5 Movies That Rage Against The Impossible Standards Set For Women
With all the buzz surrounding the Substance, which was undoubtedly the most exciting horror movie of 2024, the impossible and unrealistic standards for women have come into the spotlight.
These issues are deeply rooted in society and have been the muse for countless other creatives as they have connected these impossible standards to femininity, family, education, employment, friendship, and love.
If you want to rage, laugh, think, and challenge the impossible standards for women, then you must watch these films!
The Substance
This list would be incomplete without mentioning The Substance. Written, directed and co-produced by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat, The Substance is about an aging star’s desperation to be beautiful, even if that means taking a black market substance that transforms her into an enhanced version of herself. It is no exaggeration when I say that The Substance is one of the most insane films I have ever seen. It is full on body horror, grotesque images, gore. And yet, it is one of the punchiest films to date. It critically and perfectly captures the impossible beauty standards set for women as well as highlights the dismissal and shame women often feel surrounding age and body image.
Death Becomes Her
If you haven’t seen Death Becomes Her, please do yourself a favor and watch it right now. This film stars Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis. Death Becomes Her was recently brought into the spotlight as Sabrina Carpenter’s music video for her hit song Taste mirrors major scenes in this film. This film is savagely funny, and similar to The Substance, dives into a world where one can simply drink a mysterious potion that grants eternal life to the person who drinks it. Eternal life and forever beauty sounds glamorous, however, immortality has a price. Death Becomes Her is a hilarious and ridiculous nod to the impossible beauty and body standards set for women. This film shows viewers, through twists, turns, and fatal falls down the stairs, all the stressors, standards, and judgements imposed on women.
Promising Young Women
Promising Young Women is provocative and filled with rage. This film pointedly and cunningly cuts through the expectations for women to be docile, submissive, and passive. Promising Young Women follows Cassie, played by Carey Mulligan, who lives a secret double life at night. As the film comes together, Cassie’s plans come into focus. This fast-paced thriller directly confronts issues of grief, retribution, and a dramatized rage filled narrative.
Nightbitch
Nightbitch is feral and fully wild. Amy Adams plays a stay-at-home mother who pauses her successful career as an artist to take care of her child. However, things take an unexpected turn as her maternal instincts take on literal canine form. In Nightbitch, you watch Amy Adams’ character wrestle with the struggles of motherhood, the sacrifices to her body, the longing for her career, the impossible standard for women to do it all, and the primal instincts of motherhood and survival. Although the reviews for Nightbitch are mixed, I have a strong feeling this will become a cult classic with time.
Jennifer’s Body
Speaking of cult classics, Jennifer’s Body is one of the best. Jennifer, played by Megan Fox, becomes possessed by a demon and starts to kill and devour men in her high school class. This film is wildly absurd and hauntingly funny, but most importantly it became an essential cult classic because it dared to challenge gender norms. Jennifer’s Body ditches the traditional view of a submissive and objectified woman, specifically in the horror genre. Instead, it offers a thoughtful perspective of what it means to be a woman, highlighting the rage and strength within.