Australian writer-director Jennifer Kent made quite a splash with her debut film “The Babadook” (2014). Not only did this film become an early poster child in the trend toward “elevated horror” – a term which may always have been more about non-horror fans finally starting to look at horror films seriously than about some hugeContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “The Babadook””
Tag Archives: film studies
“The Babadook” Discussion Questions
Write a paragraph or two in response to each of the following prompts: Just like I do with every film, I’m going to start by asking you to examine the title in some detail. What is the significance of “The Babadook”? What is a babadook and where does it come from? I encourage you toContinue reading ““The Babadook” Discussion Questions”
Read This Before You Watch “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night”
It takes some conviction and more than a little courage to make a vampire film, especially as a debut writer-director and a woman of color. Even if you believe we’re beyond traditional distinctions between “high” and “low” art, a notion that the Oscars have only started to acknowledge in the past few years or so,Continue reading “Read This Before You Watch “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night””
“A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” Discussion Questions
Write a paragraph or two in response to each of the following prompts: As always, I like to start by examining the title in some detail. Why is this movie called “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night”? What does that phrase ordinarily suggest and how does this film play with our typical expectations aboutContinue reading ““A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” Discussion Questions”
Horror Film Series Resumes!
First, let me thank you all for your participation in my recent media studies series, especially the one about recent trends in horror movies. That series has been my most successful so far, and I appreciate all the enthusiasm and energy you brought to it. I couldn’t have done it without you. Second, thanks forContinue reading “Horror Film Series Resumes!”
Wrap Up of “Five Feet Apart”
The title of our final teen movie “Five Feet Apart” (2019) in this series works especially well because until you actually see the film, you might think it’s an error. Maybe they should have called it “six feet apart” instead to more accurately reflect the appropriate amount of social distance. During this pandemic we haveContinue reading “Wrap Up of “Five Feet Apart””
Wrap Up of “Us”
From the very title of Jordan Peele’s unsettling film “Us” (2019), we as viewers should already expect to feel implicated in the horrors that follow. After all, don’t we casually think of ourselves as “us” all the time? Maybe we think of ourselves as “us” because we’re Americans. Or, maybe we group ourselves into “us”Continue reading “Wrap Up of “Us””
Read This Before You Watch “Five Feet Apart”
Everyone involved with making“Five Feet Apart” (2019) had to know from the start that this movie would be endlessly compared to “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014), the megahit teen romantic drama with the tragic twist that the female lead has terminal cancer. “Fault” got there first and did it best, so well in factContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “Five Feet Apart””
“Five Feet Apart” Discussion Questions
Write a paragraph or two in response to each of the following prompts. What the significance of the title “Five Feet Apart”? How does this movie introduce us to its protagonist, Stella Grant? What is she doing when we first see her? What sort of a sister, daughter, and friend is she? What are herContinue reading ““Five Feet Apart” Discussion Questions”
Read This Before You Watch “Us”
Jordan Peele’s second feature film, “Us” (2019) begins as a story about a family of four taking a vacation in Santa Cruz, but the son’s “Jaws” tee shirt and his penchant for wearing a werewolf mask tilted up on top of his head provide early hints that this trip might end up as more thanContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “Us””
Professor Chuck 