sexism in italian horror movies

by



#sexist attutudes are a major issue in today’s cinema, so how about movies from previous decades?

in this video I’m attempting to come to terms with serious problems in older horror movies. The ones I used to enjoy so much. I pick some infamous italian horror and exploitation movies from the 1980s and point out some attitutudes in them which bother me

in this video I bring up gender issues which affect my enjoyment of some of my favourite classic italian horror giallo genre movies

Some of the movies I bring up include

The Beyond
Eaten Alive!
Spasmo
The Case of the Bloody Iris
Zombie
The New York Ripper
Eyeball

I also reflect on depictions of women on film posters and the role of women behind the camera in italian genre cinema

source

2 thoughts on “sexism in italian horror movies”

  1. I'm reminded of a famous quote from Dario Argento “I like women, especially beautiful ones. If they have a good face and figure, I would much prefer to watch them being murdered than an ugly girl or man.” – after watching Strip Nude for Your Killer which features a naked chubby actor feigning his demise whilst clutching a deflated sex doll, I'd have to agree with Argento 😆

    Reply

  2. Great topic here. I am a long time fan of Italian genre cinema and a few months back you and I had a discussion about Ivan Rassimov. I always take the sexist, racist and pretty much all the narratives that we find unacceptable today, in stride as a sign of the times. in fact when I watch these films, and I watch many of them, I feel myself transported to the times they were made. I do this so often that I find it hard to watch current films.

    I am glad you touched on race because I have a couple of actors I would like to mention that indeed had strong roles as minorities in Italian genre film. Bobby Rhodes Played great characters in The Last Hunter (1980), Hearts and Armour (1983) and Demons (1985) just to name a few. Tony King was in several of my favorite Marghretti films like Tiger Joe (1982), The Last Hunter (1980), Raiders of Atlantis (1983) and Cannibal Apocalypse (1980). I do note that these examples take place in the early 80s so possibly that was a turning point of sorts. Another, and more well known would be Woody Strode who was in some great Italian films earlier than the 80s.

    Anyhow, I just wanted to mention those guys and to tell you in always enjoy your channel. 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Comment