Jasmine Rademaker

I cannot believe this was David Lynch's second film. Eraserhead and The Elephant Man have similar vibes. One having to do with a clearly disabled person and another seemingly disabled person navigating life. However in execution the two couldn't be more different. Eraserhead is absurd, bizarre and at times quite comedic while The Elephant Man is a drama. I began the film with a bit of knowledge on what it's about but I still found myself surprised at every turn. I couldn't tell if Dr. Treves was good or bad which makes the character more interesting. He insulted John's intelligence without really knowing him which happens to this day with disable people. I was happy to hear Treves say near the middle of the film that he feels he turned John into a spectacle even though he literally saved John's life. Not only had he done it by allowing people to visit John in the hospital but in the very first place when he was showing off his body to the doctors in the beginning. It was so sad. When John meets Dr. Treves wife I began sobbing. It's amazing what a bit of kindness can do to make someones day. I couldn't see this film being done by anyone other than Lynch himself. He just fundamentally understands human nature.

I wanna start this by saying I love my best friend. The fact that she can sit with me and watch a 5 hour messed up movie warms my fucking heart. We have watched a total of 12 hours of psychosexual/disturbing/totally fucked up movies in 2 days. I don't know anyone else who would have possibly been able to do this with me and I'm fucking grateful. That being said I think Louise Weard is a fucking genius and the voice of our generation. We played the newest Castration Movie at my job last month for Frameline Film Fest and I didn't even realize I was in the same vacinity as the director. I saw her outside when I was smoking a cig but it makes sense to me now that I didn't think anything of the crowd around her. She looks so normal and the film is so realistic feeling. Idk it just makes sense that she could just look like all the other attendees of the film. Castration Movie ii is an absolute delight. I'll be the first to admit that I would be susceptible to falling into a cult what with my religious trauma and such. The way this film dives into the harm that people can do no matter what gender they are is such an important message that I feel many people are possibly not ready for. An abusive person is an abusive person, man or woman. The acting is phenomenal and totally believable. So many memorable characters in this. I loved Circle constantly questioning things. I super loved Keller, she was so mean yet i really liked her. Eclipse playing her bass. The cat girl. AH. The end was so fucking amazing. Diana said, " It shows how people put themselves in their own prisons. Circle had the freedom she wanted but she had to go back for a CUP." LIKE SO TRUE. And the way Devon really believed in it all and couldn't bring herself to leave was so fucking sad. She had NOTHING but this group of women with their hot dogs and ketamine. So brilliant. Also the fact that Circle is gonna go through another cycle of just following what someone else tells her to do because she was saved is totally sad and the song she sings at the end is poignant af. The only critique I have is that the scenes can really drag out but other than that like I truly love these films and can't wait to see the next one!