Oh, The Horror: Demons And Women’s Sexuality

Exorcisms are a distinct, massive subgenre in horror films for good reason. There’s just something about watching a good ol’ demonic possession movie that always hits the spot for horror movie cravings, mine especially. Even though the subgenre tends to recycle the same essential plot, it somehow never fails to frighten. Besides, it’s always interesting to see how each director will portray the demonic possession: spinning heads, levitation, animal killing, vomiting toxic goo onto everyone, etc.

No matter what happens, though, one characteristic of demonic possession always stays the same: the insatiable lust of the demon, now acting through its female host—and it’s almost always a female character. Evidently, we’re more easily tainted. Or, at least, we are according to some ancient patriarchal religious idea that says women are more susceptible to being invaded by Satan. In fact, it’s such an age-old popular concept, that even if contemporary directors are not deliberately trying to propagate the masses with sexist messages, they rarely stray from this plot.

Source: this MAGAZINE