The Monstrous Feminine

Latest Episodes:

S3 Ep 25: Mermaids - The Lure May 16, 2023

Show notes

This month we’re talking about mermaids! 🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️ Our first film is the 2015 Polish musical horror, ‘The Lure’, directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska. 🌊🎤👯‍♀️ We delve into its camp musical elements, discuss how the exploration of womanhood lends itself to trans-coded readings, and debate Barbara Creed’s queer reading of this film. The Coven: Louisa, Mila and Zeba Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder, discussions of transphobia, body dysmorphia, societal tensions around gender affirming surgery and mentions of underage sexualisation of teenagers

S3 Ep 24: Eco-Horror [water] - The Bay May 03, 2023

Show notes

Our last eco-horror episode is the 2012 American mockumentary horror ‘The Bay’, directed by Barry Levinson. ⚠️🐓 We talk about how this film hits different post pandemic, the risk of exploitation in documentaries and governmental mismanagement of water systems. The Coven: Louisa, Mila Tyia and Zeba Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* violence, death, climate anxiety, water contamination and pandemic anxiety

S3 Ep 23: Eco-Horror [water] - The Host Apr 26, 2023

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Continuing our eco-horror theme, we’re talking about the 2006 monster film, ‘The Host’, directed by Bong Joon-ho. ⚠️🐟 In this episode, we discuss the influence of American neoliberal economic policies on Korea, unpack Bong's tactical focus on the nuclear family, and delve into how oppressive systems breed nihilistic compliance. The Coven: Louisa, Mila and Zeba Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* violence, death, death of a child, pandemic anxiety and climate anxiety

S3 Ep 22: Eco-Horror [water] - Tentacles Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

“You guys made me ink!” In honour of Earth Day, we’re talking about eco-horror! 🌎 Our first episode of the month is on the 1977 Italian-American sci-fi film ‘Tentacles’, directed by Ovidio G. Assonitis. 🐙 In this episode, we describe the referential nature of low-budget 70s Italian horror, lament the blatant giant squid erasure in this film, and, despite our best efforts, descend into brief mentions of tentacle porn and the vaguely Freudian vaginal imagery of octopus beaks. 🤦🏽‍♀️ The Coven: Louisa, Mila and Zeba Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder, climate anxiety, discussions of tentacle porn, infanticide and drowning

S3 Ep 21: Dolls - M3GAN Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

She's serving, your honour. 🕶️ This is our last dolls in horror episode of the month, and we’re talking about the sassy sci-fi ‘M3GAN’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. 💅🔩 In this episode, we talk about the difficult balance between professional success and motherhood, debate the camp and serious elements of this film, and attempt to pinpoint exactly where AI and parenting can overlap if technology has such negative effects on impressionable young minds. The Coven: Louisa, Tyia and Zeba Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder, discussions of adoption trauma and being orphaned

S3 Ep 20: Dolls - Child’s Play Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

Hello, Good Guys™️! This is our second dolls in horror episode, and we’re covering the iconic 1988 film ‘Child’s Play’, directed by Tom Holland. 🧑🏻‍🦰🚫🔋🩸 We discuss how this film toys with childhood innocence and perspective, its rather weak reliance on a serial killer origin story, and hail Chucky as a non-binary icon (you’ll have to listen in full to hear our justification for that one). The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder and mention of a child death

S3 Ep 19: Dolls - Living Doll (The Twilight Zone) Mar 25, 2023

Show notes

“My name is Talky Tina and I love you!” 💟 This is the first episode of our dolls in horror theme, and we’re talking about 'Living Doll' (1963) from the American television anthology series ‘The Twilight Zone’, directed by Richard C. Sarafian. 🎀🏠👨‍👩‍👧 We delve into the uncanny valley in relation to dolls, discuss the lost art of quality horror storytelling and analyse the fragility of the nuclear family structure in patriarchal suburban America. The Coven: Louisa, Mila and Zeba Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder

S3 Ep 18: Romance in Horror (Valentine’s Special) - Warm Bodies Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

For our last romantic horror episode, we are talking about the 2013 zom-rom-com ‘Warm Bodies’, directed by Jonathan Levine. 🧟‍♂️💘 First we read out your own dating horror stories. Then we discuss whether love can survive a zombie apocalypse, how apocalyptic conditions might drastically change our standards for a romantic partner, and how, much like 'Shaun of the Dead', this film depicts alienation under capitalism. *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder and necrophilia

S3 Ep 17: Romance in Horror (Valentine’s Special) - Audition Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

CASTING CALL: one horror fan 🥵! We’re continuing our Valentine’s theme with the 1999 thriller ‘Audition’, directed by Takashi Miike. 💉👁️💉 In this episode, we delve into the objectification of women, discuss the delicate performance of gender, analyse the chasm between men and women’s emotional experiences and how, in this film, the phenomenon of physical pain somehow bridges this gap. *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder, discussions of misogyny, objectification, torture, body mutilation, rape, sexual violence, childhood abuse and paedophilia

S3 Ep 16: Romance in Horror (Valentine’s Special) - The Mummy Feb 11, 2023

Show notes

Hi, love birds! 🕊️This is the first episode of our Valentine’s Specials, and we’re talking about the 1999 adventure film ‘The Mummy’, directed by Stephen Sommers. 🛕🐫🏺🦂 We start by examining exactly why this is known as the Official Bisexual Awakening Movie™️ (hint: it’s the hot cast). We then delve into how Imhotep sets the bar for side pieces everywhere. Finally, we discuss how this movie functions as a nostalgia watch, as well as its negative portrayal of Arabic people as stereotypical stock characters. *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder, near-strangulation by hanging, mention of suicide, discussions of the fetishisation of Egyptian women and racism

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