This may be the first used tampon in a movie that was more than the butt of a nosebleed joke.Īfter reading an interview with Biller, the whole point of the film became much clearer. A nod to this female driven horror classic, it’s interesting that Anna Biller included a used tampon in the film in such a non-threatening way. “Carrie” was the first film to show period blood in 1976. Do you know that most men haven’t seen a used tampon?,” setting up a flawless joke execution when two male homicide detectives are investigating the crime scene. Women bleed and that’s a beautiful thing. Her inner monologue reads: “Tampons aren’t gross. Elaine pitties his weakness and buries him with a witches’ bottle, containing her urine and a used tampon. Her once-fun now emotional and needy man drops dead the next morning. Elaine performs love magic on Wayne and after they have sex, he changes. In minutes the two are driving to Wayne’s cabin in the woods for a romantic evening. The men are all overcome by their emotions and die before they succeed.Įlaine sets her sights on a professor at a local college named Wayne. She wants nothing more than for men to love her and not objectify her. And when the spells work too well, is it really her fault? It is a horror film, afterall. Yes, Elaine may be using her magic to gain love, but the men are falling for it. Elaine views men as dumb, easily manipulated creatures, susceptible to the simplest of tricks and most clichéd lines.” But there’s a subversive edge to this philosophy and not just because Elaine kills her lovers if they disappoint her (and they always do). Katie Rife of the AV Club wrote, “ On the surface, Elaine’s worldview appears pathetically retrograde she’s obsessed with finding true love through witchcraft and believes that a woman should devote herself to fulfilling her man’s every desire. But as the film goes on, it’s clear that Elaine’s actions are deeper and darker than mere male-centric validation. Trish (Laura Waddell), an interior decorator and Elaine’s companion gasps in horror after Elaine says with off-the-cuff cadence, “giving men sex is a way to unlock their love potential.” Trish exclaims, “It sounds like you’ve been brainwashed by the patriarchy!” Trish is shocked by Elaine’s seemingly unequivocal need for a man’s love and subordination to men. When we think that Elaine has finally quenched her insatiable thirst for love, she reminds us to never doubt her. ![]() But the more we learn about her, the more self possessed she becomes. ![]() Elaine believes that she isn’t doing anything wrong and for a second, it’s easy to believe that too. The film delivers a complex horror villian, whose charming innocence leads her friend’s husband and even the audience to fall for her. It’s a twisted story that critiques social ironies of heterosexual relationships through the eyes of a murderous witch. Through dark humor, self aware dialogue and the feminist lens, Biller reshapes a familiar trope-a witch who uses magic to make men fall for her, from the witch’s perspective. The sets and costumes, (both handmade) are beautiful and indulgent, it’s shot on 35mm film cut from the negative, but “The Love Witch” is more than a wet dream for the tarot-curious horror snobs. The 2016 film follows a young witch named Elaine (Samantha Robinson), who dramatically declares via inner-monologue, “I’m starting a new life,” as she takes a drag of a cigarette and drives down a California highway in a 1960’s red mustang. “The Love Witch” is a campy feminist horror film writen, directed and produced by Anna Biller.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |