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Editorial: Writers and Director of ‘The Miranda Murders’ Prove Misogyny is Not Dead

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*** EDITOR'S NOTE: The production team of The Miranda Murders including G.R. Claveria and Matthew Rosvally have publicly announced that 100% of the profits of the film have been going to charities such as RAINN, March of Dimes, Three Square and The Heifer Foundation since the initial release prior to their screening at HorrorHound Film Festival and prior to the writing of this article, unbeknownst to the author.  They have also publicly announced that they will donate any future proceedings earned by them to charity.  This was a decision made by the production team before this article was written and before the screening of The Miranda Murders at HorrorHound Film Festival. 

Over the weekend, I was sent video of a filmmaker panel which took place at HorrorHound Weekend that was intended to be about filmmaking and distribution in the indie film community, and in all fairness, that was how it seemed to start out. Over the course of the next hour, however, I watched as producer/writer G.R. Claveria slowly changed the tone and direction of the panel into a spotlight on his own film The Miranda Murders: Lost Tapes of Leonard Lake and Charles Ng.

For those unaware, in the early 1980s Lake and Ng were responsible for the kidnapping, torture, rape, and murder of at least 20 women in a bid to create the perfect female slave object.

Claveria, along with co-writer and director Matthew Rosvally, decided to re-create some of the infamous pair’s video recordings of their crimes while filling in the gaps with their own take on just what might have happened in the California woods between 1983 and 1985 before the murderers were arrested on charges of shoplifting and were finally exposed.

This, in and of itself, is not a new concept in the genre. We’ve certainly seen our fair share of films about serial killers, both real and imaginary, who committed horrendous acts against women. The Silence of the Lambs, Copycat, and a whole host of films about the crimes of Jack the Ripper spring to mind immediately.

Still there was something that just did not feel right about watching and listening to these two men talk about their film. It all seemed to be a joke to them, and even more disturbing, there are times when Claveria, in particular, seems to relish the subject matter.

There is an almost wistful, gleeful tone in his voice when he says he “gets to rape a girl” on film. Later on, after winning an award for the film (a fact that after seeing it still astonishes me), that maliciously gleeful tone is back when he says their film “is about sexual abduction and instructions on how to rape women” followed by a smirking “whoops!” when his audience finally began to cheer in a way that said they weren’t quite sure what their reactions should be.

You can see video of their remarks below, followed by the panel in its entirety to give further proof that the edited remarks were not made in a way so as to change the tone of what Claveria and Rosvally did and said during the panel.

With all of this in mind, I decided I needed to set aside time to watch the film, which is available to rent on Amazon, to see exactly what these two men had made. What I found made their remarks even more sinister and their flippancy about the subject matter anything but funny.

The Miranda Tapes is, in many ways, just what they described it to be. The film focuses on the exploits of Lake and Ng as they try, fail, and try again, to create their perfectly submissive ideal of a woman. One who is pliant, subservient, and completely broken so that she can no longer protest her treatment and fears the strict punishments she has been conditioned to expect for misbehaving.

Their journey is peppered with bad acting, multiple implied rape and torture scenes (some of which take place on camera while others happen with audio to give clues as to what is going on behind closed doors), a scene where Ng puts one of the women’s children into a pot and prepares to stick him in the oven while announcing “dinner will be ready soon,” and more bad acting until I wondered how the film had even been considered for programming at a festival, much less nominated and awarded at said festival.

I am still confounded by that fact.

In the other films I mentioned before, there are clear steps taken to avoid glorification of the crimes committed. Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs may be over the top and his methods brutal but there is never a sense that he is not the villain. He is a terrible person committing horrendous crimes against women and as such he must be stopped.

In The Miranda Murders, there is simply no counterpoint to the pair’s actions. Lake is confident in his actions and his training plan, and Ng, the submissive half of the serial killer pairing, is all too willing to follow the former’s orders to reap the benefits of greater access to the women they have captured.

In the absence of an opposing view, outside the protestations of their victims, Lake and Ng’s actions become the only focal point and thus the only lens by which we can view their activities. It certainly makes the film an unflinching look at violence against women, and yet there is no commentary on the subject within the construct of the film.

In the day and age of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, when serious conversations about violence against women are at an all time high and social change seems to actually be happening on the subject, these two men have seemingly chosen, by their comments, their actions, and their film, to instead be a shining example of everything these movements are trying to end.

When we further consider that many of the victims of these crimes may still have living family who could be subjected to questions about the film and its portrayal of the killers and killings, the enormity of their tone-deaf attitude comes front and center.

Never mind the fact that they hijacked a panel to spend an hour promoting their own film and repeatedly talked over the two women on the panel who looked more and more uncomfortable as the hour waned. Never mind that they say they didn’t set out to make a film that glorifies the subject matter or becomes material for sexual deviants to sate their desires late at night when no one is looking.

The fact is that what they created is a torture porn, rape fantasy, faux snuff film that has no place in 2018. The further fact that they seem blissfully unaware of what they created is proof of just how dangerous and insidiously subversive unconscious misogyny still is in our current environment and that it is as alive and well in the indie film industry as it is in the shining studios of Hollywood.

If further proof is needed, at this point, of just how they feel about those who have spoken against their film and how ridiculous they feel those claims to be, take a look at their holiday greetings video below which their production company posted at the end of 2017.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkyu4XwsuTk

If Rosvally and Claveria and those who have supported their attitudes do not wish to join the conversation or for whatever reason are unable to, then let their film and their remarks be the subject of said conversations, and a lesson for men of what not to do.

After all, it is far more productive to take the embodiment of what offends or disturbs or diminishes us and use it as a rung to climb toward our goals than to let those things become a quagmire from which we cannot hope to escape.

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

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘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 Barbarella

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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the first omen trailer

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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