Horror movies. Films that lure audiences in with fantasy while reflecting society’s fears. I love them. However, one thing has constantly upset me about the culture of horror films—the sexualization of women. Yes, it’s prominent in basically every media type in the world, but horror films have consistently fetishized, degraded, and dismantled the integrity of women. Horror films use the female body as an object. Their nude bodies are often on display throughout the murder sequences, appealing to the male desire for female pain and objectification. Most horror movies, especially the older ones, take a masculine viewing position, perpetuating a male gaze that forces female characters to maintain passive roles as the objects of desire. Misogyny has always been present in horror films, but thankfully newer movies have shown a decline in female sexualization. My point is that although horror movies have come a long way in terms of sexualization, there is still so much to accomplish in the film world when it comes to fixing the normalization of objectification.
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“Alice in Borderland”: Exceedingly Underrated
Alice in Borderland (based on the Manga under the same name) is definitely my favorite TV show. The production and plot of the series are well organized; it is just brilliantly done. The series is exciting, full of great characters, and engaging from start to finish, making it a good watch, in my opinion.
The heart of the show lies with the fantastic world-building. The show centers around three boys, all struggling with recent obstacles, who wish to live in a better world. Their wish is granted, but not in the way they hoped. They are sent to an abandoned version of Tokyo, where they are forced to compete in life-or-death games that, when cleared, extend their visas in this terrifying world. The show is incredibly detail-oriented. Every shot has a clear purpose in that it progresses the plot forward and/or makes the characters more compelling to watch. One of the examples of how complex world-building, coupled with spirited characters, brought this show to excellence was the climax. It is one of the most engaging, brutal examples that displays how a society can come together to absolutely destroy the main character.
Now, the games are thrilling to watch: the time limits, the senseless violence, the vague instructions, everything about them is designed to be impossible to solve. And yet, the main character, Arisu, manages to solve them. It is gratifying to watch Arisu succeed after being labeled a lazy gamer by his family. Still, there’s a twisted satisfaction in watching him thrive in such a horrible place.
The next bit of my rant includes spoilers, so beware if you plan on watching the show. What I really love about Alice in Borderland is how the writers toy with our feelings about the characters. Within the first three episodes, they kill off some significant characters, leaving you to wonder just who exactly is safe. Once you realize that the writers don’t care about any of the characters and have no problems killing them off, the suspense of each game becomes that much higher. The manipulative way the writers play with their characters makes Alice in Borderland that much more of an immersive watch. You feel like you’re experiencing the suspense of the games right alongside the leading characters.
Overall, the value of the show and the dedication the writers have to make it a captivating experience create an extremely enjoyable show. I want to wrap up by making a bold statement. This is by far one of the best Netfilx shows out there.
