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“Death of a loved one can lead people to do the strangest things.”
Of all the female killers in the wide world of cinema, few strike such an abhorrent cord as a mother who kills her children. Assumed to be natural caregivers and expected to automatically love their offspring, we place a special taboo on the women who not only fail to protect their kids, but actively cause their deaths. But mothers are not only human beings with complex inner lives, they are flawed, fallible, and just as likely to be cruel as the rest of society. Few films explore the mindset of a murderous mother like Alejandro Amenábar’s The Others. Within the trappings of a classic ghost story, this gorgeous film views its tragic heroine with a compassionate lens, extending an olive branch to a woman who has done the unthinkable. As the fog closes in and intruders threaten her carefully constructed life, Grace (Nicole Kidman), must free herself from a limiting mindset and come to terms with the annihilation of her family.
In their first episode of the new year, The Lady Killers unpack this haunting tale of shadow and light with a frank discussion of Grace’s motives and mental state. Hosts Jenn Adams, Sammie Kuykendall, Mae Shults, and Rocco T. Thompson would all die for Nicole Kidman, but vary in their sympathy for this murderous mother. Some view her as a relatable woman trapped in an unsustainable life while others take issue with her habit of forcing oppressive religious beliefs onto her children. Whatever the cause, we all marvel at Amenábar’s stunning use of light and shadow and the haunting images that leave us questioning our own beliefs about the afterlife.
Is the ending a tragedy or can an uplifting message be found among the wreckage? Is Grace an unreliable narrator and why does Mrs. Mills (Fionnula Flanagan) keep her secret for so long? Are these the cutest kids in cinematic history and just what does it mean to be a Cowardy, Cowardy Custard? They’ll answer all these questions and more while sharing their thoughts on Grace’s absent husband, the film’s scariest moments, and the spirits they’d choose to guide them into the next life. It’s time to uncover the gravestones.
Stream the episode below or subscribe now via Apple Podcasts and Spotify for future episodes that drop every Thursday.