The Politics of Being Scared

Women's Studies.

Simply defined, it's the formal study of issues, whether social, political, or spiritual, that deal with the feminine experience. I'm loathe to use the word "feminism" because that word has been politicized to the point of parody. The stereotype is one of wild haired, bra-burning, baby-killing harpies, intent on murdering and enslaving men. If you're in any way enlightened, sensible, or rational, you find that to be asinine.

If you're me, you find it to be a pretty damned good idea for a horror movie. Killer feminists? Beautiful, intelligent women hacking up dudes with sharp shiny things? One ticket please.

Call me crazy or misogynist. You won't be the first. Then after you're done being unnecessarily offended, stop and think about the possibilities for a minute. You have a horror movie centered around a political movement which is universally non-violent. Only in this fictional movie world, part of the movement has splintered off and become violently extremist.

Instead of dumb, shallow girls getting slaughtered in their underwear, save for that last virginal, androgynous "final girl," you have a few dumb, shallow dudes, thinking only with their penises, and smart, self-aware women who realize how crazy killing for a political idea is. The protagonist, instead of being a "final boy" is a women herself, acutely aware of the gray area in which a peaceful political movement can become violent. The "villains" are not a one dimensional male stalker, but a group of intelligent, enlightened women's rights activists who only differ from their peaceful counterparts in their willingness to kill.

Now, forget about any and all political implications, and think about how scary the concept is. To me, that's all that really matters. I'm not out to save the world, or destroy it. I'm not out to bring the feminist movement to it's knees or put it on a pedestal.

I'm just out to scare the hell out of you, and this story seems to be a pretty effective and, dare I say, intelligent way to go about it.

Then again, what do I know? I'm just a dude.

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All that aside, welcome to the Women's Studies production blog. Over the course of the next year (and probably longer), various production updates on the film will be posted here. In the next few weeks, we'll be announcing some of our cast and crew. For news updates, check out the official site, http://www.womensstudiesmovie.com .