Episode 87. Mother Monster: Pyewacket (2017) and Hereditary (2018)

 
CW: Suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones: 1-800-273-8255. 
 
We’re kicking off a new semester by tackling two incredibly dark films that ask the question: have you checked on your mom lately? Alex and Andrea investigate the deepest depths of grief, despair and what we stand to lose (and gain) when we forsake our family for community.
 
 
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REQUIRED READING

Pyewacket. Dir. Adam MacDonald, 2017.
Hereditary. Dir. Ari Aster, 2018.

EXTRA CREDIT

Fack exclusive: Pyewacket filmmaker audio Commentary! Adam MacDonald’s enlightening commentary for his film.
 
Canadians Talking Shit. Adam MacDonald’s podcast – we recommend!
 
“This be the verse.” Larkin’s poem from Alex’s inaugural poetry corner.
 
The Book of Spells by Nicole de Pulford. Alex’s foray into teen witchcraft. Disclaimer! We assume no responsibility for those sealed pages!
 
“Mass Media and Religious Identity: A Case Study of Young Witches.” For all us elder millennials who called the corners in the park.
 
Generation Multiplex: The Image of Youth in Contemporary American Cinema. Timothy Shary’s examination of teens on screen.
 
Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers. Maybe the most oft-quoted book of this podcast? Sady Doyle’s book on the construct of woman as monster.
 
“Silencing the Dead: The Decline of Spiritualism.” A piece from The Atlantic on the history of spiritualism and its fall from fashion.
 
“Trans Horror Stories and Society’s Fear of the Transmasculine Body.” A trans reading of Hereditary.
 
“The Truth About the Five Stages of Grief.” Everything we learned in psych 101 was BS! See why Kubler-Ross’ popular grief model should be put down in this great video from Sci Show.

LISTEN

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8 thoughts on “Episode 87. Mother Monster: Pyewacket (2017) and Hereditary (2018)

  1. Rebecca says:

    Wow cannot wait to dive in on this one. I wrote a paper on Hereditary and the Five Stages Of Grief / Kubler Ross model last year for the Evolution of Horror Blog! https://www.evolutionofhorror.com/blog/hereditary-and-the-five-stages-of-grief

  2. As someone who has NO ear for poetry, I love Alex’s poetry corner – a rhyme for the time!

  3. Josh Brolin's Agent says:

    Mr. Brolin wishes to remind all FoH listeners that he does not, in fact, own grief.

  4. What an amazing episode! Alex gave the best description of “white” versus “dark” magical practices. Also, big THANK YOU to Andrea for clarifying what most people do not understand about Kubler-Ross’s “stages” of grief. I enjoyed both films but enjoyed your commentary more than watching “HEREDITARY.” Keep on rocking!

  5. Heather says:

    The link to Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers is sending you to “This be the verse.” Here you go! https://bookshop.org/books/dead-blondes-and-bad-mothers-monstrosity-patriarchy-and-the-fear-of-female-power/9781612197920

  6. Eric+Rae says:

    Wow. THAT was an episode. Thanks for being vulnerable for our benefit. I do want to say that I love how much you love each other!

  7. Eric+Rae says:

    Also, I just watched Pyewacket (thanks CBC Gem!) and am loving the Canadian horror movies you’re turning me on to! First Pontypool, now this! I don’t really have anything to add that you didn’t already say, so this is just a thank you for making me a smarter, more “well read” horror fan!

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