October is known for its abundance of horror films in the lead-up to Halloween. Among the multitude of monsters, two films stand out as exceptional and deeply impactful when it comes to the portrayal of female characters: "Pearl" and “Barbarian.”
These films, though distinct in their settings and circumstances, share a theme of the suffocating confinement experienced by women.
In "Pearl," the eponymous protagonist lives on a remote farm, where her interactions are limited to her oppressive mother and her incapacitated father. Set in 1918, Pearl's mother, like the older Pearl in the main feature film "X," exudes an eerie and ominous presence. Both mother and the farm represent Pearl's confinements, extending from her social circle to her physical surroundings, chaining her dreams of freedom in the vast world. Adding to the isolation, they are a German family concealing their identity at the ending of the First World War, fearful of being ostracized or worse.
This protracted entrapment underscores the harsh reality faced by women, especially married women, in roles of service and maintaining the domestic sphere. Their dreams and self-fulfillment often take a backseat to these modest existences. Pearl, who yearns to become a starlet and join "The Girls Upstairs," fails to grasp the underlying tragedy in the storyline - a recurring theme in "X."
A century later, "Barbarian" introduces Tess as a relatively independent modern woman. While she seems to have escaped a toxic relationship and is pursuing her desired career, she is not entirely free from the constraints of a male-dominated society. Due to a system glitch, Tess and an unknown man end up booking the same remote house, forcing them to share the space overnight. Tess's habitual guarded behavior and her topics of conversation during their candid discussions reveal the lack of security women feel and the extra vigilance and effort they must invest in a world that often feels unsafe.
The contrast intensifies as they discover a horrifying secret in the basement of the house: a monstrous man who has imprisoned and violated women for years, continuing to engage in incestuous relationships with his offspring. The terrifying basement becomes a metaphorical representation of an even more dreadful reality.
Across these years, the fundamental circumstances of women have not changed significantly, with demanding roles, minimal returns, and the encroachment on their physical and emotional safe spaces in unequal and unbalanced power dynamics. Paradoxically, these horror films depict women as the most terrifying figures in the story.
Barbarian's appearance is that of a monstrous aberration, disheveled, feral, with sharp teeth and claws, exceptional physical strength, and a complete lack of communication skills. In the basement, she personifies the stereotypical image of male authoritarianism: imposing, powerful, violent, and overwhelmingly controlling. In contrast, Pearl embodies the opposite, even though she is a wife, her physique and mentality lean towards the innocence of a young girl. She is a victim turned perpetrator, accentuating her inherent bloodthirstiness due to her prolonged oppression and denial.
If “Barbarian” unconsciously unleashes irrational violence, Pearl consciously indulges in the pleasure of carnage. Her first killing brings doubt, denial, and relief after forced concealment, leading to a greedy embrace of these extreme methods.
In the face of genuine madness, Tess transforms. Initially, she's cautious, then panics when witnessing her partner's death, but eventually becomes clever in her attempts to escape. Her increasing bravery, even at the risk of her own life, challenges the traditional roles, creating a unique and "excessive" heroine. This reversal subverts the common tropes that often depict young women as victims of their timidity or their ‘savior complex.' It also presents a different kind of "killer" compared to Pearl. Their different starting points and motivations lead to distinctive but ultimately shared tragic fates.
This narrative touches upon themes of liberation and desire. Liberation is intrinsically tied to desire. Both films address female desire within the backdrop of male desires, explicitly depicting the yearning for security, which is relatively scarce for women. Tess, the archetypal protagonist in horror films, only experiences relative security when she seizes power over life and death. In contrast, both the origins and current conditions of safety for Barbarian and Pearl are highly precarious. The quest for security and the desire to escape danger are the driving forces behind the emotional journeys of the characters.
These desires are expressed in unique and striking ways. Pearl, heavily suppressed and an independent thinker embodies these desires most conspicuously. The heavy farm work and monotonous life elevate her dreams of stardom to unparalleled freedom and radiance, contrasting with the mundane and bleak existence around her. "Pearl" sets her amidst a vivid and radiant setting, portraying her environment reminiscent of a Hollywood musical. This greater contrast compared to the eerie and desolate atmosphere of "X" provides an even greater sense of horror.
The dream of stardom signifies an escape from the mundane life, leading to fame, wealth, beauty, acknowledgment, respect, admiration, and even physical and symbolic sexual fulfillment. This becomes the most accessible proof of breaking free from her constraints. However, Pearl's longing, imprisoned by her family and societal roles, only results in more profound despair and instability, which, even before "X" plunges into the depths of horror, reveals the rapid deterioration and erosion of her fragile and powerless self.
Barbarian, already steeped in madness, is even more ruthless. Growing up in an environment devoid of love, she somehow "learns" about motherly love from repeated viewings of a breastfeeding tutorial on television, developing an intense maternal desire to care for her "baby." Ironically, her practice of raising her captives as prey mirrors her upbringing in captivity - it's the only form of interaction she knows.
These women are, quite literally, demonized. However, as the story unfolds, they evoke deep sympathy. They are products of a harsh world, becoming victims or sacrifices. Eventually, even Barbarian, a character deeply entrenched in monstrosity, embodies the instincts of all mothers. She sacrifices herself to protect her "child," Tess, even if it leads to her violent end. It's difficult to wholeheartedly applaud the empowerment of women in these stories because the outcomes are often rooted in the evils cultivated by male concepts, gazes, and violence. Moreover, women who have consumed these evils often perpetrate the same harm on other women.
Women poisoned by traditional and unfair standards, like Pearl's mother, become prime examples of this phenomenon. After her transformation, she tries to mold her daughter in her image, without considering the obliteration of her daughter's true self and happiness. Ultimately, she ends up endorsing male dominance while her weak husband serves as a poignant irony. When Pearl attempts to divert from her mother's path, the absence of her husband and her lover's mistrust leaves her with no choice but to resort to a rebellious murder.
In conclusion, gender disparities on all fronts drive the character arcs of women, creating powerful narrative tension and emotional expression. While this approach may diminish the horror element to some extent, it allows for more vivid and concrete representations of the collective memories and contemporary experiences of insecurity and oppression faced by a broader audience. The stories break the mold and courageously unveil the wounds, encouraging reflection and empathy.
At the end of "Pearl," it almost feels like Pearl has received an order to maintain her eerie smile at any cost - an unsettlingly realistic notion.
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