We took a short break during the holiday season, but now we’re ready forge ahead with our horror film series, starting with a five-week in depth examination of the ten-episode HBO series “Lovecraft Country,” created by Misha Green and starring Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and Courtney B. Vance. Starting the second weekend of February 2021,Continue reading “Horror Film Studies is Back!”
Tag Archives: film studies
Read This Before You Watch “Under the Skin”
This week, as we transition away from our two-month spotlight on films written and directed by women, we’re taking a look at a fairly quiet, independent piece of science fiction horror. Starring Scarlett Johannson, “Under the Skin” (2013) was directed by Jonathan Glazer (better known for 2000’s “Sexy Beast”) who co-wrote the screenplay with WilliamContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “Under the Skin””
“Under the Skin” Discussion Questions
Write a paragraph or two responding to each of the following prompts: What is the significance of the title “Under the Skin”? As you explore you answers this question, be sure to consider the various literal and subjective implications of the phrase. One of the goals of both science fiction and horror is to allowContinue reading ““Under the Skin” Discussion Questions”
Read This Before You Watch “Jennifer’s Body”
Welcome to another exciting week of our horror film series. We’re wrapping up our two month focus on films written and direct by women by watching yet another Karyn Kusama film. As you’ll recall, she directed “The Invitation,” that slow-burn, death-cult suspense thriller we watched last month. This time we’re taking a look at herContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “Jennifer’s Body””
Read This Before You Watch “Revenge”
We’re back this week with yet another fiercely grotesque and super-stylish French film, “Revenge” (2017), the debut action-horror movie written and directed by Coralie Fargeat. Starring Matilda Lutz in a powerful performance as the dangerously sexy Jennifer, a rape survivor out for the blood of the big-game hunters who victimized her and left her forContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “Revenge””
Wrap Up of “Prevenge”
During its earliest scenes, “Prevenge” (2016) sort of tricks us into identifying and sympathizing with the protagonist Ruth. Even as she exposes herself to us as a serial killer, while we’re still struggling to understand the reasons behind these murders that we witness her committing, we feel at some level as if her victims haveContinue reading “Wrap Up of “Prevenge””
“Prevenge” Discussion Questions
Write a paragraph or two in response to each of the following prompts: My first question should never be a surprise anymore. What’s the significance of the title “Prevenge”? Okay, it’s a pun. But is it an apt one? Why or why not? And beyond that, we might want to explore a lot of theContinue reading ““Prevenge” Discussion Questions”
Read This Before You Watch “Raw”
This week our horror movie series ventures into the realm of body horror and perverse desires with French writer-director Julia Ducournau and her feature film debut “Raw” (2017). While it’s not especially scary, this movie will captivate your attention. From its first, enigmatic scenes to its final series of twists and turns, you won’t beContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “Raw””
“Raw” Discussion Questions
Write a paragraph or two in response to each of the following prompts: My first question should never be a surprise anymore. What’s the significance of the title “Raw”? What are additional meanings of this word that we might apply to the film? You should also know that the original French title for this filmContinue reading ““Raw” Discussion Questions”
Read This Before You Watch “The Invitation”
The first thing to know about “The Invitation” is that the production company behind this film, Gamechanger is an American company founded in 2013, devoted entirely to financing films by women and expanded into television and other digital content. According to Gamechanger’s website, the CEO Effie T. Brown “is broadening the fund’s scope to includeContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “The Invitation””
Professor Chuck 