Shows
The Monstrous FeminineS5 Ep 7: The Last Episode - The Funeral of The Monstrous Feminine PodcastWe are gathered here today with heavy hearts, but also a spirit of gratitude and remembrance, to celebrate the life of The Monstrous Feminine Podcast.At the ripe old age of five, she was stabbed 666 times by four witches. It was a short life, but a well-lived one. She will be lovingly remembered for her uncanny dissections of gender, horror and all things monstrously morbid, morose and macabre. A letter from the alleged perpetrators was found at the (very bloody) scene....Dear Coven,We are very sad to announce that after...
2025-04-0948 min
The Monstrous FeminineS5 Ep 6: Horror Parody - The BlackeningOur last episode for horror parody is the 2022 film ‘The Blackening’, directed by Tim Story. ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
We discuss the realistic friendship dynamics of the central group, describe our amusement at the playful use of Black stereotypes and explain how this film rejects Blackness as a monolith.
The Coven: Louisa, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of racism, racial violence and racist stereotypes
2025-01-3144 min
The Monstrous FeminineS5 Ep 5: Horror Parody - The Final GirlsWelcome to Camp Bloodbath! 🌲🪓👧 Continuing with our horror parody theme, we're covering the 2015 comedy ‘The Final Girls’, directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson.
In this episode, we identify the recurring use of grief in horror, analyse the final girl trope and this film’s regrettable lack of engagement with Carol Clover’s original text, and debate to what extent the trope effectively challenges gender norms/binaries.
Petition for someone to actually make Camp Bloodbath?
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Discussions of violence against women, the death of a parent, grief and a b
2025-01-0438 min
The Monstrous FeminineS5 Ep 4: Horror Parody - Scream“No, please don’t kill me Mr. Ghostface – I wanna be in the sequel!” It’s time for horror parodies and so we’re taking on the 1996 classic ‘Scream’, directed by Wes Craven. 😱🔪🩸
We compare the poignancy of the original to its many sequels, explore the difficulties of effective satire in the age of media oversaturation, and describe the surprisingly accurate portrayal of misogyny and masculinity in the first movie.
FYI: If the next ghostface is revealed to be a True Crime podcast host, just know this was OUR idea.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Seba...
2024-12-0949 min
The Monstrous FeminineS5 Ep 3: Serial Killers - Red Rooms (ft. interview with director Pascal Plante)For our last serial killer episode, we're covering the 2023 crime thriller ‘Red Rooms’, directed by Pascal Plante. 🟥💻
This episode is extra special because it includes snippets from an interview with the director himself. We discuss the fascinating shift in focus from murderers to their admirers, and attempt to unpick the psychology of female serial killer groupies and their parasocial relationships. We also express appreciation for this film’s impactful use of sound and responsibly restrained depiction of violence against girls.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, d...
2024-10-3147 min
The Monstrous FeminineS5 Ep 2: Serial Killers - I Saw the DevilContinuing our serial killer theme, we're covering the 2010 action thriller ‘I Saw the Devil’, directed by Kim Jee-woon. 👁👁👹
In this episode, we discuss the thriller’s relentless violence and its thematic purpose, debate whether the main character's driving motivation is narcissism or grief, and talk about Western exoticism of so-called "Asia Extreme" films.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, brief mention of child murder and decapitation, discussions of sexual assault
2024-10-041h 00
The Monstrous FeminineS5 Ep 1: Serial Killers - TenebraeCiao a tutti ⋆˙☽ we're back with szn 5! Our first theme is serial killers, starting off with the 1982 Italian horror mystery, 'Tenebrae', directed by Dario Argento. 🟡👠
We summarise the origins of "giallo" in Italian cinema, unravel the many layers of Argento's meta-commentary through the film's eroticised violence, voyeurism and plot twists, and identify some potential crises of sexuality and gender.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder and discussions of symbolic rape in a psychoanalytic context
2024-09-1947 min
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 11: Pride Special - Love Lies Bleeding (with Reem)Hi gay! 🏳️🌈 For this extra long Pride special, we're covering the gory gay thriller ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, directed by Rose Glass. 🏋️♀️💉💪🍳💘💥🔫🚬
We discuss love and addiction, giantess kinks and bodybuilding as a form of drag. We also praise this film’s refreshing disregard for queer respectability politics with its messy central couple. Get pumped!
This episode is 𖦹extra𖦹 special because we are joined by our first ever guest, Reem @pacificreem :) Based in Paris, their work focuses on the long history of what might be called moral-panic entertainment, from exploitation films to video games. They are also one half of Gross Encounters - a workshop, festival and film screening c...
2024-06-191h 39
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 10: Dreams - MalignantOur final dreams in horror pick is the 2021 crime mystery ‘Malignant’, directed by James Wan.
👹
🧥
This film is nothing like what you’d expect. We delight at the action-movie sequences and marvel at the camp of it all. We also debate this movie’s bonkers biology and manage to identify every single monstrous-feminine trope in all the seemingly shallow tomfoolery.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, mentions of birth defects and rape
2024-06-0931 min
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 9: Dreams - Last Night in SohoContinuing our dreams in horror theme with the 2021 horror mystery ‘Last Night in Soho’, directed by Edgar Wright. 👩🎤💄🧥🔪👵🔥
In this episode, we express how we had some trouble pinning down the message of the film. We (shockingly) didn’t quite take to the female revenge storyline. We also unpick the uneven characterisation and uneasy racial dynamics in this film.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of forced sex work and sexual exploitation, mental illness and suicide
2024-06-0451 min
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 8: Dreams - A Nightmare on Elm StreetThis month, we’re tackling dreams in horror. Our first film is the seminal 1984 film ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’, directed by Wes Craven. 💤🛏️🩸😵📞👅
In this episode, we discuss how this film set the bar for the dream horror canon. We also debate the Freudian and monstrous feminine readings of this film, pondering how modern audiences might receive this film differently. Finally, we talk about how iconic slasher killers have become folkloric figures in popular culture.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of sexual assault, paedophilia, c
2024-05-2557 min
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 7: Children in Horror - The Devil’s BackboneOur last children in horror episode is the 2001 horror mystery ‘The Devil's Backbone’, directed by Guillermo del Toro. 👹🔙🦴
We talk about how the characters function as allegories for the many different political allegiances within the Spanish Civil War. We also delve into horror as a political tool and how ghosts frequently symbolise the repressed trauma of a collective. Finally, we discuss how this film problematises how we view innocence, showing how men are denied empathy during war.
The Coven: Louisa, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, murder, discussions of death (specifically, dea...
2024-05-1551 min
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 6: Children in Horror - The Sixth SenseContinuing our children in horror theme, we’re tackling the 1999 psychological thriller ‘The Sixth Sense’, directed by M. Night Shyamalan. 👂👅👃✋👁6️⃣
We debate the varying depictions of motherhood and fatherhood, address why this film works so well as a ghost story and discuss how it makes a poignant commentary on familial communication and grief.
The Coven: Louisa, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, murder, discussions of death (specifically, the death of children), self harm, domestic abuse, gun violence and fabricated induced illness
2024-05-0237 min
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 5: Children in Horror - Children of the CornThis month's theme is children in horror, and we’re starting with the 1984 ‘Children of the Corn’ directed by Fritz Kiersch. 👦🏻🌽✝️👧🏼🌽✝️
In this episode, we talk about how the presence of children affects the genre and what they symbolise in horror. We also identify the folk horror elements of this film, discussing how it operates as a commentary on religious fanaticism in America.
The Coven: Louisa, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, murder, discussions of death (specifically, the death of children) and a brief description of domestic abuse
2024-04-2643 min
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 4: Folk Horror - Enys MenOur last folk horror film of the month is the 2022 psychodrama ‘Enys Men’, directed by Mark Jenkin. 🗿☎️🚤📻🔦📘
For us, this film raises the central question: what do you want from horror? Do you like style (vibes) or substance (plot)? Is style without substance monotonous? We debate this film’s effectiveness and then go into the potential political and socioeconomic readings of the film. We also discuss how it may be using nature and folk horror traditions to comment on industrialism and trade unionism in Thatcherite Britain.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTEN...
2024-04-0750 min
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 3: Folk Horror - ImpetigoreContinuing with our folk horror theme with the 2019 film ‘Impetigore’, directed by Joko Anwar. 🏚🤰🏽🌲👺
In this episode, we discuss the film's many thrilling slasher tropes, talk about how ‘Impetigore’ plays with conventions of the folk horror subgenre, and locate its true source of horror: the wrath of "boy moms".
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, intergenerational trauma, rape, femicide and infanticide
2024-03-2340 min
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 2: Folk Horror - The Wicker ManThis month, we’re exploring the "happenings" of folk horror - kicking off this theme with the 1973 horror musical ‘The Wicker Man’, directed by Robin Hardy. 🌾🐰💐🌈🃏
In this episode, we give an overview of the global folk horror canon and discuss its tropes. We then focus on British folk horror films, and ask ourselves in what ways do its classist, religious and colonialist undertones work as a nation-making form of media. We debate the central question: who is the butt of the joke in folk horror: is it the insular pagan community or the ignorant and judgemental outsider? Finally, we give an honourable me...
2024-03-0750 min
The Monstrous FeminineS4 Ep 1: Valentine’s Special - The HandmaidenWELCOME TO SZN 4. To show our love, we’re kicking off the year with a one-off Valentine’s Special, and our patreon pledges have selected the 2016 thriller ‘The Handmaiden’, directed by Park Chan-wook. 🍭👄📚🐙
In this episode, we discuss the cinematic gaze as a tool to explore queerness, subvert patriarchal and colonial violence, and break down the thin boundary between voyeurism and exploitation. On the other hand, we also go into the issues behind categorising cinematic depictions of desire as quintessentially "female" or "male", and also discuss the limitations of the camera as a mostly male invention.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme...
2024-02-141h 18
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 37: Femcel - MaOur final femcel case study to discuss is the 2019 film ‘Ma’, directed by Tate Taylor. 🍻🤘🏿🏓😈
The general takeaway from this movie is: don’t think too hard about it. Are there plot holes? Yes. Are there bizarre character and plot inconsistencies? Absolutely. Does race add a strange dimension to the film? Definitely. However: do you have a good time watching? Without a doubt. We recommend ‘Ma’ if only for the memes.
The Coven: Louisa, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, fabricated induced illness, under-age drinking, discussions of sexual assault and sexual predation
2024-01-0731 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 36: Femcel - Gone GirlContinuing our exploration of femcels movies, we’re tackling one of Tyia’s favourites, ‘Gone Girl’, directed by David Fincher. 📍🔍 💇♀️🗞
Cool Girl ~gender neutral~
/ku:l/ /ɡəːl/
noun
1. The unrealistically chill persona you adopt during the early days of a relationship in order to seem more desirable to your new partner.
‘In my youth, I definitely played the cool girl.’
verb
1. To suppress your emotional needs and compromise your integrity for the sake of remaining attractive to your new partner.
‘I will no longer cool girl in my relationships.’
In this episode, we unpick this iconic term and what it means for love and relationships.
The...
2023-12-2151 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 35: Femcel - Perfect BlueOur final theme of this season is femcel horror and we’re kicking off with the 1997 anime ‘Perfect Blue’, directed by Satoshi Kon. 🎤🎀👁
In this episode, we explain the history and origin of the term "femcel", discuss the dangers of internet stan culture and delve into the exploitative nature of the music and television industries.
The Coven: Louisa, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of stalking, misogyny, rape, sexual exploitation and mental illness
2023-12-011h 00
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 34: Hagsploitation - BarbarianThe final movie for our hagsploitation theme is the 2022 horror drama ‘Barbarian’, directed by Zach Cregger. 🚪🍼
We dissect the evolution of the hag in horror into something monstrous, discuss women's necessary hyper-vigilance around supposed “nice guys” and debate whether the use of the hag figure in horror is inherently misogynistic.
The Coven: Louisa, Tyia, Mila and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of incest, sexual assault, misogyny and ageism
2023-11-0834 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 33: Hagsploitation - XThe next movie for our hagsploitation theme is the 2022 slasher ‘X’, directed by Ti West. 🎥🪓
In this episode, we interrogate ageist attitudes towards sex and discuss how "the hag" character suggests a de-feminisation of postmenopausal women. We then debate whether this film perpetuates ageist stereotypes even as it attempts to bring awareness to them.
You can find us on most platforms @themonstrousfemininepodcast, and on Twitter, @themonfempod. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Engage with our content across all platforms to be our next ‘Witch of the Week’. For bonus content, support us on Patreon...
2023-10-3141 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 32: Hagsploitation - What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?Our new theme for this month is hagsploitation, and the first film we are going to tackle is the iconic 1962 psychological horror ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’, directed by Robert Aldrich. 🎀🎤
We provide an overview of hasploitation, and discuss how Crawford and Davis serve in this film. We also delve into the relationship between sexism and ageism, as well as how this is linked to female competition, fertility, innocence, transphobia and much more.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, mention of sexual assault and abortion...
2023-10-2048 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 31: MEN - ClockOur last episode featuring horrible men in horror is the 2023 psychological film ‘Clock’, directed by Alexis Jacknow. 🕰️👶🧸
We discuss how this film accurately captures the valid psychological and physical fears of pregnancy as well as the overwhelming familial, cultural and societal pressures to bear children - grounded by the main character's Jewish heritage. We also explore how Jacknow uses female medical procedures as a mechanism for horror.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, discussions of misogyny, anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, abortion, vaginal medical procedures and suicide
2023-10-0147 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 30: MEN - MenPerhaps the most on-brand film for our ‘horrible men in horror’ theme is the 2022 British folk horror film ‘Men’, directed by Alex Garland.🌲🍎
We think this film deserves more attention. In this episode, we dissect how biblical imagery is used, discuss the monstrous birthing scene and debate whether it works as a feminist film.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, discussions of misogyny, domestic violence, emotional abuse, birthing trauma, religious oppression and suicide
2023-09-2239 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 29: MEN - American PsychoWe’re back and better than ever! Our theme this month is horrible men in horror, and of course we couldn’t do this film without talking about the 2000 classic ‘American Psycho’, directed by Mary Harron. 👔🪓
In this episode, we discuss how different demographics have interpreted this film over the years: incels and finance bros have idolised Bateman, most women have recognised it as a campy satire of masculinity, and queer people have read Bateman as a closeted gay man. We also discuss gender, sexuality, consumerism, capitalism, liberalism and the ‘Batemanization’ of American politics.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Wi...
2023-09-0942 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 28: Pride Special - Jennifer’s Body (revisited)HAPPY PRIDE QUEERS! 🏳️🌈 For this Pride Special, we revisit a film we covered in our very first episode: the 2009 cult classic ‘Jennifer’s Body’, directed by Karyn Kusama. 💅💋 💄
In this episode, we debate the differences between desire and envy in young female friendships, investigate the queer subtext and female gaze of the film, and uncover its true villain: CHIP. 😠
The Coven: Louisa, Mila Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of sexism, misogyny, underage sexual harassment, sexual assault, femicide and rape
2023-07-061h 05
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 27: Mermaids - NannyFor our last mermaid episode of the month, we’re talking about the 2022 American psychological thriller ‘Nanny’, directed by Nikyatu Jusu. 🕷️🧜♀️
We discuss African deities as agents of chaos, the sense-making function of legends, and how the Mami Wata informs this film's gender, race and class commentary.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, war, discussions of anti-Black racism, classism, xenophobia and mentions of a child drowning
2023-06-1755 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 26: Mermaids - Blue My MindContinuing with our mermaid theme, we’re talking about the 2017 Swiss fantasy drama ‘Blue My Mind’, directed by Lisa Brühlmann. 🐟🧜♀️🌊
We discuss how this film effectively uses body horror and fantasy to portray adolescence, and is particularly anxiety-inducing because of the seemingly unavoidable sexualisation and predation that all young teen girls experience.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, discussions of body dysmorphia, eating disorders and self-mutilation (specifically, female genital mutilation and self-harm), discussions of sexual assault (specifically, gang rape), underage female sexualisation and predation, the exploitative nature of the...
2023-05-2936 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 25: Mermaids - The LureThis month we’re talking about mermaids! 🧜♀️🧜♀️ Our first film is the 2015 Polish musical horror, ‘The Lure’, directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska. 🌊🎤👯♀️
We delve into its camp musical elements, discuss how the exploration of womanhood lends itself to trans-coded readings, and debate Barbara Creed’s queer reading of this film.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of transphobia, body dysmorphia, societal tensions around gender affirming surgery and mentions of underage sexualisation of teenagers
2023-05-1731 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 24: Eco-Horror [water] - The BayOur last eco-horror episode is the 2012 American mockumentary horror ‘The Bay’, directed by Barry Levinson. ⚠️🐓
We talk about how this film hits different post pandemic, the risk of exploitation in documentaries and governmental mismanagement of water systems.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
violence, death, climate anxiety, water contamination and pandemic anxiety
2023-05-0332 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 23: Eco-Horror [water] - The HostContinuing our eco-horror theme, we’re talking about the 2006 monster film, ‘The Host’, directed by Bong Joon-ho. ⚠️🐟
In this episode, we discuss the influence of American neoliberal economic policies on Korea, unpack Bong's tactical focus on the nuclear family, and delve into how oppressive systems breed nihilistic compliance.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
violence, death, death of a child, pandemic anxiety and climate anxiety
2023-04-2633 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 22: Eco-Horror [water] - Tentacles“You guys made me ink!” In honour of Earth Day, we’re talking about eco-horror! 🌎 Our first episode of the month is on the 1977 Italian-American sci-fi film ‘Tentacles’, directed by Ovidio G. Assonitis. 🐙
In this episode, we describe the referential nature of low-budget 70s Italian horror, lament the blatant giant squid erasure in this film, and, despite our best efforts, descend into brief mentions of tentacle porn and the vaguely Freudian vaginal imagery of octopus beaks. 🤦🏽♀️
The Coven: Louisa, Mila and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, climate anxiety, discussions of tentacle porn, infanticide an
2023-04-1521 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 21: Dolls - M3GANShe's serving, your honour. 🕶️ This is our last dolls in horror episode of the month, and we’re talking about the sassy sci-fi ‘M3GAN’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. 💅🔩
In this episode, we talk about the difficult balance between professional success and motherhood, debate the camp and serious elements of this film, and attempt to pinpoint exactly where AI and parenting can overlap if technology has such negative effects on impressionable young minds.
The Coven: Louisa, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of adoption trauma and being orphaned
2023-04-0130 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 20: Dolls - Child’s PlayHello, Good Guys™️! This is our second dolls in horror episode, and we’re covering the iconic 1988 film ‘Child’s Play’, directed by Tom Holland. 🧑🏻🦰🚫🔋🩸
We discuss how this film toys with childhood innocence and perspective, its rather weak reliance on a serial killer origin story, and hail Chucky as a non-binary icon (you’ll have to listen in full to hear our justification for that one).
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder and mention of a child death
2023-03-2825 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 19: Dolls - Living Doll (The Twilight Zone)“My name is Talky Tina and I love you!” 💟 This is the first episode of our dolls in horror theme, and we’re talking about 'Living Doll' (1963) from the American television anthology series ‘The Twilight Zone’, directed by Richard C. Sarafian. 🎀🏠👨👩👧
We delve into the uncanny valley in relation to dolls, discuss the lost art of quality horror storytelling and analyse the fragility of the nuclear family structure in patriarchal suburban America.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder
2023-03-2536 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 18: Romance in Horror (Valentine’s Special) - Warm BodiesFor our last romantic horror episode, we are talking about the 2013 zom-rom-com ‘Warm Bodies’, directed by Jonathan Levine. 🧟♂️💘
First we read out your own dating horror stories. Then we discuss whether love can survive a zombie apocalypse, how apocalyptic conditions might drastically change our standards for a romantic partner, and how, much like 'Shaun of the Dead', this film depicts alienation under capitalism.
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder and necrophilia
2023-03-0725 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 17: Romance in Horror (Valentine’s Special) - AuditionCASTING CALL: one horror fan 🥵! We’re continuing our Valentine’s theme with the 1999 thriller ‘Audition’, directed by Takashi Miike. 💉👁️💉
In this episode, we delve into the objectification of women, discuss the delicate performance of gender, analyse the chasm between men and women’s emotional experiences and how, in this film, the phenomenon of physical pain somehow bridges this gap.
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of misogyny, objectification, torture, body mutilation, rape, sexual violence, childhood abuse and paedophilia
2023-02-2033 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 16: Romance in Horror (Valentine’s Special) - The MummyHi, love birds! 🕊️This is the first episode of our Valentine’s Specials, and we’re talking about the 1999 adventure film ‘The Mummy’, directed by Stephen Sommers. 🛕🐫🏺🦂
We start by examining exactly why this is known as the Official Bisexual Awakening Movie™️ (hint: it’s the hot cast). We then delve into how Imhotep sets the bar for side pieces everywhere. Finally, we discuss how this movie functions as a nostalgia watch, as well as its negative portrayal of Arabic people as stereotypical stock characters.
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, near-strangulation by hanging, mention of suicide, discussions of the fetishisation of Egyptian women and racism
2023-02-1227 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 15: Claustrophobia - 47 Meters Down: UncagedOur final episode on claustrophobic horror is the 2019 survival film ‘47 Meters Down: Uncaged’, directed by Neil Marshall. 🤿🏊♀️🦈
We discuss the nepo-baby casting, debate the biological accuracy of blind great whites that, for whatever reason, choose to live in confined cave systems voluntarily, and the central sisterly strife that was so severe, only multiple shark attacks could resolve it.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, drowning, discussions of shark attacks and mild bullying
2023-02-0222 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 14: Claustrophobia - As Above, So BelowBonjour! 👩🎨 We’re continuing our claustrophobia theme with the 2014 American horror film ‘As Above, So Below’, directed by John Erick Dowdle. 💀💀💀
Join us as we enter the nine circles of hell and discuss wonderful things such as death, sin, satan, cavernous wombs, vlogging, eternal judgement and the sanctity of artefacts.
The Coven: Mila and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder and brief mentions of anti-semitism and parental abuse
2023-01-2521 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 13: Claustrophobia - The DescentTime to descend... This month we’re covering claustrophobia in horror! Our first film is the 2005 British adventure horror film ‘The Descent’, directed by Neil Marshall. 🕳🩸☠️
We discuss female friendships versus female competition, monstrous motherhood and the maddening effects of grief.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, child death, murder, discussions of anti-Asian racism and stereotypes, and mental illness
2023-01-1525 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 12: Cannibalism - Bones and AllFor our last cannibalism episode, we’re talking about the coming-of-age road movie ‘Bones and All’ (2022), directed by Luca Guadagnino. 🦴😋
We discuss this film as a realistic depiction of the rural Midwest. We also explain how cannibalism can act as a metaphor for both queerness and addiction. Finally, we divulge our various reactions to and interpretations of Sully’s complicated (and creepy) character.
The Coven: Zeba, Louisa, Mila and Tyia
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of homophobia, drug addiction, sexual assault and sex trafficking
2022-12-0537 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 11: Cannibalism - The Silence of the LambsGood evening, Clarice. We’re continuing our cannibalism theme with the 1991 masterpiece ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, directed by Jonathan Demme. 🍽️🦋🐑
We talk about Hannibal as a delicious, sassy and possibly asexual villain. We also discuss the famous tucking scene and go into depth about the transphobic elements of this film as well as the questions it raises about womanhood and gender.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, transphobia, violence against trans women and sexual assault
2022-12-0342 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 10: Cannibalism - The Hills Have EyesBon Appétit. This month we’re covering cannibalism in horror and kicking it off with ‘The Hills Have Eyes’, directed by Wes Craven. 🌕👶🏻🐺
We discuss the divide between metropolitan/rural populations and how this interacts with classism, sexism and racism. We also go into why this film fails in its intention to construct a sympathetic view of the rural working class, and how, in actual fact, it achieves the exact opposite effect.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, mention of slavery, discussions of classism, indigenous Am...
2022-11-2151 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 9: Werewolves (Halloween Special) - Good MannersHello, my lunar lovelies. This is our last film of the month covering werewolves and we’re talking about the dark fantasy horror ‘Good Manners’, directed by Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra. 🌕👶🏻🐺
We explore the class and race dynamics within the central queer relationship, the body horror of pregnancy and motherhood as sacrifice.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, mention of slavery, discussions of class exploitation, racial exploitation, death during pregnancy and child death
2022-11-0325 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 8: Werewolves (Halloween Special) - Ginger SnapsSpooky month is continuing with werewolves, and we’re covering one of our favourite films: the angsty teen horror, ‘Ginger Snaps’ (2000), directed by John Fawcett. 🩸🐺💉
In this episode, we discuss how this film defies the stereotypically masculine lore of the werewolf, the body horror of puberty and the complexities of sisterly bonds.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, sexism, misogyny, discussions of sexual harassment, young girls' sexual exploitation and (statutory) rape
2022-10-2929 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 7: Werewolves (Halloween Special) - An American Werewolf in LondonHappy October - this month we’re talking about werewolves. To kick it all off, we cover the 1981 classic ‘An American Werewolf in London’, directed by John Landis.
We discuss werewolf lore, lament the loss of cool prosthetics and gory special effects to CGI, and wonder about the film's British/American cultural chasms.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, suicide, mentions of a miscarriage and discussions of misogyny (lad banter)
2022-10-2019 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 6: Horror Games - Bodies Bodies BodiesFor our last episode on horror games, we’re talking about Halina Reijn’s dark comedy ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’. 🌧 🗡📱🩸😵
We read this film as a comedic satire of Gen Z and performative "woke" culture, discuss misogynistic left-leaning men and delve into the gay drama between Amandla Stenberg and Lena Wilson after that NY Times review.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, gun violence, discussions of gaslighting, women’s sexual exploitation in film and drug addiction
2022-10-0432 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 5: Horror Games - We’re All Going to the World’s FairContinuing with our horror games theme, we are covering the 2021 drama `We're All Going to the World's Fair’, directed by Jane Schoenbrun. 💻🧸🔫
We talk about the disturbing loneliness and predation within early internet cultures, the various trans-coded readings of this film and why this movie stands as a good warning to Gen Z.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, grooming, paedophilia, mentions of school shootings and gun violence, discussions of mental illness
2022-09-1837 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 4: Horror Games - SawI WANT TO PLAY A GAME. This month is all about horror games, and we’re kicking it off with the iconic 2004 film ‘Saw’, directed by James Wan. 🌀📼🦶🏻
We discuss games of choice, analyse how the 'Saw' franchise spawned an era of gratuitous violence in horror, talk about the uneven distribution of punishment throughout the franchise and debate whether the film has a punitive moral message.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, limb amputation, mentions of rape, drug addiction, infanticide and postnatal depression
2022-09-1121 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 3: Horror Westerns - NOPEHOWDY! Our last horror western of the month is Jordan Peele’s genre-bending 2022 film, ‘NOPE’. 🏇🏿🎐
We discuss space as the new frontier for the western, the importance of documentation for Black Americans and how capitalism turns life into commodified spectacles. Also! Keke Palmer playing an eccentric lesbian!!!
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, Black American slavery, anti-Black racism and discrimination, workers’ and Black exploitation, mentions of claustrophobia, decapitation, mass shootings, animal cruelty and police brutality
2022-08-3140 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 2: Horror Westerns - BacurauRIDE 'EM, COWBOY. Our second horror western of the month is the 2019 film ‘Bacurau’, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles 🚰🔫🩸
We discuss the global western, racial and class politics in Brazil and the importance of community within this film.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, child death, murder, discussions of indigenous genocide, racism and police brutality
2022-08-2731 min
The Monstrous FeminineS3 Ep 1: Horror Westerns - The WindYEEHAW. We’re doing horror westerns this month and kicking off season 3 with the 2018 femme-centric Western ‘The Wind’, directed by Emma Tammi 🌬️🤰🏻⚰️
We go over common tropes of the genre, explore madness and sexism in relation to the Wild West, and pinpoint the truest horror of them all: being alone with a man in the middle of fucking nowhere.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme and ‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of indigenous genocide, still birth, miscarriage, sexism, gun violence and mental illness
2022-08-1531 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 30: Vampires (Pride Special) - First KillHere it is: an extra main episode for Pride month! We watched the new Netflix vampire show 'First Kill', created by Victoria Schwab. 💉❤️
We chat about nostalgia for teen vampire media and the place for lesbian romance in YA fiction.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, lesbian discrimination, discussions of misandry and a brief mention of paedophilia
2022-07-0745 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 29: Vampires (Pride Special) - Let the Right One InOur next episode for this month is the 2008 Swedish romance-horror 'Let the Right One In', directed by Tomas Alfredson. 🩸🚪🧛♂️
We discuss the differences between the book and film, gender in relation to the supernatural and question the disturbing ambiguities of age in this film.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, sexual abuse, paedophilia, genital mutilation (castration), discussion of transphobia and HIV/AIDS paranoia
2022-07-0125 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 28: Vampires (Pride Special) - Queen of the DamnedWe’re continuing our (queer) vampire theme with the 2002 rocker-horror 'Queen of the Damned', directed by Michael Rymer. 🎸🎤
We talk about vampirism as a metaphor for closeted queerness, Anne Rice as the blueprint for emo vampires and Queen Akasha as a mon-fem mother figure.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of grooming, sexual abuse and paedophilia (in relation to Aaliyah and R. Kelly)
2022-06-2521 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 27: Vampires (Pride Special) - Daughters of DarknessHappy Pride, homos! This month, we’re covering the gayest horror subgenre of them all: the vampire film! And we’re kicking it off with the 1971 erotic horror ‘Daughters of Darkness’, directed by Harry Kümel. 🩸💄👄
In this episode, we discuss the graphic violence against women in the film, talk about the relationship between vampirism and female sexuality, and try to pinpoint what exactly we mean by "the female gaze".
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, graphic domestic abuse, mentions of sexual coe...
2022-06-1232 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 26: Voodoo - AHS: CovenWe’re finishing off our voodoo theme with season 3 of the 2013 show American Horror Story, 'Coven'.
In this episode, we discuss Angela Bassett in all her glory, debate whether witchcraft borrows from Voodooism, and scrutinise the representation and treatment of Black characters in this series.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Death, murder, discussions of sexual violence (rape/gang rape), anti-Black racism, slavery, beastiality, incest and paedophilia
2022-05-3135 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 25: Voodoo - Eve’s BayouWe’re continuing our voodoo theme with the 1997 drama ‘Eve’s Bayou’, directed by Kasi Lemmons. 🩺🥼💔😵
In this episode, we discuss indie filmmaking, loss of innocence and intergenerational trauma in relation to slavery.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Death, murder, discussions of sexual violence, grooming, rape, paedophilia, incest, slavery and infanticide
2022-05-2730 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 24: Voodoo - The Serpent and the RainbowThis month is all about voodoo! We’re starting with the 1988 film ‘The Serpent and the Rainbow’, directed by Wes Craven. 🐍🌈
We discuss the weirdly kinky torture scene, the colonial male gaze and the exoticism of voodoo/Haiti.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of torture and political unrest
2022-05-2227 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 23: Horror Comedy - Attack the BlockWrapping up our horror ha-ha theme, we’re talking about the 2011 horror comedy film ‘Attack the Block’, directed by Joe Cornish. 🐺🔫🎒🇬🇧
We admire John Boyega, discuss the intersection between class and race politics in Britain, and debate the use of aliens as a metaphor for police violence. Enjoy!
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Death, murder, youth gang violence (specifically knife crime), discussions of violence against women and anti-Black racism
2022-05-0324 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 22: Horror Comedy - Cabin in the WoodsContinuing with our horror ha-ha theme, we’re moving on to the 2011 meta-horror comedy ‘Cabin in the Woods’, directed by Drew Goddard. 🌲🏚️🧟🥼
We discuss horror as an expression of society’s repressed desires, debate whether or not modern horror films still use stereotypical tropes of the genre, and talk about the place of the male gaze in a film intending to satirise voyeurism.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, brief mention of the KKK and a statement addressing the allegations against Joss W
2022-04-2122 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 21: Horror Comedy - Shaun of the DeadFor this month’s theme, we’re talking about what puts the ha-ha in horror. The first film we’re covering is Edgar Wright’s British zombie comedy, ‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004). 🧟♂️🍺
We go over the film's potential class commentary, potential Freudian interpretations and potential queerness. Basically, 'Shaun of the Dead' is rife with deeper meaning, if you want it to be. Go listen.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Mentions of violence and death
2022-04-1131 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 20: Creature Features - Pan’s LabyrinthHola - our final creature feature of the month is Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 masterpiece ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’.👞🍇🖐️👀🖐️🧚🩸
We discuss what makes a good monster, the role of imagination and escapism, the sacrificial demands of motherhood and the subconscious presence of various mythologies in horror films.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, mentions of warfare and torture
2022-03-2929 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 19: Creature Features - The Blob (1988)Hello, jello! Our second creature feature film of the month is the 1988 sci-fi horror film ‘The Blob’, directed by Chuck Russell. 🌠🧫🧯👨🏿🚀🧊
In this episode, we discuss the differences between the original and the remake, debate the physics of the blob and its vulvic appearance, and admire older horrors’ ruthless ability to kill off main characters like it's no biggie.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, mentions of acid burns, the Cold War, rape and drug-facilitated sexual assault
2022-03-2120 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 18: Creature Features - Godzilla (1954)Hi there, monsters. This month we will be talking about creature features, starting with the classic Japanese sci-fi horror film, Godzilla (1954).
In this episode, we discuss how the Western remakes dilute the original film’s poignant political message, and how the 1954 Godzilla navigates the ethics of warfare and the implementation of scientific discoveries, which have devastating consequences.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, mentions of war and nuclear warfare (atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki), anti-Asian racism and Japanese colonialism
2022-03-1022 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 17: Valentine's Special - The Love WitchHappy Valentine's Day, lovers! 💋 To celebrate, we’re talking about the 2016 cult horror-comedy, ‘The Love Witch’, directed by Anna Biller. 💟🗡️🩸
We muse over just how down bad Elaine is, discuss the film’s portrayal of compulsory heterosexuality, and debate the limits of self-objectification as a means for empowerment.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder and discussions of misogyny
2022-02-1441 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 16: Bollywood Horror - BulbbulFor our last Bollywood horror episode of the month, we’re tackling the 2020 Hindi-language horror 2018 film ‘Bulbbul’, directed by Anvita Dutt Guptan. 🌕🔴🦶🏽
First we discuss the folklore surrounding the churail – a Southeast Asian witch – and Anita Dutt’s tragic/feminist twist on the legend. We then go into the potential aestheticisation of violence against women and ableist plot device. Finally, we praise this film’s expert encapsulation of the "nice guy" trope.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, graphic rape and domestic violence des...
2022-01-2424 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 15: Bollywood Horror - TumbbadContinuing our exploration of Bollywood horror, we're talking about the Hindi-language horror 2018 film ‘Tumbbad', directed by Anand Gandhi and Rahi Anil Barve. 👛👺
First of all, we talk about the monstrous womb imagery in this film, and what this means metaphorically. Next, we explain how this morality tale is being used to comment on greed in both colonial and post-colonial India. Finally, we talk about how a system which relies on the privatisation of land fosters a culture of misogyny.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CON...
2022-01-1419 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 14: Bollywood Horror - RaatHappy New Year! This month we’re diving into Bollywood horror, and to kick off 2022, we’re covering the 1992 Indian Hindi-Telugu supernatural horror, ‘Raat’, directed by Ram Gopal Varma. 🐈💀
Firstly, we go through some tropes of Bollywood horror films, and the genre’s place on the world stage in the 90s. We then move on to talk about the monstrous feminine and its relation to possession in this film. Finally, we debate the porous boundaries between medical diagnoses and the supernatural.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzar...
2022-01-0624 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 13: Holiday Special - A Christmas Horror StoryHAPPY HOLIDAYS! To wrap up the holiday season, we cover the 2015 horror anthology 'A Christmas Horror Story', directed by Steve Hoban, Grant Harvey and Brett Sullivan. ✝️🐐👯🎅🏻🎄 🧟
In this episode, we discuss the four story segments in turn, and delve into Catholicism, Krampus lore, Freud, and, most insightfully, zombie elves.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, child abuse and abortion
2021-12-2417 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 12: Holiday Special - KrampusHAPPY HOLIDAYS! To continue with the festivities, we watched the 2015 horror comedy 'Krampus', directed by Michael Dougherty. 🐐🎅🏻🔮
We had a hard time categorising this film within the comedy genre: is it a critical satire that mocks to make a point or just bad slapstick? We also went into the strange folklore that relied on shoehorning in a Nazi Germany subplot, which felt questionable and incongruent. Finally, we discussed the issue of fat phobia in American comedy.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death...
2021-12-2217 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 11: Holiday Special - GremlinsHAPPY HOLIDAYS! This month we’re doing a few festive films for the holiday season. To kick things off, we’re covering the 1984 film 'Gremlins', directed by Joe Dante.
🎄🕛 🥪🐲💦🐲🐲🐲
We (Louisa) make a big reach and discuss this film as a possible parody of anti-communist rhetoric in Cold War America. No, I will not elaborate. Go listen for more.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, discussions of anti-Asian racism and anti-Semitism
2021-12-1918 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 10: Doppelgängers - MetamorphosisOur last pick for the doppelgängers theme is the 2019 film ‘Metamorphosis’, directed by Kim Hong-Sun. ✝️
There’s a lot to unpack here. We talk about the strange absence of Korean cultural signifiers in this film, and unpick some inconsistencies in the narrative. We then move on to discuss how this film uses doubles to explore the crisis of the family and to what effect. Finally, we praise the film’s fascinating use of possession lore with the doppelgängers theme to create something genuinely disturbing and relatively unique.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemel...
2021-12-0233 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 9: Doppelgängers - UsNext up for our doppelgängers theme is Jordan Peele’s 2019 film ‘Us’. ✂️🐇🤝
We ask a lot of questions. Firstly, is Peele making a comment on charity in America with the ‘Hands Across America’ reference? Secondly, in what ways do wealth and class affect the Black American experience? Finally, how does this film work as an abolitionist narrative?
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, anti-Black racism, classism, neglect and mental illness
2021-11-2835 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 8: Doppelgängers - Black SwanNEW MONTH NEW THEME. This time it’s doppelgängers. To kick off one of our favourite horror themes, we're talking about Black Swan (2010), directed by Darren Aronofsky. 🩰🖤🦢
I won’t lie to you, a lot of this episode is us thirsting, but that’s only fitting for the Mila/Natalie sex scene that threw a whole generation into gay panic. But never fear, there is some critical analyses of the body horror as well as sexual exploitation in the dance industry. We also talk about the male gaze and wonder if Aronofsky accurately depicts female competition.
The Coven: Mila, Louisa, Tyia and...
2021-11-1235 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 7: Lore - Candyman (2021)BE MY VICTIM!
This is our last episode of the month tackling lore in horror and we’ve chosen the much anticipated Candyman sequel. 🍬🐝
How does this sequel engage with the original film’s lore? Are some of the reviews being unfair? Is it possible for Black artists to exploit Black pain for white audiences? And finally, should this have just been a remake rather than a sequel?
The Coven: Mila, Louisa, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Violence, death, murder, paedophilia, body mutilation, discussions of extreme anti-B...
2021-10-2843 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 6: Lore - ItWelcome back to the podcast where horrible humans talk about horror. This week we are continuing our analysis of horror lore! 📚
Last week we talked about 'The Babadook', so we had to talk about his boyfriend Pennywise and the 'It' movie (2017). 🤡🎈 We start by confessing our love for Pennywise as a comedic agent of chaos. We then debate whether or not there is a place for children in horror - do they cross a line or access a deep primal fear for adult audiences? Finally, we delved into the depiction of sexual abuse and discussed the excessive predation all young girls exp...
2021-10-1841 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 5: Lore - The BabadookWelcome back to The Monstrous Feminine Podcast. We are now releasing weekly episodes under a monthly theme, and our theme for October is...horror lore! 📚
Of course we have to start with ‘The Babadook’ (2014) 🎩🏳️🌈, tackling the great ‘Is Babadook gay?’ debate. We then move on to discuss how this film works as an excellent metaphor for motherhood, depression and grief, as well as what lore means for children vs. adults. Finally, we ponder why we love camp/queer-coded villains so much.
The Coven: Mila, Louisa, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTE...
2021-10-1125 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 4: Found Footage - The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity and AfflictedWelcome back to The Monstrous Feminine Podcast. This month, our theme is found footage! 🎥 📺
We have questions. Firstly, how has found footage evolved over the years with different technology? What is it about the subgenre that people find so frightening? Are found footage protagonists always dislikable because they just won’t stop filming? What’s next for this genre?
To prepare go find this footage: The Blair Witch Project (1999) 📹⛺🌲, Paranormal Activity (2007) 👻🚪🏠 and Afflicted (2014) 🧠🩸🚑.
The Coven: Louisa, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
The Blair Witch Project (09:34-28:28): Violence, death, murder, sexism...
2021-09-281h 07
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 3: Summer Horror - Fear Street TrilogyWelcome back, coven! It’s hot girl summer, which means we gotta talk about summer horror! ☀️ 😎
In this episode, we focus on the brand new summer release on Netflix: the Fear Street Trilogy (2021) 👩❤️💋👩 ✩🦴. We talk about the queer representation and portrayal of female relationships, the gendered treatment and stigmatisation of magic throughout history, and the metaphorical exploration of different oppressive systems in America across these films.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Intro (1:22-13:15) - Violence, death, murder, abuse, racism and slavery
Fear Street Part One: 1994 (13:15-41...
2021-08-221h 35
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 2: Shark Week - Jaws and Deep Blue SeaIT’S SHARK WEEK, BABY! To celebrate this cherished holiday, we discuss the epitome of true cinema: shark horror! 🦈
I won’t lie to you, this episode is chaos. First we regale you with some shark facts because we are first and foremost, academics. Next, we establish why shark movies get a sexism pass from us. We then examine shark horror in relation to castration anxiety and crises of masculinity. We ask a key question here - what is it about boats and water that make men a lil fruity? Finally, we talk about the prominent male gaze in shark movies...
2021-07-2552 min
The Monstrous FeminineS2 Ep 1: Pride - The Hunger, Thelma and Saint MaudWelcome to Season 2 of The Monstrous Feminine Podcast! To celebrate Pride month, we look at depictions of queerness in horror! 🏳️🌈
We cover a lot of ground in this episode. To start it off, we theorise why horror is appealing to queer audiences, and descend into ✨discourse✨ about pink-washing. We then move on to discuss why there is so much doppel-banging in queer horror. We also explore why telekinesis is a useful metaphor for repressing queerness. Finally, we scrutinise the links between religion, queerness and horror.
Get ready and go watch The Hunger (1983) 🧑🏻🎤🩸⚰️, Thelma (2017) 🧠🙇🏼♀️🙏🏻, and Saint Maud (2020) 👩🏻⚕️✝️🔥.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of t...
2021-06-281h 42
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 13: Witches - Suspiria (1977 & 2018) and The Craft: LegacyWelcome to the season finale of The Monstrous Feminine Podcast! In this episode, we reminisce about our first year as a coven, and discuss one of our foundational themes: the witch! 🧹
But we have a lot of questions. First of all, how do aesthetics affect depictions of magic and horror? What is the relationship between body horror and witchcraft? Why do witches in films always seem to centre their spells around men? And finally, why are we seeing such a boom in ‘girlboss’ horror films, and please God, can someone tell us how to stop it?!
To prepare for the last ep...
2021-05-152h 02
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 12: Zombies - Sugar Hill, Train to Busan and Blood QuantumWelcome back to The Monstrous Feminine Podcast. For this episode, we delve into one of the most classic horror subgenres: ZOMBIES! 🧟♂️🧟♀️
We start by spilling some piping hot tea about new-wave feminism. 🐸☕️ We then move on to discuss how the zombie genre works as a mode of capitalist critique. Finally, we debate the politics of immunity when race is involved.
Prepare your brainz by watching Sugar Hill (1974) 🍰☠️, Train to Busan (2016) 🚅😭 and Blood Quantum (2019) 🩸⚔️.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Discussions of violence, murder, anti-Black racism, suicide, abuse, sexual
2021-03-261h 37
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 11: Valentine's Special - Possession, Vampire in Brooklyn and SpringGreetings, loved ones. Welcome back to The Monstrous Feminine Podcast. This episode is our Valentine’s Day special so we’re going to be talking all about love and romance in horror. 💋
We were equal parts amused and horrified by our selections this week. To begin with, does Mila need therapy for suggesting we watch glorified tentacle porn? Can bad wigs be responsible for a film’s failure? Why don’t cis male filmmakers know how to write a “nice guy” character?
To get ready, go watch Possession (1981)🦑❤️, Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) 🧛🏾♂️👮🏾♀️ and Spring (2014) 🧬🌷.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witc...
2021-02-121h 06
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 10: Body Horror - Teeth, It Follows and RawWelcome back to The Monstrous Feminine Podcast. In this episode, we explore how virginity and female sexuality are manifested through body horror.
Do your homework and watch 'Teeth' (2007) 🦈🌮, 'It Follows' (2014) 💦💀 and 'Raw' (2016) 🍖❤️.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CONTENT WARNING*
Discussions of violence, death, murder, cannibalism, sexual assault, rape and suicide
2021-01-291h 30
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 9: Holiday Special - Black Christmas (1974 & 2019) and The LodgeHappy Holidays! Welcome back to The Monstrous Feminine Podcast. In this Holiday special, we tackle some films set around Christmastime! 🎄🎁
We have a lot of thoughts. Firstly, is it scarier when the killer’s backstory remains unknown to the audience? Are we too harsh on films directed by women? And finally, what happens to horror when children become the villains?
To prepare yourself, go watch the original ‘Black Christmas’ (1974) 👁️☎️, the 2019 ‘Black Christmas’ remake ☃️🏹 and ‘The Lodge’ (2019) ❄️✝️.
If you can, please consider donating to this charity this holiday season: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/resilient-indigenous-youth-mental-health-campaign/donate/
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruu...
2020-12-201h 31
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 8: Teen Horror - Battle Royale, Memento Mori and The CraftWelcome back to The Monstrous Feminine Podcast. In this episode, the coven delves into teen horror — and boy, does it get messy. 💋
As we reflect on this subgenre, we find ourselves pondering: are the depictions of teenage girls ever realistic in these movies? Is the horror genre just an excuse to explore young queer fantasies? Has anyone else noticed that the “not like other girl” girl is…exactly like other girls? Find out in this episode!
Stay in the loop and go watch ‘Battle Royale’ (2000) ⚔️👑👩🏻🏫, ‘Memento Mori’ (1999) 👻📖👯 and ‘The Craft’ (1996) ✏️🔮🐍.
P.S. Someone tell Rachel True to come on the pod and do a tarot reading with us.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila...
2020-11-271h 19
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 7: Scream Queens - Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street 2 and HushWelcome to the Halloween special of The Monstrous Feminine Podcast! 🧙🏾♀️ To celebrate the spookiest day of the year, we have broken down the classic horror trope: Scream Queens 👑.
Where did this trope come from? How does it change when it’s applied to a man? Or a deaf and nonverbal Scream Queen? Check out this episode to hear what we have to say!
Before you listen, go watch the iconic ‘Halloween’ (1978) 🎃, the queer-coded ‘Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge’ (1986) 💅🏼 and the newer release, ‘Hush’ (2016) 🤫.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of the Week’ Music by: Sebastian Pizzaro
*CON...
2020-11-011h 12
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 6: Cult Horror - Midsommar and The Other LambHello, my little lamb 🐑. Welcome back to ‘The Monstrous Feminine’ - the podcast where horrible humans talk about horror. This week, we’re delving into Tyia’s personal favourite brand of horror: cult horror.
To begin with, what defines a cult? Next, is period blood the secret ingredient to any successful love potion? Finally, how does a matriarchal cult compare to a patriarchal one? Find out in this episode!
To get clued up, go watch Ari Aster’s 2019 masterpiece ‘Midsommar’☀️💐 and the newest cult horror added to the mix by Małgorzata Szumowska, ‘The Other Lamb’ 🐏 🧶.
You can find us on most platforms @themonstrousfemi...
2020-10-201h 19
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 5: Desktop Horror - Unfriended, Unfriended: Dark Web and HostThis week, The Monstrous Feminine Podcast is discussing a new subgenre of horror: desktop horror. Born from media horror and found-footage horror, these films take place on the computer screen via webcam and social media. 🖥 ⌨️
The witches have a lot of questions about this new horror category. For example, how accurate are the depictions of cyberbullying? Does the representation of women change in this particular genre? Finally, is it really possible for ghosts to travel through wifi? Find out here!
To prepare yourself, go watch ‘Unfriended’ (2014) 💻 💬, ‘Unfriended: Dark Web’ (2018) 👨🏻💻🌐 and ‘Host’ (2020) 🕯📶.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Theme Music and Transitions by: Ruud Bemelmans
‘Witch of...
2020-09-181h 05
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 4: The Monstrous Womb - Rosemary's Baby and The RoomIn this episode, we tackle the last of Barbara Creed’s female horror tropes: the monstrous womb. We want to know why the canon of womb-related horror is so white; why the image of a fertile woman is so limited; and why men are so concerned with regulating our bodies. We also descend into a full-blown argument about one of the films mentioned, so stay til the end for some tea. ☕️
To get clued up, go watch dirtbag Polanski’s 1968 horror classic ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ 😈👶🏻 and Christian Volckman’s 2019 film ‘The Room’ 🤞🏻🏚.
The Coven: Louisa, Mila, Tyia and Zeba
Music by: Ruud Bemelmans
*CONTENT WARNING...
2020-08-281h 07
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 3: Horror Noire - Blacula, Candyman and Get OutIn the latest episode of The Monstrous Feminine Podcast, the witches take a little break from the teachings of Barbara Creed to school us all on the history of Black representation in horror. ✊🏽 ✊🏾 ✊🏿
Black horror, or ‘Horror Noire’ as dubbed by Dr Robin R. Means Coleman, has evolved tremendously over the last century. But the journey has not been easy. From being portrayed as irredeemable monsters, to becoming the sacrificial sidekick or the sympathetic killer, it is only more recently that Black characters have been able to flip the switch entirely and play heroic protagonists (who actually survive).
But we still have a lot of...
2020-07-171h 27
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 2: Monstrous Motherhood - Alien, Annihilation and PsychoIf you thought lockdown would stop us, you were sorely mistaken. The Monstrous Feminine Podcast is back (over Zoom) and better than ever! 😈
As May is the month for celebrating mothers, in Episode 2, the coven decided to explore the theme of "monstrous motherhood". Continuing with our countdown of Barbara Creed’s female horror tropes, we discussed her two classifications of malicious mums: the archaic mother and the castrating mother.
…and boy, do we have a LOT of questions. How does the mother come to symbolise the point of origin and death? Why does society fear ‘artificial' reproduction? Is the stereotype of an ove...
2020-06-2251 min
The Monstrous FeminineS1 Ep 1: What is the Monstrous-Feminine?Congratulations — you’ve stumbled across our coven. 🧙♀️ Welcome. In this pilot episode, we discuss what exactly makes the women we see in horror films so "monstrous". Are the women actually the victim? If they are, how do they become the monster? Can they be both?
We answer these questions using three tropes explored in the 1993 text of the same title by feminist film critic, Barbara Creed: the witch, the possessed woman, and the female vampire. To help us out, we interviewed a special guest: K/XI, director and creator of the independent horror film company @badwolffilms. 🐺
So go watch ‘Carrie’ (1976), ‘Jennifer’s Body’ (2009...
2020-04-0939 min