The Straight Story

David Lynch is my favorite film director. His movies and TV series absolutely blow my mind and influence my perspective on life. The Straight Story is a 1999 biographical road drama based on the true story of Alvin Straight and his journey across Iowa and Wisconsin on a lawn mower to meet his sick brother....

Forever My Favorite: The Man from Snowy River (1982)

When I was two years old, my parents took me along when they went to see The Man from Snowy River (1982) in the movie theater. I came out obsessed with horses, cowboys, a guy called Jim and a girl called Jessica, and Australia. And this has been my favorite movie ever since.  As a little girl,...

Somebody Saved Me: Smallville [20 Year Anniversary]

Everyone has one show that comforts them, frustrates them, makes them laugh and cry, and sticks with them, no matter how many other obsessions flow through their cinematic life. For me, that show has always been, and will always be, Smallville. The small-town story of Clark Kent before he became Superman takes place in what...

Final Issue: Our Favorite Things

For ten years, our loyal Femnista writers have brought you wonderful new discoveries, analysis of favorite books, movies, and other entertainment, and our readers have delighted in following us on a series of themed-adventures… but all good things must come to an end! In this final issue of Femnista, we explore our favorite things—the shows,...

All For Love: Crimson Peak

Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak is not about the horror of ghosts, but the horror of humanity. It’s a thread that runs through all of his films. Pan’s Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, and The Shape of Water are all populated with wondrous (and monstrous) creatures, yet all get cast in sympathetic lights as close-minded, destructive humans...

Manipulative Evil: Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca

I don’t remember the first time I saw Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca, but I feel in love with it as a teenager. I read the novel, then saw every other available adaptation. Mrs. Danvers, the serene housekeeper that slowly undermines the psyche of the nameless heroine, stands out in my memory as one of literature’s great...

Composed of Contradictions: Ben Wade in 3:10 to Yuma (1957)

Patient. Conniving. Gentlemanly. Calculating. Charming. Deceitful. Truthful. Selfish. Efficient. Ruthless. Gentle. Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) in the original 1957 version of 3:10 to Yuma is all of those, and more. Ben Wade is such an enigmatic character. He has so many facets and layers. Other villains might have three or four of the attributes I...

“Ugly Girl”: Ursula from The Little Mermaid

Ursula is an ugly girl. I like that about her. I once heard a spoken word poem about Ursula. About being big and beautiful. Plus size and unafraid. I don’t remember the name of the poem or the poet or the word choice. I just remember how that poem made me feel. Like I could...

Scream

Scream is a 90s slasher film. It’s special because it knows exactly what it is and makes fun of its own genre. There’s something fun about a show and its characters being aware of their own circumstances and openly mocking it. It’s part of a franchise with four movies under its belt and a 5th one due...

Dishonor Thy Mother: Mrs. Coulter in His Dark Materials

Sure, when you watch a scary movie and the slasher in a mask chases people, it’s frightening, but I am personally more terrified when a villain feels more true-to-life. When the bad things they do stem from realistic and understandable reasons. An antagonist recognizable to the audience in that way can be the most memorable....