Michaela's Musings

  Over winter break, I had the pleasure to see Robert Eggers' most recent masterpiece Nosferatu . This gothic horror film is a remake of the 1922 silent German Expressionist film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror . The sets and sound design were phenomenal. The acting? Chef's kiss. Lily-Rose Depp's performance was fantastic! A true standout amongst the star-studded cast. She perfectly captured the quiet resilience and inner darkness of Ellen Hutter brilliantly.  Bill Skarsgård completely immersed himself into Count Orlok. Every character was brought to life so clearly, they might as well have been real. Eggers truly elevated this film, not only building off of its themes of "The Other", but furthering it as an analysis and commentary on women's existence in Victorian society. I felt totally and utterly immersed into the world's inner workings. Here's a quick synopsis: In the 1830s, estate agent Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania for a fateful meeting ...

  Hello everyone! Today, I will be sharing my thoughts on the 2016 film The Love Witch . While many have praised the film for its feminist take on spirituality and gender roles, I disagree. While aesthetically stunning, the film is quite regressive in its message. I prefer to interpret it as an unintentional critique of modern "divine femininity" teachings and as an example of the pervasiveness of the male gaze. Warning! There are spoilers in this review. Here's a quick synopsis: Elaine (Samantha Robinson), a beautiful young witch, is determined to find a man to love her. In her gothic Victorian apartment she makes spells and potions, then picks up men and seduces them. However, her spells work too well, and she ends up with a string of hapless victims. When she at last meets the man of her dreams, her desperation to be loved drives her to the brink of insanity and murder. First, let's dive into our main character: Elaine Parks. After the death of her husband, she rel...