"The Lure" 2015 - a gem in body horror

Greetings, commies!

Who is in a mood for some mermaid themed body horror? Look no further than the 2015 Polish horror film "The Lure". It tells the story of two sirens who emerge from the waters and perform in a nightclub. One falls in love with a man, and gives up her tail, but loses her voice in the process. The story is a reworking of the 1837 fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen, with inspiration from Smoczyńska's experiences.  

If a male director had made this movie, he would have been branded misogynist - at least by the woke critics. But since the director is female, she runs the risk of being branded ... a pick me? Just kidding. Big fat kudos to Agnieszka Smoczyńska for not shying away from the idea that women can be malicious. Lately, the feminist movement has been pushing for female moral superiority. Meaning, if a woman commits an act of violence, it's because she is reacting to patriarchal oppression. Agnieszka Smoczyńska is not blaming men for the bloody acts of her two sister mermaids. They are simply acting out their inherent nature - two carnivorous sea creatures, who make a disastrous attempt at fitting in with humans.

The setting is important! The film takes place in the fictitious 1980s Poland. Historically, the country faced significant economic and social challenges under Soviet dominance. Smoczyńska creates a decadent, colorful, supernatural oasis against the backdrop of shame and deprivation. This Is not the Poland that most Poles born before 1980 experienced. But this is the Poland they may have dreamed of after watching bootleg American music videos. The director's own mother ran a nightclub, so she had plenty of first hand experience to lean on.  

Ultimately, the film is about vulnerable outsiders, who often have no other way to build social bonds except in the world of entertainment. Runways, immigrants, addicts often experience their short lived and sensational moment in the spotlight. The mermaid sisters - much like the Triton character - are doomed to being on the fringes of society. Their attempts of fitting in with the wounded and inapproachable mainstream lead to disasters. 

"The Lure" is an absolute gem in body horror.