. The makeup artist did an incredible task at making certain characters look menacing, yet not lose that human look, adding eeriness to their character. 

           “It follows” makes a remarkable comment on how sex driven young people are, failing to take any consequences into consideration. This horror films does a great job at exploring farfetched, yet scary, consequences. “It Follows” is definitely worth a watch, and even a buy, ‘tis the season! ;) 

"Chatroom" Shows How Dangerous the Power We Have at Our Fingertips May Be

           “It’s all so desperate. They’re turning us into these unbelievably dull people.” “Chatroom” forms a perfect example of how while technology advances, we tend to misuse the power we have at our fingertips. Five teens use their phones and computers as portals to escape from their reality in this film. 

Some of the teens believe to have found a safe haven to share what they cant in real life, but little do they know, they’re simply puns in a dark scheme. Each character would seem to have the perfect life, nothing to complain about, until someone with deep self hate gets involved. If “Chatroom” may only succeed in one thing; it’d be that we can be whoever we want online. 

            The story kicks off with a teen creating a chat room for teens. One girl comes in, a model in real life, enters the room bitching about her vapid friends. Every young adult in this story has a problem in real life that comes to surface via the chat room. One character suffers from being ignored by her parents who keep trying to mold her as they please, forgetting about her in the process. There’s even a moment where she overhears her mother wishing she could’ve had more children, but she uses her phone to tap into another world.  

            The teens that become usual visitors look up to the chat room moderator as an optimistic and inspiring young man. Our online personalities don’t always correlate with who we are in real life, or what we post online indicates our true intentions. The leader of this breakfast club seems obsessed with suicide, a dangerous obsession that’s inflicted on his peers. The story takes a dark twist as the chat room moderator exploits each one of his peer’s personal problems involving pedophilia, parent abandonment, bullying, and other issues.

            The story is well told, eloquently delivered, and the hard work behind each scene is admirable. The online actions like, creating a chat room, or sharing things online is portrayed in real life terms. Whenever online, the actors would wear the same clothes they had on their profile picture. Congrats to the production team for incorporating everyday online interaction into this film in such a creative manner. The entire cast did an amazing job at bringing three-dimensionality to their characters, making them inevitably likable. 

Though an entertaining and thoughtful film, it still manages to deliver a strong example of how well connected we all may be, and yet sometimes choose to hurt one another. "Chatroom" is a great film, feel free to check out the trailer down below and lemme' know what you think!

Wes Craven: Independent Filmmaking Royalty

 If you walk into this man’s home, you’ll hear a scream from the people under the stairs. You’ll run out thinking it was a nightmare, when you were just inside the last house on the left. Scream, People Under the Stairs, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Last House on the Left are a few of the titles that make up Wes Craven’s filmography.

About to turn 30, he took a risk and moved to California in pursuit of his new found passion, film-making. His earliest work goes back to writing and editing porn. Which no one from his family saw coming, since he was raised in a strict Baptist household. In 1972, Wes Craven released his first full-length film as a director, Last House on the Left. Last House on the Left follows 17-year-olds Mari and Phyllis as they’re kidnapped, degraded, and raped by escaped convicts. Phyllis eventually dies in an attempt to save her best friend. Mari, trying to escape, befriends the leader’s son by giving him a nickname and her necklace. He lets her runaway. Hope fills Mari’s eyes as she runs as fast as she can. The criminals catch up to her. They rape her, and carve their names into her chest. That little glimmer of hope she had disappears. 

The escaped convicts are ashamed of what they’ve done, they stare at their blood stained hands and give her space. Mari, extremely weak, manages to push herself off the ground, throws up, and says a prayer under her breath. She no longer tries to run, she walks towards the lake, and knows this is the end of the road for her. They shoot her. The water carries her body away. The escaped convicts take refuge in a lake house thanks to a married couple. The married couple turns out to be Mari’s parents. They manage to figure out what happened to their daughter and take vengeance into their own hands. 

I have an admiration for independent filmmakers, because they don’t have the big budget that Hollywood movies have, they can’t rely on stunning special effects, A-List celebrities, or worldwide promotion. Independent filmmakers have to make sure the storyline has a good flow, the acting is believable, and the editing shows continuity. The film, for me, is an example of how hard work does pay off. With a budget of $90,000, they were able to make a profit of $3.1 million at the box office.

            The story itself reminds me of something my Dad once said, that a person isn’t born bad, that it’s life and society that turns people a certain way. An upbringing filled with poverty led three people to find pleasure in causing others pain. A doctor and his wife mutilated three people in name of revenge. This story is filled with human beings being driven to unleash the darkest side of them. Last House on the Left shines a clean light into the dingy corners of the human psyche, which is what I believe a film should do. Now, I encourage you all to support independent films by visiting a film festival. And for my fellow filmmakers, keep writing! Keep directing! Keep going! Feel free to check out this short documentary on "The Last House on the Left."

The People Under the Stairs: How it Broke the Horror Movie Archetype

The People Under the Stairs broke the horror archetype on many different levels. The film had a child as the lead actor, the cast was predominantly black, and achieved a perfect blend of horror and comedy-all a rare thing in the horror genre. In addition to the villains being rich and White, it was scary how detached they were from real life, but then again, they won the natural lottery. As the story progresses, one can’t help but to bond with the lead character through a series of difficult choices. “[…] Daddy cut out the bad parts, and put the boys in the cellar, […]. They get flashlights and food of some kind. I suppose they're happy in their own way.” This dark tale tells the story of insane siblings who’ve stolen children, thrown some away in the cellar, and fed the rest to the people under the stairs. 

 

Real life problems are presented to this barely thirteen year old in the first act. Fool, our lead character, has a mother dying of cancer, his family’s about to be evicted, and they have nowhere to go. It’s interesting how the person that lost the natural lottery is the hero of this film, and the winners are placed as the villains. 

An opportunity to earn money to save his family arises; it goes against his moral standing, but what good are morals when your family’s starving? Finding yourself rooting for Fool is inevitable, which leaves the window open for fear to sneak in, making it impossible to fear for our young hero. 

 

The film itself managed to stand out when released for many reasons. It’s become a custom in scary movies to have barely any, if not, no Black people included in their production. Wes Craven noticed the unleveled playing field within the horror genre and reacted. This movie featured a mostly Black cast, and not only that, but the lead actor was Black. To quote one of the greatest sequels, “the horror genre is historically known for excluding the African American element.” – Which happens to be another Wes Craven film. While some scenes do seem farfetched, it works with the movie, even adding some humor to the story.  

 

            The People Under the Stairs comments on unfair housing policies. The children-stealing landlords charge tenants double the rent when late a day, and triple when late two days, and evicted on the third. The sole purpose of those rental claws is to get as much money as possible from low-income families, then push them out, making the building available for  “different” type of tenants. These morally depraved brother and sister aren’t so detached from modern days landlords in parts of cities labeled the “ghetto” part of town. If anything, this movie amplifies on the need for fair housing policies all over the country. Authority may be a dangerous thing when in the hands of certain people. 

The People Under the Stairs is a must watch! And like the song over the ending credits says, “Do the right thing!” 

 

Prevenge: Who Would Suspect a Pregnant Woman of Murder?

   “While people search for a purpose, I already got one.” This modern take on the horror genre portrays a pregnant woman committing murder in the name of revenge, hence the title. Prevenge is a well written story, accompanied by an amazing cast, and complimented by shots telling a story in a single frame. One of the best qualities of this film is how it delivers a different type of heroine. Who would suspect a middle class pregnant woman of murder? We’re able to dig deeper into the psychology behind each character through great use of foreshadowing. This movie not just delivers some gory, creepy scenes, but some good comedic moments, as well. Prevenge exemplifies on the difficult choices one has to make; life or death? Seek revenge, or sit at home angry? 

 

Each cast member has a moment to shine, and takes advantage of it, leaving us a good aftertaste with each scene. There are moments when one can’t stop to think, what lead actor would do that?!?! After looking up the movie on Wiki, it all made sense, the lead actress is also the writer and director- making it even more worthy of praise. The rest of the actors either make us sympathies with them, yet hate them to the point where we can’t wait for that knife to enter them - with that being said, thank you for the impeccable acting. Congratulations to the casting director for bringing together a talented assemble. The cast succeeds in delivering dark humor, eerie moments, and convincing performances.  

  The entire production team behind Prevenge produced a great new-age horror film. The story follows a woman seeking revenge for the death of her husband. There are moments where doubts emerge, but they’re quickly silenced by that little creepy voice inside her head. Throughout the movie, the lead character hears a voice urging her to continue with avenging her husband’s death. It’s understood that she believes the voice to be of her unborn child. She even avoids her sonograms because she fears what may be growing inside of her. This film interestingly turns the tables by making a person who society would perceive as vulnerable, into this horror film’s knife wielding psychopath.  

The director of photography, location scout, special make-up effects supervisor, all did a great job at pulling us into this story. This film could have been made as a dark comedy, but keeps the horror genre present at all time, either through blood on the floor, a creepy voice over, or eerie images. The foreshadowing in this movie is done very subtle. While Ruth, our pregnant murdering heroine, converses with a midwife, she’s told that the baby is in control now, to just give into it, if only the midwife knew she was green-lighting a murdering spree. 

A fan of the horror genre? Please watch this movie! You won’t regret it.