The Ugly Stepsister: Bachelor meets The Substance

 

Synopsis:

Elvira dreams of the weak-kneed virgin, Prince Julian, and is willing to go to great lengths to conform to the kingdom's ideals of beauty. A surprising and raw twist on the fairy tale `Cinderella', seen from her stepsister's point of view.

My thoughts:

I have been waiting for this body horror gem. It takes a dark Scandinavian soul to revamp the Cinderella story in such a twisted, delicious manner. It's not the first time the story is retold, but it's the first time it's told from the point of view of one of the "ugly" stepsisters. I am delighted to see so many unapologetic, uncompromising female European directors send their visions forth. After watching Coralie Fargeat's The Substance (2024), I was smacking my lips in anticipation of  Emilie Blichfeldt's "The Ugly Stepsister" . Only women understand the depth of self-hatred that leads us to desperate self-mutilation. Only women understand our love-hate relationship with our bodies, our female relatives and perceived rivals. All this mess concoction is flesh out in "The Ugly Stepsister". Of course, the actress who plays the titular character Elvira is a model in real life. Lea Myren is traditionally attractive, and it took a few special effect makeup tricks to make her face appear puffy and asymmetrical. Elvira is only ugly in the eyes of her greedy, ambitious mother Rebekka, who is panicking over her own esthetic decline. Rebekka is not a source of evil by herself. She is yet another casualty of a very unhealthy value system. There are plenty of female characters who support this system, including the women who run the finish school for girls, the nurses who assist with grisly cosmetic surgeries. Agnes, the Cinderella figure, meekly accepts the prospect of marrying a man she does not love to advance her social standing. She is willing to relinquish her stable boy lover for the chance to marry Prince Julian. Even though both of her parents are dead, and nobody is really pressuring her into marrying the prince. It's the pressure Agnes puts on herself. The only sane, levelheaded female character in the story is Elvira's prepubescent sister Alma, who is not on the dating market yet. In the end, Alma proves to be the last thread to redemption, as she pulls her mutilated older sister out of the nightmare. All in all, this movie is NOT a feel-gooder with a happy ending. It will make you evaluate your relationship with your body and your alliances. 

Anora: a tasty fusion of Russophobia and misandry

 

So much has already been said about this firecracker of a dark comedy. I will tell you what I personally appreciated about it. The narrative doesn't rely on stereotypes. The privileged male is not a predatory, older oligarch with piggish features. He is a 21-year old imbecile. He is actually a few years younger than the woman whose company he buys. Anora herself is not a stereotypically Slavic blonde with inflated lips. She's actually of Central Asian descent, probably Tadjik, as her name suggests. Historically, Russians have been the dominant culture that subjugated other ethnic groups. The manager who works for the Russian oligarch is an Armenian. Casting an actress with a more racially ambiguous look was a smart move.  Anora blends in well into the underworld of New York. She could pass for Latin or Middle Eastern. 

Another commendable fact is that the Russian characters are actually played by Russian actors. (Imagine that!) That means, no cheesy James Bond villain accent. I encourage you to check out some of the Russian movies they starred in. You can see Daria Ekamasova in the 2011 "One Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman" - another great tale of feminine lot. Yura Borisov stays true to his image as gopnik with a heart of gold. He started his career as a Chernobyl hero-martyr in 2014 "Inseparable". These are some solid actors who nail their parts in "Anora". 

Immaculate: the flip side of Rosemary's Baby

Synopsis:

An American nun embarks on a new journey when she joins a remote convent in the Italian countryside. However, her warm welcome quickly turns into a living nightmare when she discovers her new home harbours a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.

My thoughts:

Sydney Sweeney, who usually portrays highly sexualized characters (for obvious reasons), takes a detour from her typecast as a wide-eyed bride of Christ. The trope of an American embarking on a sinister adventure in Europe is not exactly groundbreaking, but the Italian setting is perfect for this thriller. The convent is claustrophobic powder keg with its own hierarchy and secrets. Rivalries and jealousies boil hot in a closed off all-female group. Whether you are carrying Satan's baby or God's, the end result is distressingly similar. 

"Heretic" - a crash course in comparative theology

Synopsis:

Two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.

My thoughts:

Not to be a nitpicker, but the title of the movie, "Heretic" is a bit of a misnomer, because the lead villain (or is he?) is more of a nihilist than a heretic. Technically speaking, heresy is a perceived deviation from the dogma, not dismissal of dogma. I realize that the term "heretic" is catchier and more marketable, instantly pigeonholing the film in specific genre. Most religious horror is flat and predictable, with a strong anti-religious message - or an "Exorcist" derivative. This particular film is admirably stimulating and challenging. Kudos to the screenwriters who managed to digest a lot of comparative theology to make it more palatable. If you have a lot of background knowledge in religion - you will find yourself nodding through some of the dialogue. If your knowledge of religion is very basic, and all customs blend into one, you will learn something new. 

 

A few words about the villain (or is he?) Hugh Grant aged out of his "dreamy bad boy" image. Now he plays a creepy old man. I was surprised that the sexual component was underplayed, despite the dynamic of a sinister older man holding two young girls hostages in his labyrinth of a house. There was no element of seduction/coercion. Thank you for leaving that predictable trope out of the equation. 

The Most Promising Cases: the story of Hans Asperger

 

Greetings, commies!

Here's what turned out to be a novella about Hans Asperger. A few months ago I posted here about potentially writing a piece of fiction. There was enough material for a novella. Published in the Bewildering Stories e-zine. Regardless of where on the spectrum you fall, how you personally feel about Hans, hopefully you take something out of this story.

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/.../promising_cases1.html

Darklands (1997): Wicker Man meets Mad Max

 

If you have seen "Wicker Man" and "Midsommar", you know the formula of folk horror. You do not expect any surprising plot twists. You kind of expect human sacrifice in the end. You expect the charismatic cult leader, the disgruntled populace that looks up to him, the one-dimensional female seductress. You expect the nosy investigator on the quest to walk into the lion's mouth. The originality of "Darklands" is in the setting and style. Instead of lush European countryside, the movie is set in a postindustrial, almost post-apocalyptic, urban wasteland, where old quaint churches and abandoned factories exist side by side. The esthetic is vaguely reminiscent of Mad Max. Overall, it's a worthy addition to your pagan horror collection. 

Strange Darling: a treat for the misogynist in you

Synopsis:

Set in rural Oregon, the film focuses on a man and woman who engage in a one-night stand that devolves into a cat-and-mouse game of murder. 

My thoughts:

If you are prone to misogyny, if you get a sinfully pleasant tingle when watching aggression towards women on screen, this film is a yummy treat, as most of your prejudices will be validated in a most indulgent way. I am sure there will be an ultra-woke reviewer out there who will interpret this movie as an act of justified "female rage" and "woman taking back agency", blah blah. If you dislike/mistrust women, covertly or openly, this flick is for you. I may be thinking too much into it, but it's no coincident that Oregon was chosen as the setting, a place where extremes co-exist. Radical liberals, doomsday survivalists, Native Americans and vindictive cops. Such a rich tapestry for a story involving a psychopath. The color scheme as well as out-of-sequence chapter structure will remind you of Lars von Trier. Strange Darling was shot on 33 mm film, resulting in a visual that throws you back to 1970s grindhouse esthetic. 

Separate kudos to Barbara Hershey, who reinvents herself in her mid-70s as the sinister old woman.