Women Can Be Scary Too! (2/16-2/20)

    The horror film industry typically lends itself to slight gender discrimination and stereotypes accordingly. But, as the "Women in Horror" movement has sparked a fire in female directors and actresses alike. Dominating masculine characters and "hyper sadist" men tend to overtake the genre, allowing little recognition for women figures, and if females are included, they are usually embodied by misogynistic representations. The movement's theoretical goal is to have the gender of a filmmaker be completely irrelevant and unimportant, but discrimination against females in the industry is a painful reality. Actor-filmmaker Rose McGowan recently states at the New York Film Critics Circle, "I ask you to take up the hand of the female director until we no longer say "female director."
    As awareness is strengthening the growth and prevalence of goals from the movement, the situation is improving as female leads, producers, and directors are receiving high praise and recognition for their work. Director Jennifer Kent recently acquired industry claim with the production of the Australian horror film entitled, "The Babadook." She reached Rotten Tomatoes Top Ten of the Year list, making gender irregardless because the film itself deserves attention. Critics of the movie claim that it's success lies in its portrayal of a non-sexualized female lead that is pivotal in plot development.
     One criticism that the "Women in Horror" movement makes about the industry is that female film-making is taken less seriously and considered more novel or juvenile in nature. Contrary to popular opinion, female productions have long taken reign in history such as "Ida Lupino's proto-slasher The Hitch-Hiker (1953) or Maya Deren's supernaturally-imbued experimental masterpiece Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)."
     Hopefully, the horror film industry will eventually become gender neutral and the achievements of women in movie production will be respected just as highly as those of males. The Women in Horror movement is a powerful change in the industry that is promoting the successes of female filmmakers and it can only grow from where it stands now.

Heller-Nicholas, A. (2015, February 18). Women in horror: who is horror for? Retrieved February 19,
     2015, from http://screen.artshub.com.au/ website: http://screen.artshub.com.au/news-article/
     features/film/women-in-horror-who-is-horror-for-247192

 
Director Jennifer Kent and her recent Australian blockbuster film, "The Babadook."