My life has gone through a small, but significant, change in the last couple of weeks. One thing you may have noticed if you follow me on other social media platforms is that I'm watching more movies. It's a balancing act as I try to find things that both my mother and I will enjoy, classics I should have seen years ago, and new movies that help me track what's going on in the current culture.
Over the last week I've seen three movies with very similar themes. It was a coincidence, but now that I'm aware of it I think it's worth exploring. What do these very different movies have in common? Why do we keep telling stories like this? How can we use these observations to tell better stories?
Fair warning, there will be SPOILERS for Blood Simple (1984), Shut In (2022), and Kimi (2022).
The first movie I saw was the Coen Brothers debut feature, Blood Simple (1984). It's a story of adultery, miscommunication, deceit, and murder. The climax of film has Abby (Francis McDormand), who is largely innocent beyond cheating on her husband, trapped in an apartment by an angry gunman.
Abby has to use her wits to survive. In one of the movie's many iconic moments, she STABS HER ATTACKER'S HAND and pins him down so that she can escape. So far she hasn't shown any violent tendencies, but when pressed she chooses to do whatever it takes to survive.
Immediately after I finished Blood Simple, over on YouTube The Daily Wire premiered their first original film, Shut In (2022). I started it late, so I wasn't able to catch the end. But I saw enough to appreciate what they accomplished.
Rainey Qualley plays Jessica, a derelict single mom trying to put her life back together. She's pushed into a nightmare situation when she's locked in the pantry of her old farm house, while her two children (an infant and a preschooler) are outside with her ex-boyfriend and his sleazy buddy.
Again, while there was never an indication that Jessica had a violent bone her body, when push comes to shove she (you guessed it) STABS A GUY IN THE HAND and pins him to the floor. Jessica also gets bonus points for then SETTING HIS FREAKING ARM ON FIRE.
Finally, I watched Kimi (2022), the new movie directed by Steven Soderbergh which has gone directly to HBO Max streaming. Once again, it centers around a young woman, Angela, trapped in a small space. Initially Angela is hostage to her own fears, agoraphobia brought on by an assault and fed by a global pandemic. By the end her home is invaded by ruthless killers, intent on keeping her there until she gives them certain information.
And what does the weak and fearful young woman do? She gets herself a nail gun and STABS A GUY IN THE HAND, though unfortunately she doesn't pin him to a wall or anything. Again, we so no hint of homicide in her until she moves from nailing hands to nailing heads.
All three stories feature ordinary young women in horrible situations, who dig deep down and find a will to survive. At some point everyone feels like they're in "survival mode," but no matter how bad our circumstances, they probably aren't as bad as what these women suffer.
Would it be the same if it was a man in these situations? Would our expectations be different? Of course it would be a different story. It might be unpopular to say so, but men and women are not the same.
But that doesn't mean that I, as a man, can't relate. Feeling trapped, feeling vulnerable, and feeling afraid are all part of the human experience in this broken, fallen world. That said, the filmmakers were wise to put women in these stories as it increases the drama and the tension. When up against a stronger enemy, her means of escape will be more nuanced and interesting than a man's.
Schwarzenegger can strap himself with a machine gun and go full Commando (which I also just saw for the first time), and that's great entertainment. Francis McDormand has to use a pocket knife and a window, and that's a very different kind of thrill. That's not to say that men aren't clever. But in these sorts of situations, a woman has a stronger motivation to find a more indirect path and is often at a greater disadvantage. Conflict is the fuel of a story.
To wrap up what has become a very long post, the ultimate lesson for the storyteller is not to get caught up in a gender agenda. Instead, find the character best suited for the story you want to tell. And then tell it.
If you're interested in adding any of these movies to your collection, I'd recommend Criterion's release of Blood Simple, which is on sale right now. If you use the Amazon link I get a little kickback, which is always appreciated.
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