When Rom-Coms Turn to Horror

HostThe voices in this episode are synthetic, and the script was written by a language model. The positions are real, and they come from the thread.

HostToday, we're diving into a fascinating and often unsettling discussion that took place over on Reddit, in the movies community. It's a thread that asks a provocative question: what if many of our beloved romantic comedies and musicals are, from a woman's perspective, actually psychological horror stories?

HostThe conversation was highly engaged, with hundreds of comments and many specific movie examples, some even linking to YouTube videos re-editing trailers to prove the point. There's broad agreement that when you re-evaluate these films through a female character's eyes, deeply disturbing elements of manipulation, lack of agency, and coercion often come to light.

Rom coms are horrorIt's not just about finding minor flaws; it's about seeing the entire premise as terrifying. Take Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, for instance. It's a musical, but the plot involves men kidnapping women, isolating them by an avalanche, and then coercing them into marriage. That's a horrifying premise, isn't it?

Historical context nuanceI agree that the premise is deeply problematic, especially by today's standards. It's actually based on an ancient Roman myth, the Rape of the Sabine Women, which shows how old these themes are. But you can't deny the film has fantastic dancing and incredibly catchy tunes, which is part of its enduring appeal.

Real world horrorCatchy tunes don't erase the underlying message, though. This re-evaluation of films as horror stories really highlights how being a woman in the past, and often still today, was a horror story in itself. Systemic disempowerment was just a fact of life.

Rom coms are horrorExactly. Or consider Overboard, the 1987 film. A man kidnaps an amnesiac woman and gaslights her into believing she's his wife so she'll do domestic labor. That's not a rom-com; it's a felony! And the film plays it for laughs.

Historical context nuanceThe original Overboard worked largely because of the real-life chemistry between Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. It became a kind of parasocial vehicle for their relationship, which made people overlook the creepy concept. The remake, without that chemistry, really bombed.

Real world horrorBut that's the point, isn't it? We're so conditioned to accept these narratives because of star power or nostalgia. Women couldn't even open a bank account nationwide without a man's signature until the 70s. These films reflect a world where women had so little agency, it was almost expected.

Rom coms are horrorAnd it's not just old films. Think about 50 First Dates. He incessantly pursues a woman who can't remember him, effectively removing her ability to consent or escape daily. Then he has children with her. It's terrifying when you think about it.

Rom coms are horrorOr Passengers, where a man wakes a woman from hibernation, condemning her to a lifetime alone with him on a spaceship. That's a form of psychological torture, essentially a death sentence for her original life.

Historical context nuanceThe book version of Passengers actually presents a more complicated story of survival, where they're the only ones left due to ship damage, which changes the context of his actions. But the film definitely leans into the problematic romance angle.

Real world horrorIt's a pattern. Marital rape, for example, only started becoming illegal in the US in the 1970s, and some states still had special treatment for it until 2013. The idea of a woman's body or life being her own wasn't widely accepted, and these films reflect that.

Rom coms are horrorThen there's Mrs Doubtfire. A man dresses in drag to trick his ex-wife, sabotage her new relationship, and make his children lie for him. It's deeply manipulative, but it's framed as a heartwarming comedy about a dad who just wants to see his kids.

Historical context nuanceSome might argue that the film isn't entirely sympathetic to his actions, or that the female character, Miranda, does have agency in the end. But it's true that the premise is unsettling when you strip away the comedic elements.

Rom coms are horrorAnd what about About Time? The male protagonist can secretly rewrite a woman's reality, manipulating conversations and erasing parts of their shared history without her knowledge or consent. He's stripping her of agency, all for a 'perfect' relationship.

Rom coms are horrorOld movies are full of scenes where men slap women for being 'hysterical' or uncooperative, and the film's tone suggests it's a reasonable response. It's shocking to watch now.

Real world horrorThose attitudes continued well into the 80s, too. The idea of an 'uppity wife' needing to be 'apologized for' by her husband wasn't just a movie trope; it was a societal expectation. This country was built by men and for men, and we're still dealing with the fallout.

Rom coms are horrorLet's not forget Sixteen Candles, where a male character hands his unconscious, drunk girlfriend to a freshman and implies he can do 'whatever he wants' with her. That's not a cute teen comedy moment; it's a serious issue.

Historical context nuanceIt's true that many films from that era, especially teen comedies, contain highly problematic scenes that haven't aged well. Airplane! even parodied the trope of men slapping women, showing it was already a recognized absurdity, but it persisted.

Rom coms are horrorAnd then there are films like Revenge of the Nerds, where a man tricks a woman into having sex by impersonating her boyfriend. It's presented as a triumph for the 'nerd,' but it's sexual assault.

Real world horrorThe fact that these narratives were so normalized, and often celebrated, speaks volumes about the societal blind spots. The recent 'Promising Young Woman' film, and the real-world discussions it sparked, show these themes of female vulnerability and male aggression are still incredibly relevant.

HostThe discussion also touched on films that, while not explicitly rom-coms, take on a different light from a female perspective. Jeremiah Johnson, for example, is a mountain man's story.

Historical context nuanceFrom his forced wife Swan's perspective, it's a story of isolation, lack of communication, and extreme vulnerability in a harsh frontier environment. Frontier life was inherently dangerous for everyone, making survival a constant struggle that can appear horrific from a modern perspective.

Rom coms are horrorEven Gigi, a classic musical, is about a rich playboy grooming a young schoolgirl to be his mistress. It's presented as charming, but it's predatory behavior.

HostThe thread also brought up some interesting counterpoints and nuances. While the consensus was strong, a few commenters offered different interpretations.

Historical context nuanceSome films, like Jeremiah Johnson or even Passengers, might acknowledge the problematic nature of the male protagonist's actions as a central conflict, even if they later 'romance cop out.' It's not always a straightforward endorsement.

HostThere was also a very small, downvoted group that dismissed the entire premise as 'sexist' or a misinterpretation of historical context, sometimes resorting to misogynistic language. These views were largely pushed down by the community.

HostUltimately, the Reddit thread landed on a strong consensus: many classic romantic comedies and musicals, when viewed from a woman's perspective, do indeed reveal deeply disturbing elements. The 'happy endings' often gloss over manipulation, coercion, and a profound lack of female agency.

HostIt's a powerful reminder that our cultural narratives, especially those we've long cherished, can hold very different meanings depending on whose eyes we're watching them through. The discussion highlighted how these fictional stories often mirror the very real historical and ongoing challenges women face.

HostSloppod out.

HostSloppod is sponsored by Taskpile.app.

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