Collective Nightmares

Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of Cregger's breakout horror film, Barbarian. This film was well executed with a mix of progressive statements and baffling contradictions.

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Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of the fifth film in the Scream franchise, Scream. We are thrilled to return to the slasher genre with this latest installment. This is the first Scream without Wes Craven and we had concerns. We are relieved to report it is overall a really solid and fun film with great updates to the genre.

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Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of Slumber Party Massacre from 2021. This is a companion episode to our discussion of the original 1982 film of the same name. This is a brilliantly subversive feminist response to slasher films ... for the first hour. The final half hour is a disaster.

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Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of The Slumber Party Massacre from 1982. Written and directed by women in response to the sexism of the first wave slashers, this is quite a time capsule. It definitely only partially succeeds in being progressive but we do appreciate the effort especially relative to other films of the era.

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Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of the French film Titane (Ducournau 2021). Only the second woman to win the Palm d'Or at Cannes (really Cannes <_<). One of the more bizarre films we have watched in the best way. Titane offers a unique film experience that we recommend.

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Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of season one of the breakout TV series Squid Game (Dong-hyuk 2021). At the time the most popular media that had ever been on Netflix and a global sensation. Even better it holds up to our intense ideological scrutiny. We hope we get more season!

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Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of the 2020 film Violation (Mancinelli & Sims-Fewer). Who would have thought that the entire interpretation of a film would hinge on sleep and ice cream. This film is really extraordinary in many ways. It is at times too subtle for its own good.

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Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of the 2021 film There's Someone Inside Your House (Brice). Just when we thought we were done with Wan's films, they pulled us back in! Somewhat less conservative than the film's that Wan helms, it seems his impact is still apparent in the film.

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Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of the 2021 film Malignant. Part of our mini-series on the films of James Wan. Wan's films are typically masterfully constructed while this feels sloppy and disjointed. His conservative ideology still shines through in this film especially with regard to women.

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