The Monstrous Feminine

Latest Episodes:

S2 Ep 25: Voodoo - Eve’s Bayou May 27, 2022

Show notes

We’re continuing our voodoo theme with the 1997 drama ‘Eve’s Bayou’, directed by Kasi Lemmons. 🩺🥼💔😵 In this episode, we discuss indie filmmaking, loss of innocence and intergenerational trauma in relation to slavery. The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Death, murder, discussions of sexual violence, grooming, rape, paedophilia, incest, slavery and infanticide

S2 Ep 24: Voodoo - The Serpent and the Rainbow May 22, 2022

Show notes

This month is all about voodoo! We’re starting with the 1988 film ‘The Serpent and the Rainbow’, directed by Wes Craven. 🐍🌈 We discuss the weirdly kinky torture scene, the colonial male gaze and the exoticism of voodoo/Haiti. The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder, discussions of torture and political unrest

S2 Ep 23: Horror Comedy - Attack the Block May 03, 2022

Show notes

Wrapping up our horror ha-ha theme, we’re talking about the 2011 horror comedy film ‘Attack the Block’, directed by Joe Cornish. 🐺🔫🎒🇬🇧 We admire John Boyega, discuss the intersection between class and race politics in Britain, and debate the use of aliens as a metaphor for police violence. Enjoy! The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Death, murder, youth gang violence (specifically knife crime), discussions of violence against women and anti-Black racism

S2 Ep 22: Horror Comedy - Cabin in the Woods Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

Continuing with our horror ha-ha theme, we’re moving on to the 2011 meta-horror comedy ‘Cabin in the Woods’, directed by Drew Goddard. 🌲🏚️🧟🥼 We discuss horror as an expression of society’s repressed desires, debate whether or not modern horror films still use stereotypical tropes of the genre, and talk about the place of the male gaze in a film intending to satirise voyeurism. The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder, brief mention of the KKK and a statement addressing the allegations against Joss Whedon about on-set abuse

S2 Ep 21: Horror Comedy - Shaun of the Dead Apr 11, 2022

Show notes

For this month’s theme, we’re talking about what puts the ha-ha in horror. The first film we’re covering is Edgar Wright’s British zombie comedy, ‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004). 🧟‍♂️🍺 We go over the film's potential class commentary, potential Freudian interpretations and potential queerness. Basically, 'Shaun of the Dead' is rife with deeper meaning, if you want it to be. Go listen. The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Mentions of violence and death

S2 Ep 20: Creature Features - Pan’s Labyrinth Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

Hola - our final creature feature of the month is Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 masterpiece ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’.👞🍇🖐️👀🖐️🧚🩸 We discuss what makes a good monster, the role of imagination and escapism, the sacrificial demands of motherhood and the subconscious presence of various mythologies in horror films. The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder, mentions of warfare and torture

S2 Ep 19: Creature Features - The Blob (1988) Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

Hello, jello! Our second creature feature film of the month is the 1988 sci-fi horror film ‘The Blob’, directed by Chuck Russell. 🌠🧫🧯👨🏿‍🚀🧊 In this episode, we discuss the differences between the original and the remake, debate the physics of the blob and its vulvic appearance, and admire older horrors’ ruthless ability to kill off main characters like it's no biggie. The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder, mentions of acid burns, the Cold War, rape and drug-facilitated sexual assault

S2 Ep 18: Creature Features - Godzilla (1954) Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

Hi there, monsters. This month we will be talking about creature features, starting with the classic Japanese sci-fi horror film, Godzilla (1954). In this episode, we discuss how the Western remakes dilute the original film’s poignant political message, and how the 1954 Godzilla navigates the ethics of warfare and the implementation of scientific discoveries, which have devastating consequences. The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, mentions of war and nuclear warfare (atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki), anti-Asian racism and Japanese colonialism

S2 Ep 17: Valentine's Special - The Love Witch Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

Happy Valentine's Day, lovers! 💋 To celebrate, we’re talking about the 2016 cult horror-comedy, ‘The Love Witch’, directed by Anna Biller. 💟🗡️🩸 We muse over just how down bad Elaine is, discuss the film’s portrayal of compulsory heterosexuality, and debate the limits of self-objectification as a means for empowerment. The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder and discussions of misogyny

S2 Ep 16: Bollywood Horror - Bulbbul Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

For our last Bollywood horror episode of the month, we’re tackling the 2020 Hindi-language horror 2018 film ‘Bulbbul’, directed by Anvita Dutt Guptan. 🌕🔴🦶🏽 First we discuss the folklore surrounding the churail – a Southeast Asian witch – and Anita Dutt’s tragic/feminist twist on the legend. We then go into the potential aestheticisation of violence against women and ableist plot device. Finally, we praise this film’s expert encapsulation of the "nice guy" trope. The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro *CONTENT WARNING* Violence, death, murder, graphic rape and domestic violence descriptions, discussions of colonialism in India, misogyny and ableism

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