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Charnice Horne is a Gen Z writer who strives to make cultural criticism pieces at the intersection of politics and pop culture. This is often reflected through her writings on the website and her fun takes on films and television. She is a recent Political Science graduate from North Carolina looking to make even bigger waves at The Cinema Spot. 🙂
If I could describe this movie as anything, I would describe this movie to be a “beautiful mess”. She Is Conann is French experimental filmmaker Bertrand Mandico’s attempt to make a feminist take on John Milius’s spring 1982 film, Conan the Barbarian. This is one in which he succeeds quite well. There has never been a film with nearly as much glitter in it, let alone filmed as beautifully as this movie. If there was any other way to describe it, then the term “beautiful disaster truly” perfectly encapsulates everything that this movie tried and wanted to be. For those looking for a horror movie with a queer twist on it, She Is Conann is the film for you.
The consistent switching from black and white to in-color film allows for the story to be told in various spaces and periods within the movie. This not only adds to how beautiful this movie is but also how distinct the story becomes. The color change does not take away from the movie but only merely adds to it in the most beautiful way possible. One would have never thought there was a beautiful way to capture gore and blood spitting in through the most beautiful 35mm lens ever and yet, this film takes it all the way there and then some.
French cinema can convey the emotions and meaningful storytelling that traditional American films can often lack. She Is Conann is a great example of how art in all mediums and forms must be preserved for the progression of society at large. Every audience member will want to become immersed while watching this film even though it is a horror film at its core. Although, to be able to watch a story that is queer at its core presents something as grotesque and distorted as She Is Conann and yet find the overall message of the film relatable and moving is evidence of just how incredible French cinema can be and is. It is because of this that one can truly say this film is a beautiful mess that horror fans everywhere can enjoy.
A World of Horror-Escapism
In the first few minutes of this film, you are immediately thrown into a world filled with gore and cannibalism all while filmed in black and white. Following the narrator Rainer (Elina Löwensohn), she acts as an integral component of the story, seemingly having a role similar to that of a grim reaper or crypt keeper. Often throughout the film, this character is there to warn other integral characters about the consequences of their actions while also subsequently facing things at the expense of her actions throughout the story. Ultimately, she is our main guide through the narrative, and we can follow the events of this film through her perspective amongst many other characters involved within this story. Nevertheless, there is no shortage of action, intimacy, and even political commentary within this film. It is all intertwined into one, if you were looking for a queer horror with the element of escapism for nearly two hours, this is the ultimate film for you.
This film can grasp you as a viewer from the very moment it starts. Despite how disturbing the film becomes, you are unable to look away; past the gore and darker themes of the story, this film is written in such a captivating way. The dialogue across the movie is captivating insofar as it makes you want to know more about various realities and will have you questioning the possibilities of life itself. One could even jump to the question by the end of the film: “Is there even a point beyond all of this in the world?”
Sociocultural Critique
She Is Conann contains multiple strong performances and excellent line delivery, but the most thrilling part of the film comes from the final act of the greater story. This movie can convey political messaging about the importance of art preservation and gender-bent eloquence without actually letting up on any gore whatsoever. At the very end of this film, the artists are given the choice to starve and live in poverty or choose to live out cannibalism. This film was not afraid to go there and critique society through the lens of such a dark and moving horror film. With various themes of rebirth and reincarnation thrown together throughout the entire film, audiences will be able to question reality but also wonder: “What is the true purpose of this life I am living?”
Its sharp criticism of fascism alongside its pushes for living your life, to the fullest, truly allows for proper cultural criticism of the film to occur. While being a queer horror story, Mandico’s film has something just for any and everyone in all types of fandoms. It is phenomenal and will likely inspire more sapphic media in the coming years. Nevertheless, we should look forward to the queer horror stories that will potentially be directly inspired and influenced by the hard work done by the cast and crew on She Is Conann.
Final Rating: 7.5/10
She Is Conann is now playing in theaters across the US!
Charnice Horne is a Gen Z writer who strives to make cultural criticism pieces at the intersection of politics and pop culture. This is often reflected through her writings on the website and her fun takes on films and television. She is a recent Political Science graduate from North Carolina looking to make even bigger waves at The Cinema Spot. 🙂
This article was edited by John Tangalin.