Felt: A "Feminist Superhero Movie"

[Bob_McMillan]

I've been trying to be a little more open minded about feminism, because lately I noticed that when I heard or saw the word feminism I was immediately disgusted . For example, I was ready to bust out a rant how having female footballers in FIFA 16 was just pandering to non-gamers and shit like that, then I realized that for once this actually makes sense. Football (or as some scrubs call it, soccer) is pretty popular in the States as a women's sport, and I learned I had female friends who were actually interested in it. In retrospect, my initial reaction was unfair to the real feminists out there who really are trying to make the world a better place.

When I learned about this movie, I went back to square one.

The trailer is in the link: http://feltmovie.com/

First off, how the FUCK could anyone possibly think that this is a superhero movie!? It just boggles my mind!

http://filmschoolrejects.com/news/felt-red-band-trailer-a-feminist-superhero-based-on-a-true-story.php

http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-amy-everson-is-a-feminist-superhero-in-exclusive-red-band-felt-trailer-20150526?utm_campaign=Indiewire&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=1432665076

Thankfully most other sites have correctly labeled this as a drama/thriller/horror movie. And in my opinion, just from the trailer, it most definitely is horror.

It's literally about an abused woman with PTSD or something who goes out into the woods cosplaying as men and possibly cutting their wieners off. Maybe I'm just a wimp, but it genuinely made me uncomfortable, as in it gave me butterflies in my stomach.

The movie hasn't been released yet (though I wouldn't be watching it even when it does), but if this is what some people believe is good feminism, then... I dunno. For all I know, they're being ironic and this is supposed to be a parody or something. Probably not, since the actor is a IRL abuse victim.

So what do you guys think? I can't get over my disgust and discomfort to give any real coherent thoughts on this.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Eh, what counts as a superhero film anyway? Looks like more of a rape revenge film, but no reason those two can't overlap.

Imagine if Rorschach was a woman, for example.

 

[Phasmal]

Dude, your opener is pretty much you admitting that things mentioned next to the word `feminism` make you angry, so maybe.... take a break from getting angry at feminism?
Like, you were gonna moan about female characters in FIFA? Dude? Wtf.

As for the movie, even the article, while using the click-baity `feminist superhero` title, ID's the film as a `psychological thriller`.

It certainly looks more horror-ish to me. But also, not really worth getting all worked up about. Those movies are supposed to be uncomfortable and weird, that's kinda the point.

 

[Cowabungaa]

The movie hasn't been released yet (though I wouldn't be watching it even when it does), but if this is what some people believe is good feminism, then... I dunno. For all I know, they're being ironic and this is supposed to be a parody or something. Probably not, since the actor is a IRL abuse victim.

So what do you guys think? I can't get over my disgust and discomfort to give any real coherent thoughts on this.

I doubt this is seen as good feminism, going by the trailer. If it is I question the sanity of the filmmakers. A victim's descend into madness thanks to abuse and the lack of any kind of support structure (because that's one of the big problems concerning rape culture) is definitely a very interesting topic to tackle. And to pour it into the mold of a psychological thriller even more.

And mind you, these kind of psychological thrillers are supposed to be disgusting, uncomfortable and strange. They often explore parts of the human psyche we're completely unfamiliar with, parts that are alien to us. And that strangeness frightens us as it falls so far out of our perspective, yet we're still talking about fellow human beings.

A superhero movie I wouldn't call it, but I can see how they tie the victim's attempts at recovery in with the superhero mythos that's so popular these days. That idea of transcending your identity, layering a stronger one over it that gives you the ability to perform feats your other identity would never even dream about.

 

[Queen Michael]

I'm a feminist.

...Does that mean I have to like this movie?

"This is the speaker voice. In the trailer. I talk in short sentences. And don't sound very engaged. Like I'm phoning it in. Not sure why."

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

Looks like a try-hard indie movie that will galvanize and excite radical feminists while alienating and upsetting everyone else - although the vast majority of "everyone else" won't bother to see it at all.

In other words: relax. This isn't some meaningful portent of a terrible radfem future. It's art-house garbage aimed at an increasingly irrelevant and ever-more ridiculed demographic with shrinking social and political influence.

 

[Zhukov]

Ooookay... so are you pissed off because some people referred to it as a superhero movie? (Incorrectly I'd say. Pretty clearly looks like what is generally referred to as "psychological horror".) Why does that matter?

Or are you pissed off because they called it feminist? Why? Care to elaborate?

Or are you pissed off because it obviously involves a lot of gender... stuff? Once again, care to elaborate?

You haven't really articulated your issue very well here. "Grrrrr feminism grrr. They called it a superhero, wtf? I'm disturbed!"

As for it being distubing, I'm pretty sure that's the idea. I mean, the second image in the trailer is a young woman putting a plastic bag over her head. That doesn't exactly signify a movie full of chuckles and sunshine.

 

[Passive Aggression]

Looks dumb, some silly pretentious attempt at an indie movie, people will likely mistake insulting it, with insulting rape victims and as such, it'll probably get praised by certain groups as anything that's sympathetic towards a certain thing is automatically good.

Beyond the minute or so it took me to browse the websites and post this comment, I doubt it'll get much more from me.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

You admit that it's a gut reaction and that you were trying to avoid it but here you are indulging yourself.

It's clearly not a super hero movie. That's fucking hilarious that someone might think it is. It's either psychological thriller/horror, possible revenge themes... kinda like Hard Candy in a way. It might have anti-hero themes, but that doesn't automatically make it a super hero film.

It's made to make you feel uncomfortable. That's basically the entire point of it. Are people not allowed to make uncomfortable films anymore or just "feminists"? Frankly it's rather tame compared to other films I've seen, at least as far as the trailer goes.

I personally can't see what's the issue here. It doesn't look very good. Visually it's meant to be shocking but I don't feel it. I have no judgement on the narrative as it's just a trailer. The concept is at least mildly interesting, but it's hard not be curious when you see people wearing full body stockings and wearing strapons while wandering around a forest.

This reaction reflects more on you then the trailer does on the creator of the film. It's almost guaranteed that you NEVER have to see this film, but the question is can you avoid doing so yourself? You admitted that you are trying to be more open minded, but instantly latch on to the most exaggerated fictional feminist piece you could find and rather then going "well, that's not for me", you run here all hot and bothered decrying the woes of feminism and telling us how offended you are... as if it fucking matters.

I don't believe that you want to be open minded. I think, like a lot of folks on here, you just like to be offended and seek things out to achieve such an effect.

 

[DrownedAmmet]

Not sure I understand this movie, the trailer is confusing.

It would be cool if it was like Batman, just replace random thugs with rapists and it should be the same thing. Trailer was too hipster and edgy and weird even for my tastes, though

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

It's rape revenge of the I Spit in Your Grave/Last House on the Left kind.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

Dude, your opener is pretty much you admitting that things mentioned next to the word `feminism` make you angry, so maybe.... take a break from getting angry at feminism?
Like, you were gonna moan about female characters in FIFA? Dude? Wtf.

As for the movie, even the article, while using the click-baity `feminist superhero` title, ID's the film as a `psychological thriller`.

It certainly looks more horror-ish to me. But also, not really worth getting all worked up about. Those movies are supposed to be uncomfortable and weird, that's kinda the point.

I think I made this thread a bit too hastily. I don't hate feminism of course, or at least my simple probably naive idea of what feminism is, I have no idea what the second or third or whatever wave it currently is in now. I am just real tired of seeing all the bullshit that the radical feminists, most recently Ms. Mustafa, put out. This has lead to me seeing something feminism related and automatically reacting to it with cynicism and never really thinking it through. Hence, the way I was skeptical of the entire women in FIFA thing. It's somethings that's been bothering me for some time now. I realized that a few of the YouTubers I follow actually consider feminism, and not just the radical kind, to be wrong. I really don't want to turn out that way. Being the eldest sibling and only boy, when my parents get old I will pretty much be responsible for my sisters' futures. Feminism should be my best friend. But right when I got back into gaming the entire Feminism vs Gaming thing happened, and I got sucked up by it. I'm trying to get rid of that bias and be more open minded, but as this thread shows I am kind of struggling.

Ooookay... so are you pissed off because some people referred to it as a superhero movie? (Incorrectly I'd say. Pretty clearly looks like what is generally referred to as "psychological horror".) Why does that matter?

Or are you pissed off because they called it feminist? Why? Care to elaborate?

Or are you pissed off because it obviously involves a lot of gender... stuff? Once again, care to elaborate?

You haven't really articulated your issue very well here. "Grrrrr feminism grrr. They called it a superhero, wtf? I'm disturbed!"

As for it being distubing, I'm pretty sure that's the idea. I mean, the second image in the trailer is a young woman putting a plastic bag over her head. That doesn't exactly signify a movie full of chuckles and sunshine.

As I said, I am currently in the phase of trying to be more open to feminism. So when I made this thread, I started to doubt myself and started to wonder why I was even posting the damn thing and therefore I kinda left out what exactly I wanted to talk about.

I have given it some thought, and this was the best I could come up with: You could say I was pissed because right when I decided I was going to be more open to feminist ideas, this movie, a horror movie about an insane woman cutting off dongs, is not only called feminist (something that I want to consider as good) for some reason, but a superhero movie. To me a superhero is supposed to be someone to be looked up to, I have no idea why we are supposed to look up to the protagonist in the movie. It reminded me of the all the crazy that I constantly read about regarding the darker side of feminism. I have no problems with the movie, except for the entire " we are marketing this as feminism, because that's all the rage these days" thing.

 

[Fappy]

I'm still utterly shocked that anyone is mad about playable female soccer players in a FIFA game. It's the same fucking game every year, be thankful they are adding something for once. Also, how does not throwing a hiss fit about it make one a femenist?!

 

[visiblenoise]

I think the eye-rolling that this movie would induce in me may be fatal, so I'll just pretend it doesn't exist.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

I like a good revenge movie or two, no matter how twisted. As long as it is a well crafted movie and i'm properly empathising with the characters, male or female, am pretty empathetic for most well acted people except pure cunts. Will follow and cheer their twisted idea of revenge through to the end. Hah! Justice! Or...something that felt like it at the time.

Spoiler: Just in case somebody hates obscure spoilers

There was a fairly good rape revenge film with Gillian Anderson and Danny Dyer in, cannot remember the title. But I do remember the ending shotgun up bum scene it had, unsurprisingly. I was the one cheering for Gillian's decision. The film was giving off this vibe that I should be morally superior by cheering the other option but...i probably am not that morally superior.

Couldn't give an opinion on this film, not only can I not see the trailer, but the description isn't representative of any quality of the what final product may be. It doesn't look to be too imaginative though.

 

[Arshaq13]

FIFA adding women's teams is fantastic! Seriously. I'm hoping you get to play men vs women too. It'd be fantastic taking the Arsenal F.C. ladies side and beating Classic 11. It'll make for some great couch multiplayer too.

As for the movie, I don't know what to think. It seems like it's pandering to those artsy-hipster types. But hey! If it's a good psychological thriller, then that can only be a good thing. It's a movie, misogyny and misandry can be shown because well, a sensible viewer knows how to differentiate between fiction and real life.

Fyi, I'm a guy who really really doesn't like radical feminists.

 

[maninahat]

There Is a hipsterish Iranian vampire comedy called "a girl walks home alone at night", I want to see, but the trailer to that seemed to trigger a similar response; namely, "Ugh, a feminist subtext in a movie? I could never watch this!" Same goes for an actual Indian superhero comic involving a heroine who goes after rapists. I really don't understand how people even have the energy to get angry over a movie they haven't even watched, all due to it having a theme they don't like.

 

[Kevlar Eater]

This thread is less "I'm trying to understand feminism but this movie won't let me" and more "the OP doesn't have an innate understanding of feminism, let's gang up and bash him for it!". No need to jump down the OP's throat for arbitrary reasons, and isn't attempting to be more openminded about feminism better than outright claiming the radfems have taken over the cult movement?

About the movie: It seems like it's pandering to an audience that wishes to feel uncomfortable, possibly for ironic reasons. Also, physical emasculation is about as superheroic as pedophilia: it's not, it's fucked up, and may whoever commit either act eat buckshot. Whatevs, ain't like this movie is targeted towards me, so I'll try to forget it's existence.

 

[Angelblaze]

I'm still utterly shocked that anyone is mad about playable female soccer players in a FIFA game. It's the same fucking game every year, be thankful they are adding something for once. Also, how does not throwing a hiss fit about it make one a femenist?!

Doesn't surprise me.

A majority of the complainers are probably dudebros who, when asked, wouldn't know the difference Bend Em and Beckham and would discard soccer as a bunch of 'fairies' flying around a field chasing a ball.

Then consider Football hypermasculine for those same things.

I'd like to note, if you meet any of these people irl and they try to say they don't like the diversity because they care about the sport ask them this:
'So you care about soccer?'
-Yes?-
'K, name 5 soccer players whose names don't em in Beckham'
If they have to whip out their phone and look, disregard everything they say.

(A quick note to any confused EU/Non-Americans out there; we've reversed the names of football and soccer. For no reason. God bless America.)

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well what it really looks like is a display piece of extremism, "I had a couple of bad experiences and this gives me the righteous fury to do anything with X group I now wholly deem evil!"

Now if you happen to agree with the reasoning and the actions taken by the protagonist... you might want to seek help before people get hurt. Applies to any and all ages/genders/races/species even.