‘Girl House’: This Surprising Internet-Based Slasher is Way Better Than Expected
Although slashers are frequently written off as gory, lowbrow movies, many of them have tackled more complex socioeconomic themes that other genres steer clear of. The 2014 film ‘Girl House’, directed by Trevor Matthews, is a prime illustration of this. In addition to providing the anticipated bloody pleasures, it also capitalizes on awkward conversations about female sexuality, internet culture, and the emergence of incels. Ted Bundy’s warning about the connection between pornography and violence is quoted at the beginning of the film, setting the tone for a blend of slasher clichés and disturbing societal critique.
The story revolves around Ali Cobrin’s character Kylie, who joins ‘Girl House’, a live-streaming porn website, in order to earn extra cash. Coeds perform for viewers and fulfil requests at a sorority-style residence on the website. But Loverboy (Slaine), one of the viewers, develops a deadly obsession with Kylie that turns violent and terrifying. Once the cutting starts, ‘Girl House’ delivers with innovative killings, brutal violence, and powerful special effects. They torture and murder with a variety of weapons, including axes and hammers. These gory sequences honour the iconic horror movies from the 1970s.
Image Courtesy: Prime Video
The film’s socioeconomic critique is its most terrifying feature, despite the gore. ‘Girl House’ uses the real-world increase of incels by 2014 to condemn men’s entitlement to women’s bodies rather than adopting a clear moral stand on p*rn.
The movie highlights the negative aspects of online culture, where the ladies are hounded and constantly watched by both their lovers and the men in their lives. The picture is made all the more unsettling by this violation of privacy and the sense of being watched all the time, particularly in the modern world where surveillance is commonplace. ‘Girl House’ is a deft and unnerving slasher that blends a biting commentary of modern society with gory horror.
–Farheen Ali
