‘Apartment 7A: A Dance Macabre Between Control and Autonomy’- Editorial for Fangoria Vol. 2 Issue #25

Mail day was extra special this past week as I can now finally hold my contributor copy of the latest issue of Fangoria Magazine!

The first piece of film analysis I ever wrote was my personal essay on the use of ballet in horror films titled ‘Blood-Stained Satin.’ This essay took a look at films like Possession, Black Swan, and Suspiria in order to shed some light on the reality of the ballet world. There is much that is misunderstood about these depictions of ballet and ballet dancers when you yourself have not lived it. One such example is the ballet class that Anna teaches in Possession. I have seen many refer to the scene as “Anna abusing a student,” but the reality is that many ballet masters are harsh with their words, and physical with their corrections. When I watch that scene, yes, it is uncomfortable but it is also familiar. A common catchphrase I heard growing up was, “if it does not hurt, you are not doing it right.” I, unknowingly, carried this into other parts of my life and it was only once I pulled apart these horror films that I understood the ways they helped me feel seen as a ballet dancer who struggles with my own identity.

It is an honor to have my journey as a writer, film critic, and horror film academic (if you will), come full circle. In the fall issue of Fangoria, I wrote an analysis of the use of dance in Apartment 7A and how it not only pays homage to and builds upon the lexicon of dancer-focused horror films but how Terry’s own relationship to dance marries perfectly with the themes explored in Rosemary’s Baby.

This essay was a joy to write! There is so much good stuff in this issue, including an interview with Beck and Woods for their upcoming film, Heretic, by Reyna Cervantes (my best friend and Rotten FM co-host), as well as an interview with Kōji Shiraishi by Amber T (my other best friend and all around role model)–so make sure you pick up a copy!

Snag your own copy of Fangoria Vol. 2 Issue 25 HERE!

P.S. just a cheeky little reminder that this is not my first time being featured in the magazine! In case you missed it, you can also pick up Vol. 2 Issue 21 HERE, which features my interview with the filmmakers of Saw X, as well as a 20th-anniversary retrospective essay on the legacy of the Saw franchise.

xx

Vannah