The shortlist of directors for Catching Fire has been leaked and its a dude-oploy.
By: Rachel Shatto
So it’s official, Gary Ross has dropped out of the Hunger Games sequel. So now harried Lionsgate studio execs have begun scouring the globe for the next director to pick up the dystopian mantle for Catching Fire. Well according to an anonymous insider who has leaked it to The LA Times the boys’ club brain trust has formulated their shortlist of directors to replace Ross. In the running is Canadian director David Cronenberg and Mexican directors Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu plus four or five unnamed directors—all dudes.
After my initial “oooh David Cronenberg” Pavlovian response (A History of Violence is among my all time favorite films) it struck me that there was nary a lady on this list. Which isn’t unexpected. That’s not to say its shouldn’t be directed by a man, but still awfully discouraging considering that for the films is based on a best-selling trilogy written by a woman, told through the perspective of a young women and marketed to women (although fellas are of course welcome to enjoy them, too), not one woman filmmaker is even being considered for the directors chair. Unless of course it’s actually the penis that does the literal directing. If that’s the case I humbly withdraw my complaint.
For the sake of this post lets assume the camera doesn’t actually have to be nestled upon a scrotum for it to start capturing moving pictures. Here is my Uteruses before Duderuses (thank you Leslie Knope) list of lensing ladies who could and should have made the short list.
Kathryn Bigelow
Ok this one is pretty obvious choice, Kathryn Bigelow took home the Best Directing Oscar in 2009 for The Hurt Locker and has plenty of action films under her belt to boot (Blue Steel, Point Break, Strange Days). Plus the she helmed the cult favorite horror film Near Dark. Clearly, capturing action and pathos are not a problem for Bigelow. However, she won her token Academy Award so we can neatly tuck her away. Don’t you know that sexism in the film industry is solved people! Move along, nothing to see here (nothing with boobs behind the camera that is).
Lexi Alexander
Perhaps my personal front runner for the job is Lexi Alexander, this lady director (and skilled martial artist, seriously look it up, she’s bad ass) blew me away with her football hooligans centered drama Green Street Hooligans. But it was her big action debut Punisher: War Zone that earned her a spot on this list. Say what you will about this gloriously gory comic book adaptation, in all its parkour and rocket-launching glory, it was a damn fine looking film and jam packed with action. Plus, Alexander isn’t afraid to throw around the red stuff and the Hunger Games could do with a bit more splatter the second time around, I say!
Catherine Hardwicke
Twilight sucked, I think we can all agree to that, but stay with me for a moment. Its suckatude did not spring from any failing on director Catherine Hardwicke’s part; that’s all down to the source material which is and will forever be epically terrible. However, it’s also the best film in the franchise thanks to Hardwicke’s lemonade out of lemons approach. Of the films it’s the best looking, most atmospheric. And she even managed to eke out a inkling of emotion from her leads! Now imagine for a moment what someone capable of that Sisyphean feat could do with the likes of the magnificent Jennifer Lawrence. It would be breathtaking. Also, not for nothing that $191.4 million dollars box office return is nothing to sniff at.
Jennifer Lynch
Jennifer Lynch is a bit of a dark horse pick. Daughter of the famous director David Lynch and author of Laura Palmer’s Diary (which my mother banned me from reading and which I immediately purchased and kept secreted under my mattress for late night flashlight-facilitated reading) makes this list not for Boxing Helena (wow, just wow) or Hisss (which I haven’t seen) but for Surveillance. This gripping serial killer focused film is told out of sequence and features the best and most terrifying performance of French Stewart’s life. OK on second thought maybe Lynch isn’t the gal for Catching Fire. But Surveillance is seriously awesome and you should totally see it.
Antonia Bird
Have you seen Ravenous? You know, the man vs man vs nature, cannibalistic film set in a desolate snowy outpost? Nuff said, but I’ll continue anyway. Antonia Bird, the woman behind the camera of this film as well as the British crime drama Face in addition to Mad Love which features a mentally unstable Drew Barrymore and her romantic road trip with Chris O’Donnell. Take those three movies, shake ‘em up and what have you got, something looking a lot like Catching Fire. I’m just sayin’.
Jen and Sylvia Soska
Hell, if Peter Jackson can go from Bad Taste to Lord of the Rings or Cronenberg can go from Shivers to quite possibly Catching Fire why can’t the ladies behind the underground gory fave Dead Hooker in a Trunk have a crack at the Hunger Games sequel. I don’t know about you but I’d totally see that movie.
See Lionsgate execs, was it really that hard?… Hey I’m talking to you… Excuse me but I’m up here. Le sigh, yes they are natural.
photo credits: Courtesy of Lionsgate (Hunger Games still), M. Dodge (Hardwicke), Courtesy of 20th Centry Fox (Bird)
We’ve threatened this episode for three years and at long last it’s finally here: The Ripley Special. Rachel, Ariel, Matilda and Explodey Jo discuss our all time fave horror heroine Ellen Ripley as we take on the the Alien Quadrilogy. And clocking in at an epic three frickin’ hours, we clearly have have a whole lot to say about the scourge of xenomorph kind.
We talk space horror, Freud, bad French accents, the shame of Ron Pearlman, wandering uteri, intergalactic body fluids and why Sigourney Weaver is a feminist icon.
Plus, we forever strike Resurrection from Alien canon. Yep, it’s official, Alien 4 is out. Sorry, Joss.
Stay tuned to the outtakes to hear us taking in the horror that is xenomorph genitals, rape-y alien fan art and Rachel telling the worst joke in Alien history.
Come get feministy with us on the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Episode 25!
Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes? 
<–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.
We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6-Z-GRRLZ!
At last! We’re back for episode 24. Rachel, Sarah and Explodey Jo wax nostalgic on what 2011 (an otherwise craptastic year) brought us on the silver screen and TV. We talk: Game of Thrones, American Horror Story, Dexter, the life sucking joy of Skyrim, creepy 8-bit spiders, we uncover Explodey’s (not so) secret facial hair lust, and why some times a bad touch can be good times — and a whole lot more. Plus, we take a look forward to what diabolical delights await us in 2012.
Be sure to stay tuned to the outtakes to find out which ZG will be breaking their neck very soon and to hear us continue our (lack of) feminist excellence by quoting our fave quote from The Signal.
Come reminisce with us in Zombie Grrlz Podcast Episode 24!
Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes? <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.
We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6-Z-GRRLZ!
Looking for some diabolical bling? Check out our new etsy store! etsy.com/shop/TheZombieGrrlz
By: Zombie Grrl
There are a number of reasons that the “creepy house” film is such an enduring sub-genre of horror, they are relateable to audiences, budget-friendly for indie filmmakers and when done right, are effective as hell. But for a single location, spooky house film to work it’s all about building the atmosphere, isolation helps, but a good sound mix is essential. Match eerie music, sinister thuds with lots of doors, shadowy nooks and crannies you’re on the right track. And if you can throw in some ominous set dressing like animal skulls, dust cobwebs and miscellaneous unidentifiable things floating in jam jars you’ve got yourself a winner — as evidenced by The Silent House. The first two thirds of this Uruguayan import absolutely nails the atmosphere. As a result the film has garnered a fair amount of buzz both for its effective chills and for being a the first professionally shot, single take horror film. And mostly it’s deserved the acolades however, while the first two thirds are all claustrophobia, mystery and menacing bumps in the night, the final act, well… that’s another story.
Directed by Gustavo Hernández, The Silent House is allegedly is inspired by real events that took place in a small Uruguayan village in the 1940s and focuses on Laura a young woman who has met up with her father at an out of the way house which the two intend to begin repairing the following day in order to sell. As they settle in for the night Laura begins hearing a loud thudding sound, that at first seems to be coming from outside and then later from the floor above. Laura convinces her father to investigate upstairs while she waits below, when he doesn’t return after what sounds to be a vicious attack. Laura finds herself locked inside the house and what follows is a game of cat and mouse between Laura and the mysterious inhabitants of the house.
By: Zombie Grrl
We’ve made no secret of our deep and passionate love affair with the Aliens franchise here at Zombie Grrlz HQ. Alien blasting, chest-tearing, space horror with a kickass female lead — that paved the way for the modern female action hero — is pretty much definition of “up our alley.”
So, it’s with bloodthirsty and bated breath that we’ve awaited the long in development (hell) release of Aliens: Colonial Marines and finally today we got our first look! Gearbox released the footage originally shown at E3 for us lowly non-convention-attending folks to dig on — and from the looks of this demo footage, we are going to be handsomely rewarded with all manner of fan service and hot, bloody xenomorph perforating action! So yeah, we’re totally there day one.
However, there is one thing that’s got us worried, that hand wrapped around the pulse rifle is looking awfully… well… dude-like, leading us to wonder if the greatest female led action franchise of all time has been has been butched up in the game. Yes, we realize it’s a new story, not a remake of the movies.. but come on, not only does the hand looking manly, but there is nary a lady marine to be seen so we may be down a Ripley and a Vasquez — unacceptable! With female action heroes of this caliber being so few and far between, excising the action heroine role is huge bummer and a blatantly missed opportunity to balance some of the massive gender inequality in video games.
On the upside, how about those power loaders? And the sounds of pulse rifles mingling with the screams of marines half down an alien gullet. Ahhh, it gives this ZG the tingles!
So here’s hoping that when Aliens: Colonial Marines hit’s shelves in Spring 2012 that we ladies can get in on the fun of what looks to be a seriously kickass title! Viva Ripley!
Dig on the footage below:
Do you love horror? Do you love writing about it? Well, good news: It’s time for another diabolical draft!
The Zombie Grrlz are once again looking to expand our ranks, and this time we’re looking for horror loving volunteers (both women and feminist identified dudes) who want to write horror reviews and features.
We’re specifically looking for people who can write reviews, short news stories and creative horror features. Our only requirements are that you are able to contribute regularly, have a passion for horror, a great personality and can at least muddle your way through WordPress.
So, if you’ve got blood lust and a need to share your opinions with the world in equal measure, drop me a line at rachel@zombiegrrlz.com and tell me about yourself — and please include a sample article.
Oh wow, where to begin? We really swing for the fences on this one.
In episode 23 Rachel, Summer, Ariel, Sarah, Matilda and Explodey Jo talk intergalactic, murderous loogies, deadly date rape, Bill Moseley’s aggressive eyebrows, juvenile delinquents and the awesomeness of Shawnee Smith—with our review the fantastic remake of The Blob. We also debate the hotness (or lack there of) of vampire sex, Rachel does several bad accents, one ZG shares how The Blob helped shape her sexuality and since we’re oh-so-fancy, we talk popular (apocalyptic) fiction.
Along with all the other goodies you’ve come to expect (including what is probably our best voice mail ever), Sarah introduces a new segment: the Netflix streaming anti-pick. She takes one for the team to help you dodge the myriad of crapstastic horror bullets that await you in the depths of the Netflix. She’s just that cool.
Plus, stay tuned for the outtakes to hear Explodey Jo make cussing sound cultured, listen to Rachel get vindicated as well as confessing to lite breaking and entering (not really) and Sarah’s expert opinion on Summer’s infamous…ahem…duo.
Quickly digest and devour the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Episode 23!
Or, better yet, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes? <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.
We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6-Z-GRRLZ!
Rachel, Ariel, Explodey Jo and Sarah host this very special podcast slumber party spectacular—and you’re invited!
We managed to pull ourselves away from braiding eachother’s hair and practicing french kissing on our hands just long enough to to have a verbal pillowfight over the quasi-feminist ’80s slasher The Slumber Party Massacre, the pleasure of white trash beer and geek out over Game of Thrones.
Plus, stay tuned to the outtakes to hear Rachel put off the looming robot uprising for another day by conquering Skype, Jodie’s general disappointment in our rinky dink operation and find out the truth of how Sarah became yet another glitter on eye violence statistic (hint: nekkid ladies).
We double dog dare you to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Episode 22!
Or, better yet, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes? <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.
We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!
While people have their gripes about the first season of The Walking Dead, some justified (the female characters get short shrift) and some not so fair (it’s boring and derivative) the overwhelming response from horror fans has been: BRING IT ON. Needless to say, you can count me amongst those who are chomping at the bit for second go ’round of gut chomping, head pick axing and post-apocalyptic action.
