by Ava Triano, Pranesh Rajesh Kannan, and Nicole Craft (USC Honors College students in Gender and Monstrosity in Horror)
Are you ready to get possessed, movie lovers? The Nick presents its newest thrilling attraction: Possession: Contested Bodies and the Monstrous-Feminine. A daring exploration of gender, identity, and power, this series features a terrifying trilogy of movies that delves into the concepts of transformation and bodily invasion, contrasting images of ideal femininity with abject female monsters. Throughout the month of October, patrons are invited to celebrate the Halloween season and gather at Columbia’s cherished nonprofit theater to plunge into the murky, blood-soaked waters of horror’s most provocative themes.
Highlighting the nuanced realities of womanhood, this spine-chilling film trifecta will leave you breathless as women confront the unsettling truth that motherhood is not always a gift and that control of one’s body and mind is never assured. With fetuses inciting murder sprees and ancient curses inflicting demonic possession upon teenage girls, this series challenges you to maintain your composure as the monstrous-feminine breaks free from her traditional role in horror, leaving an unsettling trail of mutilated body parts and shattered souls in her wake. On October 16th, the Nickelodeon will screen Huesera: The Bone Woman, followed by Prevenge on October 23rd , concluding with one of the most notable horror films of all time on October 30th: The Exorcist.
Huesera: The Bone Woman (2023), directed by Michelle Garza Cervera, is a disturbing dive into motherhood and the pressure of conformity. Valeria, the film’s protagonist, faces a harrowingtransformation when a malevolent female entity seizes control of her body. In Huesera, Rosemary’s Baby meets The Babadook, challenging traditional narratives of maternal bliss with bone-crunching body horror. It will make you wonder, is there anything more terrifying than the pressure of being a perfect mom?
Prevenge (2017), directed by Alice Lowe, is a humorous slasher known for its playful yet unnerving twist on the hardships of pregnancy. The film follows the story of Ruth (depicted by Lowe,herself), a widow whose unborn child goads her with murderous commands. An essential entry in this exploration of contested bodies, Prevenge offers a darkly comic portrayal of pregnancy with plenty of deadpan monologues and outrageous depictions of a homicidal expectant mother. It begs the question: who really is in control when you’re pregnant?
Finally, The Exorcist (1973), directed by William Friedkin, is an iconic portrayal of possession. This legendary movie pushes the boundaries of horror, reflecting deep-seated anxieties about purity, sexuality, and the uncontrollable nature of the female body. Beneath the demonic theatrics is a story about faith and defiance as a twelve-year-old girl’s body becomes an epic battleground for the showdown between good and evil. With its disturbing exploration of what happens when an adolescent girl goes rogue, this picture will have you on the edge of your seat.
Curated by Julia Elliott and Nima Yolmo, Possession: Contested Bodies and the Monstrous Feminine is sponsored by Women’s and Gender Studies at USC. The series features presentational and marketing materials created by South Carolina Honors College students in Elliott’s Gender and Monstrosity in Horror Films course.
Tickets: Huesera: The Bone Woman, Prevenge, The Exorcist