Horror films, according to Robin Wood (1978), are about “normality threatened by the Other”.
Explain how this formula manifests itself in a horror film of your choice, through an analysis of its
characters, its story, its soci0-cultural values and the social context from which it emerges.
Lizzie is an American horror film that was published in 2018. The movie was directed by Craig
William Macneill, written by Bryce Kass, and cast included Chloë Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Jay
Huguley, Jamey Sheridan, Fiona Shaw, Kim Dickens, Denis O'Hare, and Jeff Perry.
The movie was based on the true story of Lizzie Borden, who was accused for murdering her father
and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892.
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018. It was then released on
September, 2018, by Saban Films and Roadside Attractions.
Lizzie Borden, a wealthy family daughter, whose live with her father, Andrew; stepmother, Abby,
and elder sister, Emma. With the patriarchal attitudes and suspension from his own father and the
menace received by the family due to illegal integration by his father. Lizzie was living under stress
and becoming much dissatisfied to her father.
One day, an Irish immigrant, Bridget Sullivan, moves into the Borden residence to work as a servant.
Lizzie fall in love with Bridget dramatically while facing father opposition. The father see Bridget as
his own asset and not allowing Lizzie to speak with Bridget anymore.
The incident was the motivate for Lizzie final decision to kill both her step-mother and father.
Lizzie fulfilled Robin Wood definition on horror movie, “Normality threatened by Other”.
"Normality" will be what the director would like the audience, to identify with: the good guy or the
good side of things. In the film Lizzie, the good guy will be Lizzie, the main character, whose carry
about her father interest even she is eliminated from his father will. Moreover, Lizzie also represent
gender equality and freedom in sexuality. Lizzie in the film, need to listen to his father order despite
that she is well educated and have a higher vision than his father and having a homosexual
relationship with Bridget.
The "other", will be the one or other people that is threatening the good guy. The one specifically
talking about Lizzie’s father, whose suspending women and Lizzie, the good guy, changed the
heritage in his will from his daughters to a less intimate male relative. He also abandoned the
homosexual relationship between Lizzie and Bridget.
Beside the father, the silent family members can also be the others and they did not do anything to
stop the father threaten to Lizzie, therefore fostering the threaten from father. Silent is also one kind
of threaten.
On analyse of character
Lizzie
Lizzie, whose represent the good guy in the film was filmed as an intelligence woman, whose
embraced freedom and equality.
In a class consciousness society, Lizzie was the only one who is not seeing Bridge, the maid as a
lower-class servant, but a friend. In the house, maids are not called by their original name, but an
assigned name. Lizzie was the only one refusing to call Bridge by the assigned name, refusing the
norms that lower class should loss their identity.
Bridget is Lizzie’s friend, and they also have had a homosexual relationship in the movie. It reflect
that Lizzie embrace freedom in sexuality.
Speaking of freedom, Lizzie activities were restricted by his father. Her father never give an
explanation for every unreasonable move. While, Lizzie was different when compared to other
female at the time, be capable and brave to speak to his father, which none of the house member is
brave enough to achieve it. Lizzie aware the treasurable of freedom and shows the leak of freedom
of female in 19th century.
In the movie, Lizzie once said, ‘Men don’t need knowledge, women do.’ Inside patriarchal society,
male has absolute control on many thing, what women can do is to empower herself and aware the
unfairness in the society. It is an irony, as Lizzie solve the problem by killing her father, not being
recognized as a knowledgeable way to solve problem. But it may be the best way, since her father
never listen to her despite she has a point.
Speaking of comanion, Lizzie has been companion of Bridge when she has had faced difficulty. She
also see killing her father as protecting Bridget.
First time see: Ask real name no order attitude
More knowledge, reading. Compression, teach Bridget read
Men don’t need knowledge, women do.
Highlighted book
Brave to speak to father
Company when Bridge loss her mother
Sad when discover father raping Bridget, break mirror
Want Bridget leave job. Say sorry for father wrong
Wont let every one hurt Bridget
Burn will
You thing org better? I want try
Father
Father,
Cannot leave home alone (because of ..). You listen me, order, x listen to other (patriarchal)
Privercy Bridget open door demanding. Rape. Sex toy.
Think that he can solve anything. Home affair -> x other know
Pointing out him wrong-> the person wrong
Change heritage to a male non close relative instead of daughter (underlooking female)
Killed Lizzie chicken cool blood then cook and eat (revent?)
Bridge
Catalyst in the film
Lower class: no name, maggie no choice, cannot against
Loss her mother
Thankful to Lizzie
Name of father, cannot find job in other place
Come back to Lizzie when hart her
Regardless cost, help Lizzie (once promised)
Don’t see me again
Save her from abuse of father? (or loss of org. life)
I don’t know you
You are dreaming
Promise me: no contact, I never want anything from you
Step mon
Class consciousness
See Maggie as lower class, x ans to her ask
Under seeing lizzie
Women under seeing women
Emma, the sister
Silent others, accept the inequality
My sister is innocent?
On analyse of story
On analyse of socio-cultural value
On social context from which it emerges