With the release of director Greta Gerwig’s latest cinematic venture, “Barbie,” audiences have discovered yet again what it’s like to experience joy within the world of movies. I, like countless others, have also grown to fall in love with the shimmering pink joy that is Gerwig’s exploration into the legacy of the iconic American doll. But while many of my movie-obsessed peers are watching “Barbie” for the analytic nuggets it contains, along with wanting to stay in the magical realm of its pastel splendor, I find myself realizing the category I would put this new Gerwig joint into – that being it’s a new comfort movie for me.
Continue reading “What Makes a Comfort Movie?”Tag: Film Reviews
“Cat People”: The Fear of the Feminine (Pt 1)
In my film world, stories of metamorphosis are always at the forefront of my noggin. So when it came time to pick a new slice of cinema to quench that most specific of thirsts, I found myself drawn to a two-part RKO film series – Cat People, directed by Jacques Tourneur, followed by The Curse of the Cat People, directed by Robert Wise.
Now it’s important to acknowledge that, while beautifully shot, Cat People can seem like a sophisticated affair dipped in low budget paint. In fact, many of its less-than-stellar aspects might turn off the casual viewer. Yet from my angle, this iconic staple of the horror genre is more than just an examination of a mysterious monster, but rather is a much more cautionary tale. Because the terrors at the center of these films are not that of majestic transformations, but of a common experience that most women share.
To explore these ever so relevant fears, let’s take a look at the first film in the series.
Warning – slight spoilers for an almost 80-year-old film below…
Continue reading ““Cat People”: The Fear of the Feminine (Pt 1)”
The Faded Reel 