We are gathered here today with heavy hearts, but also a spirit of gratitude and remembrance, to celebrate the life of The Monstrous Feminine Podcast. At the ripe old age of five, she was stabbed 666 times by four witches. It was a short life, but a well-lived one. She will be lovingly remembered for her uncanny dissections of gender, horror and al…

Our last episode for horror parody is the 2022 film ‘The Blackening’, directed by Tim Story. ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿We discuss the realistic friendship dynamics of the central group, describe our amusement at the playful use of Black stereotypes and explain how this film rejects Blackness as a monolith.The Coven: Louisa, Tyia and ZebaTheme and ‘Witch of the Week’ M…

Welcome to Camp Bloodbath! 🌲🪓👧 Continuing with our horror parody theme, we're covering the 2015 comedy ‘The Final Girls’, directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson.In this episode, we identify the recurring use of grief in horror, analyse the final girl trope and this film’s regrettable lack of engagement with Carol Clover’s original text, and debate to wh…

“No, please don’t kill me Mr. Ghostface – I wanna be in the sequel!” It’s time for horror parodies and so we’re taking on the 1996 classic ‘Scream’, directed by Wes Craven. 😱🔪🩸We compare the poignancy of the original to its many sequels, explore the difficulties of effective satire in the age of media oversaturation, and describe the surprisingly a…

For our last serial killer episode, we're covering the 2023 crime thriller ‘Red Rooms’, directed by Pascal Plante. 🟥💻This episode is extra special because it includes snippets from an interview with the director himself. We discuss the fascinating shift in focus from murderers to their admirers, and attempt to unpick the psychology of female serial…

Continuing our serial killer theme, we're covering the 2010 action thriller ‘I Saw the Devil’, directed by Kim Jee-woon. 👁👁👹In this episode, we discuss the thriller’s relentless violence and its thematic purpose, debate whether the main character's driving motivation is narcissism or grief, and talk about Western exoticism of so-called "Asia Extrem…

Ciao a tutti ⋆˙☽ we're back with szn 5! Our first theme is serial killers, starting off with the 1982 Italian horror mystery, 'Tenebrae', directed by Dario Argento. 🟡👠We summarise the origins of "giallo" in Italian cinema, unravel the many layers of Argento's meta-commentary through the film's eroticised violence, voyeurism and plot twists, and ide…

Hi gay! 🏳️‍🌈 For this extra long Pride special, we're covering the gory gay thriller ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, directed by Rose Glass. 🏋️‍♀️💉💪🍳💘💥🔫🚬We discuss love and addiction, giantess kinks and bodybuilding as a form of drag. We also praise this film’s refreshing disregard for queer respectability politics with its messy central couple. Get pumped!T…

Our final dreams in horror pick is the 2021 crime mystery ‘Malignant’, directed by James Wan.👹🧥This film is nothing like what you’d expect. We delight at the action-movie sequences and marvel at the camp of it all. We also debate this movie’s bonkers biology and manage to identify every single monstrous-feminine trope in all the seemingly shallow t…

Continuing our dreams in horror theme with the 2021 horror mystery ‘Last Night in Soho’, directed by Edgar Wright. 👩🎤💄🧥🔪👵🔥In this episode, we express how we had some trouble pinning down the message of the film. We (shockingly) didn’t quite take to the female revenge storyline. We also unpick the uneven characterisation and uneasy racial dynamics i…

This month, we’re tackling dreams in horror. Our first film is the seminal 1984 film ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’, directed by Wes Craven. 💤🛏️🩸😵📞👅In this episode, we discuss how this film set the bar for the dream horror canon. We also debate the Freudian and monstrous feminine readings of this film, pondering how modern audiences might receive this…

Our last children in horror episode is the 2001 horror mystery ‘The Devil's Backbone’, directed by Guillermo del Toro. 👹🔙🦴We talk about how the characters function as allegories for the many different political allegiances within the Spanish Civil War. We also delve into horror as a political tool and how ghosts frequently symbolise the repressed t…

Continuing our children in horror theme, we’re tackling the 1999 psychological thriller ‘The Sixth Sense’, directed by M. Night Shyamalan. 👂👅👃✋👁6️⃣We debate the varying depictions of motherhood and fatherhood, address why this film works so well as a ghost story and discuss how it makes a poignant commentary on familial communication and grief.The …

This month's theme is children in horror, and we’re starting with the 1984 ‘Children of the Corn’ directed by Fritz Kiersch. 👦🏻🌽✝️👧🏼🌽✝️In this episode, we talk about how the presence of children affects the genre and what they symbolise in horror. We also identify the folk horror elements of this film, discussing how it operates as a commentary on …

Our last folk horror film of the month is the 2022 psychodrama ‘Enys Men’, directed by Mark Jenkin. 🗿☎️🚤📻🔦📘For us, this film raises the central question: what do you want from horror? Do you like style (vibes) or substance (plot)? Is style without substance monotonous? We debate this film’s effectiveness and then go into the potential political and…

Continuing with our folk horror theme with the 2019 film ‘Impetigore’, directed by Joko Anwar. 🏚🤰🏽​​🌲👺In this episode, we discuss the film's many thrilling slasher tropes, talk about how ‘Impetigore’ plays with conventions of the folk horror subgenre, and locate its true source of horror: the wrath of "boy moms".The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Ze…

This month, we’re exploring the "happenings" of folk horror - kicking off this theme with the 1973 horror musical ‘The Wicker Man’, directed by Robin Hardy. 🌾🐰💐🌈🃏In this episode, we give an overview of the global folk horror canon and discuss its tropes. We then focus on British folk horror films, and ask ourselves in what ways do its classist, rel…

WELCOME TO SZN 4. To show our love, we’re kicking off the year with a one-off Valentine’s Special, and our patreon pledges have selected the 2016 thriller ‘The Handmaiden’, directed by Park Chan-wook. 🍭👄📚🐙In this episode, we discuss the cinematic gaze as a tool to explore queerness, subvert patriarchal and colonial violence, and break down the thin…

Our final femcel case study to discuss is the 2019 film ‘Ma’, directed by Tate Taylor. 🍻🤘🏿🏓😈The general takeaway from this movie is: don’t think too hard about it. Are there plot holes? Yes. Are there bizarre character and plot inconsistencies? Absolutely. Does race add a strange dimension to the film? Definitely. However: do you have a good time w…

Continuing our exploration of femcels movies, we’re tackling one of Tyia’s favourites, ‘Gone Girl’, directed by David Fincher. 📍🔍 💇‍♀️🗞Cool Girl ~gender neutral~/ku:l/ /ɡəːl/noun1. The unrealistically chill persona you adopt during the early days of a relationship in order to seem more desirable to your new partner.‘In my youth, I definitely played…

Our final theme of this season is femcel horror and we’re kicking off with the 1997 anime ‘Perfect Blue’, directed by Satoshi Kon. 🎤🎀👁In this episode, we explain the history and origin of the term "femcel", discuss the dangers of internet stan culture and delve into the exploitative nature of the music and television industries.The Coven: Louisa, T…

The final movie for our hagsploitation theme is the 2022 horror drama ‘Barbarian’, directed by Zach Cregger. 🚪🍼We dissect the evolution of the hag in horror into something monstrous, discuss women's necessary hyper-vigilance around supposed “nice guys” and debate whether the use of the hag figure in horror is inherently misogynistic.The Coven: Loui…

The next movie for our hagsploitation theme is the 2022 slasher ‘X’, directed by Ti West. 🎥🪓In this episode, we interrogate ageist attitudes towards sex and discuss how "the hag" character suggests a de-feminisation of postmenopausal women. We then debate whether this film perpetuates ageist stereotypes even as it attempts to bring awareness to the…

Our new theme for this month is hagsploitation, and the first film we are going to tackle is the iconic 1962 psychological horror ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’, directed by Robert Aldrich. 🎀🎤We provide an overview of hasploitation, and discuss how Crawford and Davis serve in this film. We also delve into the relationship between sexism and age…

Our last episode featuring horrible men in horror is the 2023 psychological film ‘Clock’, directed by Alexis Jacknow. 🕰️👶🧸We discuss how this film accurately captures the valid psychological and physical fears of pregnancy as well as the overwhelming familial, cultural and societal pressures to bear children - grounded by the main character's Jewis…

Perhaps the most on-brand film for our ‘horrible men in horror’ theme is the 2022 British folk horror film ‘Men’, directed by Alex Garland.🌲🍎We think this film deserves more attention. In this episode, we dissect how biblical imagery is used, discuss the monstrous birthing scene and debate whether it works as a feminist film.The Coven: Louisa, Mila…

We’re back and better than ever! Our theme this month is horrible men in horror, and of course we couldn’t do this film without talking about the 2000 classic ‘American Psycho’, directed by Mary Harron. 👔🪓In this episode, we discuss how different demographics have interpreted this film over the years: incels and finance bros have idolised Bateman, …

HAPPY PRIDE QUEERS! 🏳️‍🌈 For this Pride Special, we revisit a film we covered in our very first episode: the 2009 cult classic ‘Jennifer’s Body’, directed by Karyn Kusama. 💅💋 💄In this episode, we debate the differences between desire and envy in young female friendships, investigate the queer subtext and female gaze of the film, and uncover its tru…

For our last mermaid episode of the month, we’re talking about the 2022 American psychological thriller ‘Nanny’, directed by Nikyatu Jusu. 🕷️🧜‍♀️We discuss African deities as agents of chaos, the sense-making function of legends, and how the Mami Wata informs this film's gender, race and class commentary.The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and ZebaTheme …

Continuing with our mermaid theme, we’re talking about the 2017 Swiss fantasy drama ‘Blue My Mind’, directed by Lisa Brühlmann. 🐟🧜‍♀️🌊We discuss how this film effectively uses body horror and fantasy to portray adolescence, and is particularly anxiety-inducing because of the seemingly unavoidable sexualisation and predation that all young teen girl…

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 …

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 ZebaTheme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizz…

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, Mil…

“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, de…

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 w…

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 …

“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 storyt…

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 …

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 phy…

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 every…

Our final episode on claustrophobic horror is the 2019 survival film ‘47 Meters Down: Uncaged’, directed by Neil Marshall. 🤿🏊‍♀️🦈We discuss the nepo-baby casting, debate the biological accuracy of blind great whites that, for whatever reason, choose to live in confined cave systems voluntarily, and the central sisterly strife that was so severe, on…

Bonjour! 👩‍🎨 We’re continuing our claustrophobia theme with the 2014 American horror film ‘As Above, So Below’, directed by John Erick Dowdle. 💀💀💀Join us as we enter the nine circles of hell and discuss wonderful things such as death, sin, satan, cavernous wombs, vlogging, eternal judgement and the sanctity of artefacts.The Coven: Mila and ZebaThem…

Time to descend... This month we’re covering claustrophobia in horror! Our first film is the 2005 British adventure horror film ‘The Descent’, directed by Neil Marshall. 🕳🩸☠️We discuss female friendships versus female competition, monstrous motherhood and the maddening effects of grief.The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and ZebaTheme and ‘Witch of the W…

For our last cannibalism episode, we’re talking about the coming-of-age road movie ‘Bones and All’ (2022), directed by Luca Guadagnino. 🦴😋We discuss this film as a realistic depiction of the rural Midwest. We also explain how cannibalism can act as a metaphor for both queerness and addiction. Finally, we divulge our various reactions to and interpr…

Good evening, Clarice. We’re continuing our cannibalism theme with the 1991 masterpiece ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, directed by Jonathan Demme. 🍽️🦋🐑We talk about Hannibal as a delicious, sassy and possibly asexual villain. We also discuss the famous tucking scene and go into depth about the transphobic elements of this film as well as the questions…

Bon Appétit. This month we’re covering cannibalism in horror and kicking it off with ‘The Hills Have Eyes’, directed by Wes Craven. 🌕👶🏻🐺We discuss the divide between metropolitan/rural populations and how this interacts with classism, sexism and racism. We also go into why this film fails in its intention to construct a sympathetic view of the rura…

Hello, my lunar lovelies. This is our last film of the month covering werewolves and we’re talking about the dark fantasy horror ‘Good Manners’, directed by Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra. 🌕👶🏻🐺We explore the class and race dynamics within the central queer relationship, the body horror of pregnancy and motherhood as sacrifice.The Coven: Louisa, Mila…

Spooky month is continuing with werewolves, and we’re covering one of our favourite films: the angsty teen horror, ‘Ginger Snaps’ (2000), directed by John Fawcett. 🩸🐺💉In this episode, we discuss how this film defies the stereotypically masculine lore of the werewolf, the body horror of puberty and the complexities of sisterly bonds.The Coven: Louis…

Happy October - this month we’re talking about werewolves. To kick it all off, we cover the 1981 classic ‘An American Werewolf in London’, directed by John Landis.We discuss werewolf lore, lament the loss of cool prosthetics and gory special effects to CGI, and wonder about the film's British/American cultural chasms.The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia a…

For our last episode on horror games, we’re talking about Halina Reijn’s dark comedy ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’. 🌧 🗡📱🩸😵We read this film as a comedic satire of Gen Z and performative "woke" culture, discuss misogynistic left-leaning men and delve into the gay drama between Amandla Stenberg and Lena Wilson after that NY Times review.The Coven: Louisa, M…