#this is just a convo starter honestly since its almost halloween and all

[pkuinn]

one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to the horror genre is when writers rely too heavily on the "devil made me do it" trope. someone could create the greatest cinematic premise off all time, but when the end reveal is that it was all the devil's fault, it turns into an utter disappointment. obviously this doesn't hold the same as films like "hereditary" where the devil *is* the premise, but for films like "krampus" and even "longlegs" it feels so incredibly lazy that the plot twist was that it was the devil all along. not only that, but it ensures a christian victimization, "the evil satanists (all of which portrayed are pagan hierograms) are out to get the poor, innocent little god-fairing people". these films are also notorious for killing off or villainizing characters that don't fit into a conservative view of what's "acceptable": queer characters, unmarried couples that are intimate with each other, women who don't dress traditionally, etc. honestly, it's what makes films like midsommar stand out. yes, midsommar does have mention of demons, but the film seems more focused on the metaphorical aspect of its storytelling, the themes of demons and folklore are executed in a unique, creative way, and it's clear that they were researched and there's passion behind their conception (pun intended).