Blumhouse's recent double feature from their Welcome to Blumhouse series - THE MANOR and MADRES - has strong women leads as well as females at the helm. Is this a dynamic winning combo celebrating women's voices and issues?

Not quite.

The Manor

Written/Directed By: Axelle Carolyn
Starring: Barbara Hershey, Bruce Davison, Nicholas Alexander, Jill Larson, Fran Bennett

Synopsis: After suffering a mild stroke, Judith Albright reluctantly moves into a historic nursing home where she becomes convinced a supernatural force is killing the residents.

I loved the concept, the ending, the monster, the female lead and writer/director. I wanted to LOVE this movie. I just could not get into it.

Maybe it's because I watched it at 3 in the afternoon, way before the witching hour. Maybe my dog, Piper, interrupted too many times with her squeaky toy. Or maybe I was hangry.

But honestly, it was the acting that felt flat. Barbara Hershey is too young in this role for me. She came off as too vibrant after just suffering a stroke and the beginning stages of Parkinson's Disease. I saw my own active 70-year-old aunts in her and I don't see a strong woman like Judith just giving in and living out her days in assisted living. So right off the bat, this film just could not grab me like I know it grabbed others (like it may you).

Yes, I cheered on Judith's strong will and found her choice at the end to be quite fitting for her character but I guess I wanted a little more years/desperation on my golden girl.

Theresa's Rating
2.00 out of 5.00

Madres

Written By: Mario Miscione and Marcella Ochoa
Directed By: Ryan Zaragoza
Starring: Ariana Guerra, Tenoch Huerta, Elpidia Carrillo, Joseph Garcia

Synopsis: Expecting their first child, a Mexican-American couple move to a migrant farming community in 1970's California where strange symptoms and terrifying visions threaten their new family.

Unlike THE MANOR, MADRES is a slow-burn feature. The opening sequence provides a few clues to the twist ending and the town's "witch" is a great device to throw off the viewer and add a little more spooky elements.

It takes a bit to catch on to what’s going on and once everything is put together, it’s sickening - even more so with the reminder in the credits that this movie is based on true events.

But this film didn't make the impact I know it was trying to make.

I think it's interesting, and a bit sad, that Blumhouse picked up the tragic Brittany Murphy story to produce a dark documentary around when the horrific story behind MADRES is just ripe for that kind of storytelling to get people talking and involved so a difference can be made.

Theresa's Rating
2.50 out of 5.00

Women in Horror Month

How to Celebrate in 2021

By: Theresa Dillon

Women in Horror Month (WIHM) has finally arrived! COVID hasn’t kept me from keeping this yearly tradition alive and I hope you will partake too.

And there’s really no wrong way to celebrate. (Unless you participate in internet trolling. Just don’t.)

Here’s 6 great ways to make the most of WIHM.

1. Read poems, horror novels or short stories by women.

There are way too many to recommend in this single blog post but I can provide a few I have devoured over the last few years –

"Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
"Fangs" by Sara Andersen
"Her Body and Other Parties" by Carmen Maria Machado
"Pretty Monsters" by Kelly Link
"Hollow Kingdom" by Kira Jane Buxton

You can also check out upcoming readings at https://www.womeninhorrormonth.com/tag/public-reading/

2. Watch female written/directed films.

Despite the difficult year for theaters, female written and directed films had a fantastic year in 2020. Many critics had female directed films right at the top of their lists and 2021 is already geared up for some great films including horror gems Candyman and Fear Street.

To catch up on some amazing female horror from 2020, check out:

"Relic" (VOD)
"The Lodge" (Hulu)
"Sea Fever" (Hulu)
"Nocturne" (Amazon Prime)
"The Other Lamb" (Hulu)

3. Cheer on your favorite Final Girl.

This year, in addition to celebrating the female voices in horror, I decided to celebrate the strength and resilience of women by celebrating a Final Girl every day this February on my Instagram account (@charmedtree).

Share the Final Girls you like to cheer on and why with #finalgirlfeb. Let’s make this go viral!

Taylor Gentry from "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon"

4. Purchase that piece of art you’ve been eyeing.

My favorite thing to do at cons is browse the artist tables. Thanks to COVID, many of these artists haven’t had the chance to showcase their latest for us fans. So go venturing on Etsy. Search on DeviantArt. Support female artists and buy that painting!

Artist: Michelle Prebich - Shop at Batinyourbelfry.etsy.com

5. Share the names of the females you are loving right now.

You’re most likely scrolling Instagram or TikTok constantly throughout your day so post and share the females that are making a difference in your life or who have inspired you this month. Better yet, tag them in your post. I promise they won’t mind.

Cake by: @_sweetstacheamyo

6. Celebrate with others (safely).

Get the girls together for a Zoom movie night. Visit an outdoor screening (if you live in Phoenix, AZ – check out what’s coming to FilmBar at Pemberton PHX). Tell your daughter to write that dark short story she’s been thinking about and then read it.

Together, we can continue to make women seen, heard and supported.