The Muddled Messaging of ‘American Mary’ [Horror Queers Podcast]

Bourbon & Bush

After closing out 2021 with a celebration (of sorts) of Witchboard‘s 35th anniversary and kicking off 2022 with a double-dose of Scream 4, Joe and I are continuing our “Underrated or Underseen?” theme of the first quarter of the year with a look at The Soska Sisters‘ 2012 film American Mary.

In the film, Mary (Katharine Isabelle) is a destitute medical student who begins taking clients from the extreme body modification community to solve her financial troubles. All is going swell until one of her med school professors (David Lovgren) invites her to an elite party, and Mary’s life is changed forever.

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Episode 160 – American Mary (2012)

Grab your black leather apron and your surgical tools because we’re visiting the offices of Dr. Mary Mason in the Soska Sisters’ 2012 rape-revenge film American Mary. Joining us for the discussion is Becky Sayers, co-host of the Paper Street Podcast.

Join us as we discuss the film’s influences before picking apart the mixed messaging of the film (feminist themes, destigmatization of the body modification community) and having another candid discussion about rape in cinema.

Plus, more Lizzie McGuire, Dr. Alan Grant (no, not that one), controversial off-screen antics, fancy doctor barn lofts and plenty of uh…flesh squelches.


Cross out American Mary!

Coming up on Wednesday: We’re continuing our “Underrated or Underseen?” theme with a look at Rob Zombie’s polarizing oddity The Lords of Salem!

P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for tons of additional content! This month, we will have episodes on House of Wax (2005), Last Night in Soho, See for Me and the 2021 Hereditaries, as well an audio commentary on Psycho Goreman!