The Villain is Capitalism
Parasite (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
IMDb Score: 8.5/10
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Content Warning: violence, blood, strong language, sexual content with partial nudity
The Menu (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
Director: Mark Mylod
Content Warning: extreme violence, gore, and suicide
Triangle of Sadness (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
Director: Ruben Östlund
Content Warning: extreme bodily fluids, vomiting, strong language, sexual content
I See You (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%
IMDb Score: 6.8/10
Director: Adam Randall
Content Warning: violence, home invasion, murder
The Villain is Social Media
Ingrid Goes West (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
IMDb Score: 6.6/10
Director: Matt Spicer
Content Warning: severe mental health issues, stalking, obsession, deception
The Social Dilemma (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
Director: Jeff Orlowski
Content Warning: anxiety-inducing
Influencer (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
IMDb Score: 6.2/10
Director: Kurtis David Harder
Content Warning: psychological manipulation and violence
Eighth Grade (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
IMDb Score: 7.4/10
Director: Bo Burnham
Content Warning: anxiety, sexual predation among young teenagers, strong language
The Villain is still Patriarchy
The Invisible Man (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
IMDb Score: 7.1/10
Director: Leigh Whannell
Content Warning: extreme violence, domestic abuse, obsession, stalking
Fresh (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
Director: Mimi Cave
Content Warning: graphic violence, cannibalism, extreme body horror
She Said (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
Director: Maria Schrader
Content Warning: sexual assault, abuse, trauma
Friendship (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
IMDb Score: 6.9/10
Director: Andrew DeYoung
Content Warning: strong language
Aw, Shucks!
About a year ago, Camille and I had a conversation where we reflected on our sisterhood. We talked about our roles as older and younger sibling. We spoke about how our experiences in those roles empowered and restricted us in different ways, in different seasons. The shared challenges of our childhood have welded us together, producing a fierce loyalty and deep friendship. Now, with time, maturity, and space, we get the chance to choose how we want to be as sisters to one another.
I had confessed to my little sister that sometimes I envied her role—that being big sister was an identity I loved, but often felt came with a seriousness, anxiety, and responsibility that I wished I could put down. Camille said, “Why don’t you be the little sister for a while, then?”
I’ve spent the past year stashing my ID in her purse when we go out—and being the one who says let’s go out on a week night. I’ve sat in the passenger seat, asked if we could stop for iced coffee, and sent her too many memes. The crème-de-la-crème of my year as little sister, though, has been our quarterly sister date.
Camille takes care of everything. She cooks or makes the reservation. She tells me what time I need to be ready and picks out my outfit. Styled by Camille, we say in my family. She selects the event, buys the tickets (and they’re always good seats), and pays for everything. She manages the timing so I don’t have to use my phone for anything except documenting the evening.
The Villain is Racism
Get Out (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
IMDb Score: 7.8/10
Director: Jordan Peele
Content Warning: psychological terror, racial subjugation, surgical body modification
The Blackening (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
IMDb Score: 6.2/10
Director: Tim Story
Content Warning: violence, gore, strong language, racial stereotypes
Tales from the Hood (1995)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%
IMDb Score: 6.6/10
Director: Rusty Cundieff
Content Warning: graphic violence, gang violence, police brutality, domestic abuse, racial profiling
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
IMDb Score: 6.9/10
Director: Boots Riley
Content Warning: strong language, drug use, nudity, disturbing body horror
The Villain is Patriarchy
A hallowed season is upon us! There are 40 days between the autumn equinox and Halloween. I humbly submit these 40 days as Official Spooky Season. It’s like Lent for us basic witches. So each Sunday, I’ll be preachin’ here about a villain of the week. Let me warn you now that they are truly, actually, for real scary. You’ll see what I mean shortly.
Scores: For scoring purposes, I consider IMDb a tougher grader compared to Rotten Tomatoes. In my book, anything above a 6 on IMDb and—we triangulate our data in this household—at or above 80% on Rotten Tomatoes is probably worth my time.
Directors: I name directors and years as is the standard in citing films. That APA training is burned into my brain.
Content Warnings: When I recommend a film here, it’s not a wholesale approval of the movie, but means that it made me think and feel. A lot of the movies I have enjoyed watching and learning from in the last few years deal with particularly dark topics and/or representations of the darkest, most violent things in our world. I think there is a lot we can try on, reflect, echo, and expose through making movies about the horrible stuff as well as the good stuff. More on that another day; all to say, please stay aware of the nature of the films in this series. I”ll do my best to flag sensitivities and you are encouraged to ensure a movie is a good fit for you by reading more about it before watching. #doyourhomework.
Why Patriarchy is a Villain
ddd
Blink Twice (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%
IMDb Score: 6.2/10
Director: Zoë Kravitz
Content Warnings: graphic content, violence, sexual assault, sexual violence, and (nonconsensual) drug use
Promising Young Woman (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
Director: Emerald Fennell
Content Warning: sexual assault, sexual violence, violence
Revenge (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
IMDb Score: 6.4/10
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Content Warning: graphic sexual assault, gory violence, blood
Fair Play (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
Director: Chloe Domont
Content Warning: strong sexual content, including sexual assault, nudity, toxic power/control
Spicy Thai Fruit Salad
Prep ingredients:
Shaved green apple
Thinly sliced nectarine
Strips of fresh mango
Jalapeño
Cilantro
Grated fresh ginger
Thai fish sauce
Soy sauce
Sesame oil
Chili oil
Salt
Toss together and enjoy!
