Finger-food is served during our Halloween Movie Marathon this week, as we dig into a new classic: the cannibalistic coming-of-age film Raw (2016).
First, we're talking about the body-horror genre, and getting to the bottom of what grosses The Unenthusiastic Critic out.
Then, we're sinking our teeth into Julia Ducournau's modern masterpiece, a sensitive and humane feminist fable of awakening sexuality and awakening hungers.
It's the perfect dinner-table conversation as we explore topics of self-image, self-actualization, and sisterhood, and attempt to answer the question: Why is the idea of eating human flesh such a universal taboo?
0:00: Prologue: Scene from The Fly (1986)
0:49: Cultural Osmosis: Pre-Viewing Discussion of Raw and Body Horror Movies
13:54: Interlude: Trailer (and Shameless Appeal)
15:05: The Verdict: Post-Viewing Discussion
1:25:13: Outro and Next Week's Movie
1:26:37: Outtake
Notes and Links
—Movie Reviewed: Raw (dir. Julia Ducournau, Petit Film, 2016).
—Prologue: clip from The Fly (dir. David Cronenberg, 20th Century Fox, 1986).
—Articles Mentioned and Referenced: "TIFF cinemagoers faint during screening of feminist cannibal film Raw," Jacob Stolworthy, independent.co.uk; "Mark Kermode's Best Films of 2017," Mark Kermode, theguardian.com; "‘Raw’ Review: Cannibal Coming-of-Age Movie Is a Modern Horror Masterpiece," David Fear, rollingstone.com; "There’s plenty to chew on in the audacious cannibal drama Raw," Katie Rife, avclub.com; "A French Cannibal Horror Film Has a Surprisingly Feminist Message," Taylor Antrim, vogue.com; "Raw director Julia Ducournau talks cannibals, humanity, and fainting," Jack Shepherd, independent.co.uk.
—The Unenthusiastic Critic's earlier Horror Movie Marathons are available (in prose form) at unaffiliatedcritic.com.
—Email us, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. (Suggestions of movies to watch for future episodes are very welcome.)
—Saint-Saens' "Danse Macabre" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:27:17 — 60.3MB)
2 thoughts on “RAW (2016)”
That reverse road kill hunting method seems like it could easily backfire. What if a driver just runs you over, instead of crashing into a tree trying to avoid you?
Yeah, that's a plot point that's definitely included more for the metaphor and humor than for any kind of realism. But I like the idea that when animals run out in front of our cars they're really trying to kill us so they can eat us.