31 Days of October, Day 21

Happy Friday, y'all! Today, I'm going to break my rule about not talking about a movie I've already mentioned. However, one of the things that indicates to me that a piece of art is worthy is that when you re-visit it, it tells you something new. Yesterday, I re-watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie) after I wrote about it. Check out this exchange between Buffy and Pike:

Pike: I saved you a dance.
Buffy: Are you going to ask?
Pike: I suppose you want to lead?
Buffy: No.
Pike: Me neither.
Buffy: This is a good thing.

Now, combine that with the earlier exchange: 

Pike: Buffy, you're not like other girls.
Buffy: Yes, I am.

It occurred to me that that dialog exchange says a great deal more than it does on the surface. It illustrates a romantic relationship between equals. It highlights the thing that is most likely bothering conservatives who are against gay marriage and even...I'm willing to bet...Hillary Clinton--real equality between all genders. Those same old assumptions and questions crop up. If everyone is automatically equal, who'll be in charge? How will decisions be made, if no one person over-rides the other? Can we think about that a moment? Romantic relationships should be partnerships, not dictatorships. That was a revolutionary idea in 1992. It still is.[1] Anyway, I wanted to call attention to that.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled Halloween movie recommendations...

First up for today is Carrie (1976).

As much as I like Chloë Moretz, the remake is empty of the emotional charge that the original has. Sissy Spacek is absolutely Carrie, a bullied, insecure school girl. And Piper Laurie realistically portrays a crazed, abusive, religious zealot. And that relationship between Carrie (daughter) and Margaret (mother) is the heart of the story--the real horror. And that's the point the remake totally misses. It thinks the main awful is what Carrie does to her classmates.[2] If you read the novel--and I very, very much recommend that you do if you have not--it's fucking amazing.[3] Like The Handmaid's Tale, Carrie is ultimately about the horrific relationship between Christian zealotry and its primary target: women. It's about the patriarchy and what happens when women are so indoctrinated by the system of oppression that they police the women around them. Just take a look at Margaret's irrational belief that young women's sinfulness brings on puberty--not biology. Think about that for a moment. To be so divorced from yourself--to be so certain that male is the absolute default--that you believe that growing up into a woman is a choice (and a punishment) rather than a natural, positive inevitability for some people. That's why this film speaks volumes. It's why it'll always be a classic. Sadly, this criticism of Christianity is still relevant to this day.

Next, one of my all time favorite films, Donnie Darko.

I absolutely adore this movie. I blame the film Harvey for my interest in púcas--and yes, Frank, Donnie's 'imaginary' rabbit friend is a púca. I confess, the first time I saw Donnie Darko, I didn't get it--largely because I had been led to expect a totally different film. (I saw a púca and figured it'd be a comedy and uh...no.) Still, the movie haunted the holy crap out of me. And it was during the second time that I sat through it when everything clicked.[4] It's one of those films that makes me laugh and then cry. The soundtrack fits perfectly into the story. I don't want to get between you and your experience, if you haven't seen it. So, I won't go into too many details, but just watch this post-credits sequence. It's one long continuous shot that highlights the characters.

Anyway, definitely see it, if you haven't.

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[1] I've said it before, and I'll repeat myself now. The biggest reason mysogynists have an issue with Hillary Clinton (in addition to the lies they've been spoon-fed over the decades that she's been involved in politics) is probably due to the fact that she is married to a former president. The presidency (that is, until very recently) has been the embodiment of the ultimate in powerful white males. It has represented the American patriarchy since forever. And now, a woman is being considered worthy? That means she'll be able to boss around everyone, including a former president. This is why, I feel, men (and some women) are more often comfortable with the idea of Elizabeth Warren as president than they are Hillary Clinton. Warren is a widow.
[2] Ah, ye old Nerd Vengeance™ trope. I'm so fucking tired of you.
[3] I re-read it last year. It's a gut-puncher--even when I knew what was going to happen.
[4] This was while I was researching púcas for Of Blood and Honey, actually.