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What I Learned Pretending To Be Buffalo Bill On Tinder

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Buffalo Bill Tinder

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Welcome to the 21st century where hand-held devices rule every aspect of our lives, including romance! Over the past few years dating apps and online dating services have started becoming the accepted norm in adult dating. Popular apps like Tinder and OkCupid no longer face the social stigma they would have met six years ago. Now everyone is swiping left and right trying to find a connection. So how does one find success using one of these apps if they have a few……drawbacks? Well, I went ahead and pretended to be famed serial killer Jame Gumb, aka Buffalo Bill, on Tinder for a hand full of weeks. The entire experience was weird, creepy, and at times overwhelming. So what have I learned from pretending to be a famed fictional serial killer with a need to skin “big girls?” We are all looking for a connection.

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Bill’s Profile

How It All Started

It all started back in October one sleepless night. I was up rewatching some show on Netflix when I had an idea that I thought was funny: What if Buffalo Bill had a Tinder profile? The idea was simple. Create a fake Tinder profile for the fictional serial killer, post it on iHorror’s Facebook page and hope that others will find it funny. Because it was 2:30 in the morning I also decided to swipe right on every profile until I ran out of likes, thinking no one would ever match with this creeper. Low and behold, not two minutes later, I get a match and message. I briefly talked with this young woman before creeping myself out, unceremoniously unmatched her, and went back to my sleepless binge watching. It was too much. The quick escalation of exchanges and the match’s willingness to match my creep message freaked me out a bit. I closed the app, sent the picture off, and carried on with life.

A few weeks later I saw how many likes, comments, and shares the photo received. This gave me the idea to revisit Bill and see how he was doing in the dating app world. What a surprise it was to see that there were dozens of matches and messaging waiting for him! I immediately contacted my editors and pitched the idea to them. Who wouldn’t want to have the freedom to say really fucked up shit to other with little to no repercussions? Hesitant at the thought that one of their writers might be arrested or put on some profiling list, we came up with some boundaries. Rules for how Buffalo Bill must act and respond to his matches.

The Rules

The rules we came up with were more common sense than rules. Simply put: No threats of personal harm. I could allude to things Bill did in the movie, but not direct them at the matches. No swearing unless provoked. This was mostly to help keep it fun and to stay in character. Buffalo Bill rarely swore in the film, hence I kept my use of potty language to only when Bill’s dog Precious was threatened.

Do not force someone into a conversation. Pretty easy as they have to agree to match in order for me to contact them. If they didn’t message first then I would send them a simple ice breaker from Bill in the form of “I like your skin, do you moisturize?” If they don’t respond then I wouldn’t continue trying to contact them. This often lead to this scenario:

After awhile I started running into conversations that would suddenly die off. How was I suppose to get enough material for this piece without a bunch of ongoing responses? I started sending lyrics to The Greenskeeper’s ode to Buffalo Bill, Lotion, to the ones who let our conversation die. Some times it worked, most of the time it didn’t. Again, if they didn’t respond after this I stopped contacting them. No need to add a harassment charge to what would be my long list of charges.

Everyone Was In On The Joke

This really shouldn’t have been a surprise. Buffalo Bill is almost as iconic as Hannibal himself and his quotes/imagery are deeply imbedded into our culture. But still, it was a bit surprising that so many people were willing to talk to a serial killer. Even if they knew he wasn’t real and that there was probably some sad bastard on the other side trying to kill time on his lunch breaks. Most of the conversations started with them quoting Bill, sending links to related YouTube videos, or praising their favorite character. This made the conversations more fun as they kept feeding the joke along the way:

Buffalo Bill

Within the small boundaries of the rules, I was free to say what ever I wanted Bill to say. I upped the creepy factor and made the account more of a caricature of the fictional serial killer. The rules were simple, easy to follow, and helped keep me out of trouble. But really, trouble never really came because of one thing.

This went on for a few weeks until the amount of free time I had available became non-existent. Many of the conversations I had going burnt out from either party. I decided to end the experiment before I lost myself in character and started quoting Bill at social gatherings. Asking stranger what lotion do they use or if they were “big girls” ran its course for me. After one month it was script, sending out the same opening liner, making the same request, waiting for them to react in a funny manner in order to fill a screenshot. Match, hit the script, screenshot, repeat. This went on for another month. It became chore. At this point I decided to break character and ask the women I spoke to about their experiences with the app. They opened up to me telling stories about how other men acted on the apps and how talking with Bill was a fun distraction from the usual. Some even sent me dozens of screenshots where men asked them, within moments of matching, to have sex with them. This isn’t surprising as men can be pretty up front in person, but add a wall of anonymity to the mixture and we become more bold in our requests. The more I thought about these women’s experience on the apps, the more I realized that I wasn’t much better than these men asking for “foot jibbers.” So I am taking these women’s example and opening up about how my experience as Bill felt.

When talking to someone through any form of technology, there is cover. Because we are not face to face, we can say just about anything. We can choose our words before sending them, we can instantly drop contact and block someone, and we can create different personalities. We can use this as a means to achieve our goals with other people. Whether those goals are for good, bad, or a laugh is up to us. So what was I doing pretending to be a fictional serial killer on a dating app? Was it so I could say disgusting things to people without repercussions? Even if this started out of boredom, I still made the conscious decision to be Buffalo Bill. Sure, both myself and the women I talked to were in on the joke, but the reasons behind me doing this were selfish. The goal was to get reactions, record them, then write it all up to get more hits on this site. Using technology to use other people for single goal. Isn’t that what people who use the apps to make lewd requests do?

When I spoke to my fellow iHorror writer Timothy Rawles about the piece he said “Using a dating app is creepy anyways.” He is right. This cyber wall that is inherently in place when using apps to meet people is impersonal. When things are impersonal, there is little to no consequence to our actions. Someone doesn’t like what we said? We get unmatched and try it on the next. When I broke character and spoke with the fans of Bill I got to know them a bit. These were intelligent and very funny women. They all have careers, goals, and hopes. Had I not broken character, I would not have gotten to know them. They would have been another piece to me getting to a goal instead of a person. I don’t view myself as a creepy guy and I could use up more of this post trying to defend it. But what I did is inherently creepy. So what did I learn from pretending to Buffalo Bill on Tinder?

Simply put, I learned that I don’t want to be pretending to be Buffalo Bill on Tinder or anywhere else really. At least for the purpose of writing an article. The experience was fun while it lasted, but ultimately wasn’t me. I didn’t like the feeling of using other people to get to this point. I connected with these people over a love of a horror movie, one that has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. But that is what this site for, to connect with fellow horror hounds. I don’t need to use people in order to connect or to achieve my goals of entertaining others. So, the account will not be deleted, but I will not continue maintaining it. It will stay up for people to see. They can have a chuckle and swipe either way, but it won’t give replies. It can continue to be a joke and nothing more. As for me pretending to be someone else online? I’m swiping left.

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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