Imported Horror

Here’s the secret about fairy tales: They’re not for kids. In the aftermath of the hellish Spanish Civil War, a little girl named Ofelia wanders into a mystical labyrinth with a secretive faun, mute fairies and a haunting monster with eyeballs in its palms. Meanwhile, the “real world” around her falls into bloodshed, torture and chaos. This is Guillermo del Toro at his finest – a stunning work blending Latin American mysticism with a raw indictment of Franco-era fascism.

Quality: 5. Motion Picture Terror Scale: 4 – (Marcus), 3 + (Melissa). Bechdel Test: Passes.

 

Articles discussed in this episode:

Spain’s Open Wounds: Decades after Franco’s regime, the country’s citizens continue to unearth the crimes of the past. By Stephania Taladrid for The New Yorker

Pain should not be sought – but it should never be avoided. By Mark Kermode for The Guardian

Eighty years on, Spain may at last be able to confront the ghosts of civil war. By Julian Coman for The Guardian.

Great Movie: Pan’s Labyrinth. By Roger Ebert for RogerEbert.com

1984: George Orwell’s road to dystopia. By David Aaronovitch for BBC News.

Every scary story has a beginning. In their launch episode, Marcus and Melissa break down what haunts and intrigues them about foreign horror movies. They're unpredictable, fresh and frightening, but also challenging and informative. In an America filled with horror cliches, can global horror offer something new?

Every scary story has a beginning. In their launch episode, Marcus and Melissa break down what haunts and intrigues them about foreign horror movies. They're unpredictable, fresh and frightening, but also challenging and informative. In an America filled with horror cliches, can global horror offer something new?

 

Articles discussed in this episode:

"Netflix thought it would have 5 million new subscribers this quarter. Instead it added 2.7 million," by Peter Kafka

"Why Netflix is looking to India and a curious baby called Bheem to expand its user numbers abroad," by Wendy Lee