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The Evolution of the Scream Queen: From Janet Leigh to Katherine Isabelle

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Ever since there have been horror movies there have been the women who rule them.  These women are known as Scream Queens, and perhaps the most notable woman to claim this title on the silver screen is Jamie Lee Curtis.  However, the leading ladies of this sub genre have not always followed the same path as Curtis’ characters.  In fact, there seem to be three major movements for this trope during the past century: the helpless victim, the newly empowered hero, and the justified/vengeance seeker.

Beginning in the silent era of film, the original role of this female stereotype was quite literally a weak female character who screamed and fainted in the face of horror in a time when you couldn’t hear their screams. In the 1920s damsels in distress did not face their adversaries head on.  Instead, leading ladies in movies such as 1920’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and 1922’s Nosferatu surrendered to their villains, cowering before them.

For decades movies kept this idea of a weak leading lady.  Perhaps most notable is Janet Leigh in Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho. The actress captured the silver screen as beautiful and vulnerable Marion Crane.  The slender beauty became easy prey for the movie’s monster, Norman Bates, in the most vulnerable of states: nude in the shower.   Unable to fight back, Leigh’s character meets her early demise, and it was this movie that sealed the first definition of the Scream Queen.  However, unbeknownst to the actress at the time, she had given birth to the next generation of Scream Queens, literally.

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In the late 1970’s the definition of the Scream Queen began to evolve.  From the helpless female victim surrendering to a male perpetrator emerged a new kind of female character; a woman who begins her journey timid and weak but finds strength and empowerment after being subjected to torture by the movie’s perpetrator.  It is only after she has survived the trials and tribulations put forth by the assailant that she can find the strength within herself to defeat him.

The new era of the Scream Queen came with the release of John Carpenter’s Halloween featuring newcomer Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter of Janet Leigh.  In the 1978 classic, Laurie Strode transforms from sheepish bookworm to empowered survivor as she is relentlessly stalked by boogeyman Michael Myers.  It was here Carpenter displayed the characteristics that made for an easy victim in horror movies for years to come; participation in premarital sex as well as alcohol and drug use.  Each of Laurie’s friends are picked off by the movie’s boogeyman, forcing the level headed and reliable babysitter to step up and prevail.  It was this movie that changed the face of the Scream Queen from the vulnerable victim to the tortured and empowered survivor.

Embracing her newly found career, Jamie Lee dominated the genre her mother helped create.  Following successful roles in Prom Night, Terror Train, and The Fog Jamie Lee Curtis had been crowned as the undisputed Scream Queen of the silver screen by horror fans.

laurie-strode
In the subsequent years horror films have followed this model for their leading ladies.  In classic 80’s and 90’s slashers such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Scream all of the female stars began as unsuspecting victims only to rise and prevail as survivors, stronger and wiser in the end than they were in the beginning.

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However, in the last decade we have seen a sudden departure from the subgenre dubbed as the “slasher” where these Final Girls have outsmarted their assailants.  Once again the women of the genre are changing, and instead of being unsuspecting victims taking a hero’s journey to their final transformation at the end of the movie, the new Scream Queen is evolving into something quite different.

While there are still modern day slashers that follow the tested and true model of a female victim’s rise to hero such as 2016’s Hush starring Kate Siegel, as well as Jane Levy in the unexpected hit Don’t Breathe, the last ten years the new leading ladies have evolved into vengeance fueled bad asses.  Instead of being transformed into the heroine after 90 minutes of hell bestowed upon them by the movie’s boogeyman, these ladies often face their adversaries early on in the story only to become the image of strength and vengeance we see throughout the remainder of the film.

An example of this new generation of Scream Queen is Danielle Harris.  Beginning her career as a child actress in Halloween 4 & 5, Harris became an instant success in the genre.  With a long resume of horror movies some of her most recent roles have shaped the way we newly define the archetype.  In the latter two Hatchet  films by director Adam Green, Harris’ character Marybeth Dunston quickly escalates from victim to revenge fueled hero as the franchise’s killer disposes of her entirely family and leaves her as the sole survivor.

Another leading lady assisting the creation of a new mold for the Scream Queen is Katherine Isabelle.  Isabelle first caught the eye of fans with her role in the Canadian trilogy Ginger Snaps.  While not your typical hero, Isabelle’s character Ginger Fitzgerald became an instant icon of empowerment for female fans of the genre.  Keeping her name relevant in the field she returned to Scream Queen fame with her role of Mary Mason in 2012’s American Mary.  After being taken advantage of by those she trusted most, Isabelle’s character utilizes her skills as a gifted medical student to not only seek vengeance on those who wronged her.

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The new Scream Queen is a female we cheer and support as they regain control of their lives and take justice into their own hands, no matter how bloody that path may be.  As an audience we no longer want to see female characters become just another notch on a killer’s bedpost, but instead become a strong woman with purpose and empowerment.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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