Screenplay: Courtney Solomon, from Brent Monahan’s book.
Cast: Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek, James D’Arcy, Rachel Hurd-Wood
On Cable TV: and DVD in your local library
it wasn't a box office success, it didn't make millions upon millions or billions of dollars but then again, it wasn't made for the financial success. This film tells a story an unspeakable story about a teenage girl deflowered by her natural father while her mother looks away with that holier, over burdened wife demeanor we all know too well.
An American Haunting takes a very serious problem of epidemic proportion that due to societal constraints refuses to see people, all people as sexual beings and thus far has failed to bring the issue of rape of the teenage girl into clear focus.
Is this what An American Haunting is really about?
I have read one review after another in which there is a vague reference to the subject of this film. Just as this horror film is an indirect approach to the problem of Rape and Incest of the adolescent teenage American girl, this oblique approach is mirrored in the film's reception,
An American Haunting gives us many wonderful moment of horror film delight punctuated with the absurd to help the viewer realize Corey Solomon is making fun of, filming a satirical statement on the Horror film genre. You know Solomon isn't entirely serious when you see the melting of candle wax done to the musical theatrics of a dramatic all important moment which it was not or the race between a full grown horse who is carrying two adult size passengers and a free range yellow eyed ferocious looking wolf, and the horse wins.
You know when the black women(1800s Tennessee slaves) come into the sanctuary of the Bell home(even the name Bell has the significance of a wake up call) with their lips sealed while they present the evidence, a white sheet with young Betsy's unmistakable virginal blood in full view.
You know then that this isn't a funny film, or a frivolous one made for the hungry teenager wanting a date flick that everyone can enjoy. You know before the sniveling husband/father dies that you want him to die and maybe you even wish the silent seemingly pain stricken mother will soon follow in his wake.
This is a film to be brought to our attention again and again. Teenage rape, the man who just "has a thing for virgins" as Sheri Curry(lead singer in The Runaways) said of her rapist, has been allowed to roam free too long, destroying the emotional/sexual life of millions of young girls who have been silenced by family, friends and ultimately by societal pressures and the uneven hand of the Law.
An American Haunting, a masterpiece of deception that went too far. No one seems to have understood nor asked why two seasoned great actors, Sissy Spacek and Donald Sutherland would agree to act in an horror film. Now you know.
If I had a young daughter I would drag her. if need be, yelling and screaming like Betsy in the film, to see An American Haunting because someone has to lead the way to full disclosure. Why not let film do it for us.
Linda Zises
WBAI RAdio
Criticalwomen.net
No comments:
Post a Comment