It’s interesting to note how much can influence a child. I have no children of my own but believe it or not, I was one at an earlier point in my life. Doing the podcast, and these reviews, has caused me to reflect a good deal on the atmosphere I grew up in. That journey of reflection has brought me to look at how certain choices have shaped me to, partially at least, be the man I am today. My atmosphere is the reason I don’t smoke, do drugs of nearly any kind, and have a strict allowance on alcohol consumption. It is also the reason I have the faith I do.

Family is more than just blood relatives. The families that we subsequently acquire are the ones we make for ourselves. Those friends that we regard so closely they might as well be blood. Those relationships have further fueled my love of film. We are creatures of impression. It is how atmospheres mold us into the individuals we are. It is how we grow into the adults we become. Full disclosure, I’m talking from personal experience and not necessarily hard scientific data. However, I have also seen this played out in the lives of others.

Generational trauma is a very real thing. It has the power to scar and scare the individuals who experience its wrath. On the other hand, the individuals can suppress it and fool even themselves. Environments still shape our subconscious. The Indonesian horror film, The Queen of Black Magic (or as it is called in its native tongue Ratu Ilmu Hitam), tells the story of three orphans who return to their orphanage to visit their dying caretaker. Upon their visit, they encounter a ghost from their past and must face the consequences of their former sins. This is almost a 100 percent grounded film from a tonal point of view. As the title suggests viewers can expect some supernatural elements, which prompt the use of CGI. The visions are far from the biggest sin against this movie. That said, the CGI used within this film is embarrassingly atrocious.

The visuals are merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how bad this movie is. It’s painfully boring to navigate through. On the surface, it’s three foster brothers and their families reconnecting. Once at the orphanage, we are introduced to the legend of the Queen of Black Magic. The story is compelling enough to place your entire movie upon its surface. Aside from a few scenes it’s barely discussed at all. That’s probably the most irritating thing about this movie. It feels like it's unsure of its identity. It’s one part revenge horror while also being a supernatural horror film. Yet the way in which it uses its puzzlingly large cast causes Queen to be structured like a slasher, because of lots of bodies with virtually no development who exist exclusively to die. There are no compelling characters here.

All this is sad to say, because, as The Conjuring has taught us, family dynamics can be fascinating. The story has to be willing to develop its core cast at the very least. Queen does no such thing. Instead, it fills itself with stock characters and bland writing. When the final twist of the movie is revealed in its final moments, that lack of development slaps the film in its face, ultimately leading to a dull thud instead of what should otherwise be a roaring climax.

Overall, The Queen of Black Magic has nothing magical within her. The movie is a messy remake with nothing of note. The characters are bland, undeveloped, and lack any conviction. It never feels like they are facing any true danger. The acting is mediocre. Perhaps the most offensive thing about the film is its god awful CGI. The visual aesthetic of this movie becomes the final nail in its coffin. There is nothing scary or magical about this queen.

RORSHACH RATING:

Mental Health Moment:  There is a female character who struggles with body image issues throughout Queen. I knew that I wanted to address this issue, but also knew that I wasn’t the right person to speak on it, so I reached out to a friend, Abigail Bardwell, to speak on this very issue as she has a past with it. I’m grateful for Abigail’s vulnerability and hope it speaks to you. You can hear her full story on episode #351, The Bardwell Sisters.

“At 18 I was sexually assaulted, and it planted this seed in my mind that I was imperfect. I didn’t understand it, but I became hyper-fixated on components of myself that still felt connected to my trauma. I bleached my hair four times in one night as a way to take back ownership of my identity. He liked my hair dark. I moved on to inspecting my skin, spending hours picking and scratching and sometimes mutilating my face and chest. My inability to feel satisfied or comfortable with parts of myself led me to blame my entire existence. I incorporated habits of self-harm that I slowly became resistant to. At 19, I was hospitalized after collapsing at work: cardiac arrest from electrolyte depletion, a collapsed lung, minor pneumonia and a perforated esophagus. My mind was unable to comprehend how severely I had neglected my body. I have spent the last 11 years learning to accept myself completely and stop assessing my value in parts.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or BDD, is not “superficial.” It is within the spectrum of OCD. It presents with symptoms that are impulsive, compulsive, obsessive - habitual in creating a sense of comfort and purpose. It is an override in our brain that makes seemingly unreasonable rituals become reasonable, expected, and ultimately necessary. I have good days and I have bad days, but one thing I do believe again is that I have worth. I am more than how my body presents me to be. And as a person who nearly lost her life in an effort to feel beautiful, I can confirm that beauty should not be a loss. One of my favorite recovery quotes is, “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Every day is a spectrum of healing, and I hope every one of us grows to appreciate the differences and variables that ultimately create the value of human experience. You are worthy in every moment of being.”

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Special thanks to Abigail Bardwell for contributing the Mental Health Moment in this review. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. The Queen of Black Magic is property of Shudder. We do not own nor claim any rights.

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