Movies to Watch (Female Rage Edition)
Burn it all down...
We are officially one week post-election and many of us have been working our way through the stages of grief. Personally, movies and TV shows have been a great source of comfort, distraction, and education - all of which have been very welcome as we process what the next four years will entail. The last seven days have brought to light some discourse around books, movies, TV shows, music, and media in general, begging the question, “should politics be kept out of it?” because these things are just meant for enjoyment.
Let’s be perfectly clear - art is inherently political. It always has been. To deny that is to deny the history of each medium. The very act of creating and consuming art is often an act of rebellion and if this idea is lost on you, I’d recommend taking a deeper look at the stories, the music, and the art that you consume. Art makes a statement, your responsibility as an audience member is to not let that statement go over your head.
With that being said, this last week has brought up a lot of feelings, an undeniable one is female rage. I see it all over the internet. I feel it intensely. We are going to lean into that feeling… As always, I’ve linked out the scripts below so you can read them if you’d like.
4 Movies (and 1 Script) for Leaning Into Female Rage:
“Promising Young Woman“
A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path.
Dark, visceral, filled to the brim with revenge. This one will turn your stomach and open your eyes at the same time. It also asks the question (which is more relevant than ever), what price should be paid for a man violating a woman’s body? What consequences does he face, if any? Between the current political landscape and this film, we get to see both sides of that spectrum.
“Gone Girl”
With his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.
This might be my personal favorite movie when it comes to female rage, especially because it entices you to side with Ben Affleck’s character throughout the entire movie and cast Rosamund Pike as the villain. The takeaway from this movie seems to be a bit different depending on who you ask, but for me… Amy is a hero.
“Jennifer’s Body”
A newly possessed cheerleader turns into a killer who specializes in offing her male classmates. Can her best friend put an end to the horror?
A horror/comedy that was all but written off as an “unserious film” when it first premiered has now found its cult following almost 15 years later. This one is for those of you who want a little escapism and LGBT vibes as a side to satisfying your internal rage.
“Wonder Woman”
An Amazon princess comes to the world of Man in the grips of the First World War to confront the forces of evil and bring an end to human conflict.
This isn’t a straightforward female rage movie for me, but it does contain aspects of that along with being intensely empowering. Watch this one if you want the final push to sign up for that self-defense class or if feeling powerless and lacking motivation.
BONUS: “My Girl” Script
After the founder of a successful dating app falls in love with a first-of-its-kind AI sex doll, he soon finds that The Doll is not only gaining sentience, but consciously upending his life and his company.
I recently read this script and absolutely loved it. I’ve included it on this list because it does an excellent job of highlighting that even an AI woman may not be immune to the current political climate. This script is so tight and well done and I truly love that it highlights how the idea of a “perfect woman”, robot or non, is centered around obedience and servitude and the only real way to escape that is to learn self-worth.
—
I hope these help you all get through the week a bit and harness some of the frustration that’s been bubbling to the surface. Know that this is a safe space for all of you women, POC, and LGBTQ+ friends that have really been going through a crisis in humanity since the election. You are safe and seen here.