queen-of-films - Tumblr blog

[queen-of-films]

The Monorail Monster | Book Trailer

If you haven't already, check out my new ebook, The Monorail Monster while the free book run is still available!!!

[queen-of-films]

Brace yourself for a terrifying ride or prepare to face THE MONORAIL MONSTER 😱😱💀!

Catch my limited-free book run before, now available on the Kindle store!!!

[queen-of-films]

Thank you to those who follow me and like my content. You can subscribe for free to see my new work on Vocal Media.

[queen-of-films]

They Say Sequels Don’t Nearly Top The Originals, ‘Prey’ On This

*Okay, it's a prequel. But, you know what I mean.*

The insect gets eaten by the mouse; the snake consumes the mouse. The Predator kills the snake.

I ask you this, what is Earth’s deadliest predator? Is it the ferocious lion or the colossus bear? Perhaps the cunning viper or the armed human? This is what the Yautja a.k.a. The Yautja was in search of Earth’s strongest predator. Ironically, throughout watching Prey (2022), we’ve seen many predators fall prey to the Yatuja.

The Yautja killed threats for sport, but is this so different from how animals hunt in nature? How about the French butchering the buffalos for their fur? Maybe it’s safe to say that the French carrying Buffalo fur on their backs is not so different from the Yatuja collecting the skulls of its prey. But, there’s another hunter in this film that separates itself from the Yatuja, which is the Comanche.

The Comanche hunters are like the lion, they wait silently, hidden by the tall grass, and ensnare their food. But, like the lion, the Comanche hunt for survival, as it is the way of life. However, the Yatuja does not care about the cycle of life, its sole purpose is to hunt and annihilate. The most intriguing part of Prey is the alien's ability to turn invisible and shoot spears from its helmet, making it unbeatable against Earth's predators, including the Comanche. Take, for instance, the bear attack scene, the bear doesn’t see the Yatuja, but senses a threat lurking, almost like a disturbance in nature. It cannot see the Yatuja, but attacks the Yautja by going on its instincts to lunge and claw its attacker. The same issue confronted the Comanche hunters, and they suffered brutal mutilation as a result.

Despite not having visibility or the advanced technology of the Yatuja, Naru, a Comanche hunter, did what any predator does to kill its prey. She used her home ground as a weapon, such as trapping the Yautja in the bog. She also learned from the Yatuja’s tactics, like how it recognizes a heat signature, and its helmet’s ability to shoot at its target. Plus, with her axe-wielding skills, she defeated the most undefeatable predator in the galaxy. But the Predator’s defeat wasn’t out of revenge for her brother’s death. She killed the Yautja because it doesn’t belong in our world. The Great Plains is the Comanche’s territory, and she wasn’t going to have another “alien” conquer it. That’s why the bear attacked the Yatuja because in some part in all of us, it is in our nature to not only dominate and survive, but to fight for our territory. And the Yatuja has died in the hands of the most formidable indigenous tribes in history. 

With that being said, Prey, tops the original Predator (1987).

[queen-of-films]

'M3gan': The Creepy Child Revealed Scene

We are all familiar with the creepy child trope in horror films. But, in case you don't, here are a few examples: Ester (The Orphan), Samara (The Ring), and Lilith (Case 39) just to name a few. Notice most of the creepy children we think of in horror films are young girls; there is a reason for this. Young girls are usually depicted as innocent, but when they're in horror movies, the innocence can easily be a ploy.

M3gan is our latest creepy child and has caught my eye on a pattern I see in most horror movies with the creepy child trope. As said before, girls are usually seen as innocent, from their long flowing hair down to the softness of their voices. The point is no one could suspect a young innocent girl to be a murderer, and that is the ploy. But, we are not going to talk about the trope, as the trope has been talked about so many times. What we'll be discussing is the creepy child revealed scene. This is the scene that is either near the middle or end of the film, where our creepy child reveals their true nature to the protagonist(s) and/or removes their disguise.

The AI M3gan was designed to hide the fact that she is a robot, to the point that her physicality is flawless. Everything that made M3gan seem friendly and human is all taken away in the scene where M3gan tries to kill her maker Gemma. In this scene, Gemma uses a chainsaw that only manages to rip half of M3gan's wig and face off. This scene reminds the audience and protagonists that despite M3gan's programming to be a caregiver, she will always be inside and out, a robot. A few more examples of the creepy child revealed scene are Ester removing her make-up that made her look like a little girl, Lilith's demon face reveal, etc.

Ester, Lilith, and M3gan all have something in common; they wanted to be what they disguised themselves to be... little girls. All three of the girls wanted someone to care for them and someone that made them feel human. However, pretending to be someone you're not can only work for so long. Eventually, their desire to be loved would be consumed by their true nature. Once they've realized they can't have it both ways, someone has to die.

[queen-of-films]

4 Black Girl Geniuses With Spectacles

In honor of Black History month, I would like to commemorate all the Black girl geniuses of the world, who don't shy away from their spectacles.

Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson

Hidden Figures is the definition of a Black girl genius. Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson with no doubt inspire young Black girls to pursue S.T.EM. The real Katherine Johnson will also inspire Black girls that even when the odds are against them, to never hold back their intellect.

Keke Palmer as Akeelah

Akeelah and the Bee is what got me into Scrabble. Keke Palmer as Akeelah makes spelling bee competitions inspirational and aspires Black girls to make their dreams come true.

Storm Reid as Meg

Meg is as brilliant as she is fearless. DuVernay's choice to cast Storm Reid as Meg gives a wider spectatorship for Black girls to see themselves through Meg. One of the key aspects in A Wrinkle in Time is the power of believing in yourself, a very powerful message to send to all girls of different shades.

Lunella Lafayette as Moon Girl

Lunella's afro puffs, round spectacles, and tech-savvyness, inspires Black girls to embrace their blackness. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur shows how Black girls can be heroes of our through our wits and individuality.

[queen-of-films]

Assemble for 2023! 🎇 Happy New Year! (🎥: Pedro Allevato)

[queen-of-films]

Five Ways 'Star Wars' References Buddhism

The Star Wars canon is undeniably a tribute to samurai, spaghetti western, and swashbuckler films. As a Buddhist, I look at the Star Wars canon through a Buddhist lens, and there are plenty of Buddhist references in this saga. For now, we will examine four examples of the Star Wars canon subtlety referencing Buddhism.

1. Yoda—The Buddhist Figure

Known for his wisdom and strong connection with the force, there's no question that Yoda is similar to The Buddha. Likewise, Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha) is famous for passing down Buddhist philosophy and achieving enlightenment. It is revealed in The Clone Wars that Yoda learned to become immortal by manifesting his consciousness into the cosmic force; thus becoming a force spirit. The idea of manifesting one's consciousness in the cosmic force sounds like nirvana, a state of enlightenment.

2. Padmè's Name Comes From a Buddhist Mantra

You might be wondering, the name Padmè sounds so beautiful and unique, that's because it's sanskrit. I'm almost embarrassed to not realize why her name sounded so familiar, Padmè is named after the most famous Buddhist mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum (the jewel is in the lotus) Padme meaning "lotus". The lotus flower is an important symbol in Buddhism, for it symbolizes purity and all that is good. With that being said, George Lucas made a good decision of naming one of the most important Star Wars character after such a beautiful mantra.

3. Ahsoka was Named After a Buddhist Figure

I was so happy when I found out my favorite Star Wars character was named after a Buddhist figure, an emperor no less. Ahsoka The Great was probably one the greatest (hence, his title) Indian rulers of all time. He was known for unifying his people through "peace and compassion" the same words I can describe for our heroine.

4. The Concept of the Force Goes With What Buddhism Stands For

For us, the Force is a fictional magic conjured by the Star Wars universe. But for Buddhism, it's more actual than fictional. According to Obi-Wan Kenobi the Force is "an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together". When Buddhists meditate, we are connecting ourselves to the energy that surrounds us, an energy that comes from the air, the ground, and within us. When we chant our mantras, summoning energy to guide us, is it not so different from using the Force? I would like to think that when one truly achieves deep meditation, they are wielders of the Force.

5. The Jedi Principles are in Alignment With Buddhist Philosophy

In short, here are the Jedi Principles summarized: there is no ignorance, no passion, no chaos, and no death. These four principles are in alignment with the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are a Buddhist philosophy these truths are thr acknowledgement of suffering, there's a way to end suffering, and to end suffering is through detachment. Suffering in Buddhism is actually defined as unsatisfactoriness. The Jedi principes also correlates with another Buddhist philosophy the Eighthfold Path which is a guide to live a better life.

[queen-of-films]

We may all celebrate the holidays differently, but what makes them so special and universal is the magic we feel when we are surrounded by our loved ones during the winter holidays. Supporting the Make-A-Wish campaign, Disney’s first Christmas advert, From Our Family to Yours is a trilogy that is told through three stories about a family celebrating Christmas. 

The first short film, Lola (2020), focuses on a grandmother, Lola, and her granddaughter celebrating Christmas while implementing their Filipino traditions. One of these traditions includes making the parol with her granddaughter, and passing down a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy that was once given by Lola's parents. The Mickey Mouse stuffed toy represents the universality Disney brings to families from other cultures. As the years passed by, so have the traditions. Once the granddaughter has reached adolescence, she doesn’t feel the magic she once felt in her grandmother’s Christmas traditions; this leads the grandmother to drop the Mickey Mouse toy, for she fears she has lost her granddaughter symbolically. But, as the theme song says, “Love is a Compass”. Once the granddaughter realizes the joy that the Christmas traditions gave to the family; she fills the house with parols, for she has not forgotten the magic of the holidays, and has found her way back to her grandmother.

Read the full article at Incluvie.com

[queen-of-films]

Cambodia's First Scifi Movie 'Karmalink' Pays Tribute to Buddhism in Five Sentences

It's a film about reincarnation and discovering your past lives. A golden Buddha statue is seen throughout the film and represents one's dharma. One character searches for his Dharma (your soul's purpose) while the other strives for enlightenment. A nanotech device meant to see your dreams mimics the third eye concept. Temples are vital in this film, one temple in, particular, has three futuristic colorful spinning circles that can represent the three jewels of Buddhism (The Buddha, The Dharma, and The Sangha).

Rest in peace Leng Heng Prak.

[queen-of-films]

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dana Ziyasheva (who is now a part of our Incluvie team!), who wrote and directed her featured film Defenders of Life (2015). Ziyasheva was born in Kazakhstan, and went on to become a journalist and a UNESCO diplomat where she spent 20 years working for the United Nations. As a UNESCO diplomat, she worked with indigenous tribes in Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico. This was when she decided to make a career in filmmaking after she encountered the Ngäbe community in Costa Rica, and that’s how Defenders of Life was born. Interesting fact: FNX (First Nations Experience TV), the first and only national broadcast television network in the United States exclusively devoted to Native American and World Indigenous content, purchased the rights to broadcast Defenders of Life and was the first U.S network to premiere the film in North America. Defenders of Life is about the Ngäbe community leader Doña Carmen, conflicted by her tribe’s traditional ways after her 12-year-old granddaughter is impregnated by their 70-year neighbor, who plans to marry her. While the film is based on the Ngäbe people in Costa Rica, the film can relate to the obstacles Native Americans face in present-day America. It is a perfect film for Native American Heritage Month. In this interview, Dana Ziyasheva gives us insights into the making of Defenders of Life, and the hardships Ngäbe girls endured in Costa Rica.

Read the rest of my interview with Dana Ziyasheva on Incluvie.

[queen-of-films]

This month celebrates Indigenous communities and their cultures. But, when it comes to representing Indigenous people in media, we fall short. This is because Indigenous stories are often told through the white gaze, and not by their own people. When we think of authentic Indigenous films, there’s not much to think of other than the Native American-led films in the 90s. Most of these films that featured Native Americans were either westerns, documentaries, or coming-of-age. There wasn’t much expansion of Indigenous people in other popular genres, until now. I introduce to you, Slash/Back, an Inuit Horror Sci-fi that is centered on four Inuit girls hunting alien monsters and ultimately, saving their village, Pangnirtung “Pang” from an alien invasion. Directed by Nyla Innuksuk who is an Inuk herself, this film not only represents Inuit girls but girlhood altogether. The emphasis on girlhood such as friendship, sisterhood, and girl power in Slash/Back makes it relatable for Inuit girls and non-indigenous girls.

Read my full article on Slash/Back at Incluvie

[queen-of-films]

Reaching nearly Halloween, Amazon Prime released Run Sweetheart Run (2020), the most relatable horror film for women. Directed by Shana Feste, Run Sweetheart Run follows a single Black mother, Cherie, who wants to land a job as a lawyer, but is instead demoted to a  secretary at a prestige law firm. Cherie's boss sets her up with a business meeting with a new client. But, this meeting quickly turns into a date, and Ethan (the client) seems to be the perfect man a woman could ever want . . .  almost too perfect. Ethan shows his dark side when he attacks Cherie after inviting her to spend the night with him. Long story short, Ethan is not exactly your typical psycho boyfriend (he's more supernatural than human). Ethan reveals that he intends to "hunt" Cherie, and if she can survive until morning, he will let her go. It's safe to say, that is a bloody game of cat-and-mouse. Cherie is a Black woman in a red dress, running through the dark streets of Los Angeles from a supernatural madman, and to make matters worse, she's on her period. But, what makes Run Sweetheart Run as scary as it is relatable, is its ability to connect to women through women spectatorship.

Read my full article on Inlcuvie.

[queen-of-films]

6 Young Actresses Killing it in the Horror Genre

For decades, when we think of women in horror, these are the women who come to mind: Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, and Neve Campbell. Young women have a long history of being the star of horror films, but now we've entered a new era of horror. Our latest horror films of the 2010s-2020s are introducing us to new young actresses who are killing it in the horror genre.

Jenna Ortega

Now dubbed a Scream Queen, Jenna Ortega is the new fresh face of mainstream horror. While some may know her for her roles in Scream (2022) and X (2022) Jenna Ortega is no stranger to horror. Her first debut in horror was her small role in Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013). Ever since then, she’s become a likable child star, but this will quickly change. Now, that she’s making her way into mainstream horror, we would likely be seeing her taking on darker roles.

Upcoming Horror Project: Wednesday (Netflix) 

Anya-Taylor Joy

Anya-Taylor Joy may not be the youngest actress on our list, but it’s safe to say, she’s our latest horror queen. Most of us know her debut role in the A24 film, The Witch (2015). But, I only knew about her as the final girl in Split (2016). Her character in Split was the least one to scream, this changes how we associate final girls with scream queens; it also shows that elevated horror films are straying away from horror as a body genre.

Upcoming Horror Project: The Menu (2022)

Violet McGraw

Who doesn’t know Violet McGraw as the adorable little sister in Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House? In some ways, Violet McGraw reminds me of Madison Bailey, another actress who is known for her roles in horror movies. They both bring innocence and charm into their characters, and young girls seem to be more rendered by the supernatural in horror movies.

Upcoming Horror Project: M3gan (2023)

Madeleine McGraw

Being cast in horror movies seems to run in the family because Violet McGraw’s older sister, Madeleine McGraw, is also seen in a couple of horror films. I first saw her in her role in The Curse of La Llorona (2019), ironically, she’s also in the Disney mystery-supernatural show, Secrets of Sulphur Springs. What makes this ironic is this won’t be her first or second time in a supernatural show; her latest horror role is in The Black Phone (2021) which also deals with the supernatural. 

Upcoming Horror Project: TBA

Brianne Tju

From the Scream (2015-2019) series to 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019), I’m seeing Brianne Tju gradually dominating mainstream horror. I’ve longed for Brianne Tju to get her leading role in a horror film; since she doesn’t seem to survive in the ones she starred in, and finally, she gets her leading role in Unhuman (2022). I hope we get to see Brianne Tju in more horror projects because she’s an underrated actress who needs to be in more mainstream horror films.

Upcoming Horror Project: TBA

Mckenna Grace

Out of all the actresses on our list, Mckenna Grace has starred in multiple horror projects. Most of us know her blockbuster horror roles, like in Annabelle Comes Home (2019) and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021). She also plays one of the Crane children in The Haunting of Hill House, where her character is quite similar to her Conjuring Verse role. Both her characters Theo Crane (The Haunting of Hill House) and Judy Warren (Annabelle Comes Home) are intuitive, and because their gift gets them in touch with the supernatural, rather than fearing evil, both characters face it head-on. Mckenna Grace has starred in many more horror projects and many to come.

Upcoming Horror Project: A Friend of the Family (Peacock)

[queen-of-films]

What You Need to Know About Ahsoka Tano Before the Ahsoka Series Releases

Ahsoka Tano is my favorite Star Wars character, and she's the best thing that has happened to the franchise. Ahsoka was first introduced in the animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars; unfortunately, with the latest live-action Star Wars trilogy, Ahsoka Tano was never mentioned, and Star Wars fans were wondering if we will ever see a live-action Ahsoka. Fortunately, our wish has been granted, as the first live-action Ahsoka is brought into The Mandalorian played by Rosario Dawson. And that's not all, Ahsoka will have her own series on Disney Plus, where fans hope their questions about our heroine's journey have been answered. Before, the Ahsoka series is released, here are some facts you need to about her.

1. Ahsoka Was Anakin's Apprentice

Yes, ironically, the apprentice of Obi-wan Kenobi had an apprentice of his own. As many beginners of the Jedi, Ahsoka started out as a padwan. Anakin trained her to be a jedi, and what started out to be a master/student relationship turned into friendship.

2. Ahsoka is With the Force, But is No Jedi

What confused me about Ahsoka's introduction in The Mandalorian was the chapter titled, "The Jedi". For me, this title was misleading, especially, for those who don't know Ahsoka, because she is no jedi. Yes, she was trained the jedi way, she has the force, and fights with lightsabers, but Ahsoka made it clear that she was done with the Jedi, hence, she doesn't carry the title. In Clone Wars, Ahsoka was framed for bombing a jedi temple, and The Jedi Order imprisoned her for murder. While, Anakin was able to clear her name, Ahsoka felt betrayed by The Jedi Order and chose to walk away from them, including Anakin. Ahsoka's decision to leave the Jedi, ultimately, paved her way to start her own journey. Fun fact, one of Ahsoka's solo acts was battling the infamous Maul.

3. She Battled Vader Himself

The Clone Wars ended similarly to Revenge of the Sith, Anakin turned to the dark side, Palpatine becomes emperor, and most of the Jedi are terminated... except one. With the help of her friend, Rex, Ahsoka was able to survive order 66, and in order for her survival to stay a secret, she faked her own death. Luckily, this isn't the last we've seen of her. Ahsoka becomes a recurring character in Star Wars Rebels, and one of the most climatic scenes in the series is Ahsoka battling Darth Vader. Apparently, Ahsoka had no knowledge of her former master being Vader, until her encounter with him. In some ways, this scene is sad because we're seeing what were once best of friends, now archenemies.

4. A Star Wars Rebels Character Will Return With Ahsoka

It has been confirmed that Sabine Wren from Star Wars Rebels is set to be in the Ahsoka series. For Star Wars Rebels fans, Sabine's presence in the live-action Ahsoka series makes sense. Rebels ended with one of the main characters, Ezra Bridger missing in hyperspace. After five years of his disappearance, Sabine travels with Ahsoka, as she vowed to bring Ezra back home. Well, we can't wait to see Ahsoka and Sabine fighting side-by-side.

[queen-of-films]

We’ve just begun to learn about the water and its secrets, just as we’ve only touched on outer space. We don’t entirely rule out the possibility that there might be some form of life on another planet, and why not some entirely different form of life in a world we already know is inhabited by millions of living creatures?

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954) dir. Jack Arnold

[queen-of-films]

50s horror girls