Maravillosas, monstruosas: La mujer en el terror mexicano

·48 min·4 clips

A photographic exhibition in Mexico City collects the monstrous and wonderful female faces of Mexican horror cinema.

The episode begins with host Erick Estrada introducing the topic: a photographic exhibition in Mexico City titled 'Maravillosas, monstruosas: La mujer en el terror mexicano', which focuses on female faces in Mexican horror cinema. Guest Valeria Villegas Lindvall, a doctorate in cinema with a specialization in Latin American terror, joins from Sweden to discuss her involvement. Valeria explains her background, starting with academic exchanges in Sweden and work at Rolling Stone México, before shifting her research from drug trafficking violence to women in horror. She details her collaboration on the exhibition, which was facilitated by Abraham Castillo and involves the Secretaría de Cultura, INCINE, and Alameda Films. The exhibition features archival materials from Alameda Films, showcasing women's roles across four decades in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and comedy. Valeria emphasizes the importance of preserving and circulating Mexican genre cinema internationally, mentioning the 'México Macabro' box set with Powerhouse Films. The host and guest then delve into the unique characteristics of Mexican horror, noting that it has a 'mother' in La Llorona (1933), unlike other national horror traditions with paternal figures. They discuss how early horror films reflected social and political contexts, such as post-revolutionary Mexico, and reinforced or questioned gender roles. Valeria provides specific film examples, starting with 'La Maldición de la Llorona' (1963), where Rita Macedo's portrayal of the Llorona represents a powerful female lineage and subversion. She also analyzes 'Alucarda' (1978), highlighting its exploration of lesbian sexuality and punishment within a convent setting. The conversation touches on luchador films, with Valeria noting their cultural impact and representations of women, such as in 'Las Mujeres Panteras'. She mentions her book 'Wicked Women and Witches', based on her doctoral research, and her ongoing work on 21st-century horror. The episode concludes with Valeria sharing her social media handles and encouraging listeners to engage with the exhibition and her open-access publications.

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