I’m really not okay with the stereotype that horror is an anti-feminist genre . I’m pretty sure that if horror movies portray women in a bad light, then their male counterparts have got to look even more stupid.
Let’s think about this…. all the horror classics seem to have one, lone survivor. And guess what- it’s always a female. Halloween had Laurie Strode, A Nightmare on Elm Street had Nancy, Scream had Sidney Prescott, and blah blah blah. Sure there are dumb stereotypical females running around in many horror movies, but it’s these stereotypes that never seem to last long. The women that get attention in horror films are the women that should be admired: the strong, courageous ones.
If we want to get a little less mainstream film and go into the depths of the horror genre we can take a look at Dario Argento. Considered by many as an Italian horror genius, his work has been called misogynistic by some critics for the graphic displays of violence on women portrayed in his films. True, true. There are some pretty gruesome displays, but this does not mean that the man hates women. He’s cast his own daughter in multiple movies as the lead actress/lone survivor. He has created some amazing movies (well pre-1990), that show horror for the art that it can be. They are violent, yes, but they can also have a twisted beauty.
I’m not saying that horror hasn’t shown some pretty awful female stereotypes, but there is a fair share of male stereotypes as well. There’s always bad films in a genre. I just don’t think anyone should use feminism as an excuse to ignore the horror.There are some excellent films out there with some pretty strong female characters. Women may feel a little more empowered when they can relate to the bad ass woman standing alone at the end of a movie. Don’t go along with the stereotypes people.
If your still not convinced go watch the entire Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. With that evidence, your argument is invalid.
