Sister Slasher

Hello all you ghouls and gals!  Welcome to “Supernatural Saturday's”, where every Saturday, I will blog about a supernatural film that features some of the most haunting women in horror film history. Films like  The Shining  (Stanley Kubrick)  or  Carrie  (Brian De Palma), that would be absolutely nothing without these amazing female leads.  Today, we’re going to be talking about  The Ring  (2002) directed by  Gore Verbinski  and starring  Naomi Watts .  The Ring  is an American remake of a Japanese supernatural film titled  Ringu   (Hideo Nakata, 1998).  I have to admit, when I first watched this film (like 7 or 8 years ago), I was scared beyond belief. I couldn’t sleep or be alone with a TV for DAYS.  Even now when I watch this film, I am blown away by Naomi Watt’s compelling performance, as well as the dark, unsettling cinematography and score. While I am usually disappo...

When I think of slasher films, I think of the classics— Halloween ,  The Texas Chainsaw Massacre , and  Friday the 13 th . I think of Michael Myers, Leatherface, or Jason Voorhees. These vicious, evil beings that are idolized by millions.  When I think of slasher films, I faintly recall Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode ( Halloween , 1978), or Marilyn Burns as Sally Hardesty ( Texas Chainsaw Massacre , 1974). These iconic, butt-kicking women, that allowed us to be scared out of our wits, are (often) vaguely remembered versus their male counterparts. When it comes to women in horror, I’d say we’re trapped. Trapped in the same, stupid, exhausted tropes.  Actresses such as Jamie Lee Curtis, who made her first cinematic appearance in John Carpenter’s  Halloween , was casted as Laurie Strode. The pretty, friendly, girl-next-door who tried to outrun the murderous Michael Myers.  After Halloween, Curtis continued to be  typecasted...

Hello Feminists and horror movie fans alike!  Welcome to the  Sister Slasher , a blog that is dedicated to horror films of all decades and told from a slightly more feminist perspective.    Since the mere age of seven I have been utterly obsessed with horror films.  Paranormal? Slasher? Sci-Fi? It doesn’t matter. I am obsessed.  I remember every other weekend as a child browsing the horror movie section at Blockbuster and being so fascinated with the gory, ghastly DVD covers. Although my mother never approved of my horror obsession, I was still very intrigued by zombies, werewolves and vampires alike.  Horror films of the 70s and 80s are some of my favorites in particular.  The Evil Dead, Carrie, Demons. You name it, I’ve probably seen it. As an adult, and an outspoken feminist, I have also realized many of the sexist ideologies perpetuated throughout the horror movie genre.  In horror films, women are ...