Michaela's Musings

"A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me" - Mary Shelley, Frankenstein Growing up,  Frankenstein  was my favorite novel. The story of a mad scientist playing God is both bone-chilling and thought-provoking in its exploration of humanity's often violating curiosity. Victor Frankenstein's attempts to defy death delineate a sort of womb envy that bypasses women entirely. A theme I find extremely fascinating. Over the past few months, I've watched a handful of Frankenstein adaptations and riffs (thank you Tubi!). Of these films were  The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962) , Re-Animator , and Frankenhooker . These were a hoot to watch. Absolute cult classics. While they err more on the comedic side, I found myself drawn to the subtle themes about female autonomy and the male gaze. The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962) "I told you to let me die" - Jan Compton The defining feature of ...

Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115963/?ref_=mv_close   Hi all! Today, we're diving into the renowned cult classic The Craft . I LOVED this film! It captures the awkwardness of teenage girlhood and the euphoria of finding community. It's aesthetically gorgeous and unearths a myriad of ideas about power, revenge, and women finding an avenue to exercise power .  Synopsis: After transferring to a Los Angeles high school, Sarah finds that her telekinetic gift appeals to a group of three wannabe witches, who happen to be seeking a fourth member for their rituals. Nancy, Rochelle, and Bonnie, like Sarah herself, all have troubled backgrounds, which combined with their nascent powers lead to dangerous consequences. When a minor spell causes a fellow student to lose her hair, the girls grow power-mad. Set in the 90s, the film centers on Sarah Bailey, a troubled teen with psychic powers. As the new girl at her private Catholic school in LA, Sarah soon attracts the attention of po...

  Hello everyone!  Today, I will be reviewing and analyzing a cult classic (and recent favorite), Tales from the Hood (1995) . The film is a black horror anthology with the stories presented within a frame story of three young drug dealers purchasing drugs from an eccentric and story-prone funeral director.  Synop sis: Creepy mortician Mr. Simms attempts to scare teenage drug dealers straight by telling them four horrifying stories. One is about a guilt-riddled cop who goes crazy after ignoring his corrupt colleagues. He also tells of a meek schoolboy with terrifying supernatural powers. Although the young thugs want to take their drugs and escape Mr. Simms, he still has two more tales to tell. While campy, the film is able to deftly analyze domestic violence, police brutality, and gang violence through supernatural and scientific happenings. We enter the story as three young drug dealers–Stack, Ball, and Bulldog–arrive at Simms’ Funeral Home to purchase drugs from its ec...

  Hello everyone! I'm back with a personal favorite, and in my opinion, potential cult classic: Lisa Frankenstein . I adored this film! Beneath its teen romance intertwined with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein , this film explores grief, social isolation, the female gaze, and the subsequent aberrancy thrust upon those who subvert the status quo. Warning: slight spoilers ahead! Synopsis: A misunderstood teenager and a reanimated Victorian corpse embark on a murderous journey to find love, happiness, and a few missing body parts. Set in 1989, the film follows teen Lisa Swallows as she still struggles with the violent murder of her mother that she witnessed two years prior. Since then, her father has remarried Janet, a narcissistic woman, who has a daughter named Taffy, and they have moved to a picture-perfect suburb. It is immediately established that Lisa’s grief “others” from her new family dynamic. Taffy is a former beauty pageant winner and cheerleader. While kind, Taffy views Lisa’...

  Source: https://www.northernlightsuk.co.uk/2019/03/04/how-godzilla-1954-was-ruined-by-america/ Hi everyone! This essay revisits a piece I wrote last year. As a fan of horror and media analysis, I’m fascinated by how monsters reveal deeper truths about who we fear—and why. Hope you enjoy! “Monsters are tragic beings. They are born too tall, too strong, too heavy, they are not evil by choice. That is their tragedy.” ~ Ishirō Honda What Makes a Monster? Across cultures, wherever there are stories, there are monsters. Throughout human history, monsters have stood in for what humanity abhors. They represent our collective fears around death, disease, and even each other. At its core, the figure of the monster often embodies what philosophers and social theorists call ‘The Other’—that which is seen as different, alien, or outside the accepted norms. Historically, this ‘otherness’ has been used to justify fear, exclusion, and even violence against marginalized groups. Their v...

Hello everyone! Today, we're in for a real treat. I will be reviewing and analyzing a classic from the King of Horror, Carrie (1976) . For the longest time, I've wanted to watch this adaptation but always put it off because I related a little too much with the titular character. However, I took the leap and was not disappointed. I'd like to preface that I have never read the novel, so there are some details that I'm sure I haven't addressed here. For simplicity, I wanted to focus on my opinion and analysis on some of the more immediate themes I gathered from the film. So without further ado, here is Carrie . Synopsis:  Withdrawn and sensitive teen Carrie White faces taunting from classmates at school and abuse from her fanatically pious mother at home. When strange occurrences start happening around Carrie, she begins to suspect that she has supernatural powers. Invited to the prom by the empathetic Tommy Ross, Carrie tries to let her guard down, but things eventual...