Ep 039: Midsommar, Charlie Says, and the Reality of Cults
As part of SPOOOOOOKY month, we touch on topics in the next two episodes that are often the subject of horror films – and we look at their impact on our brains. Today, we have the fabulous Guinevere Turner as our guest. She is the screenwriter of films like American Psycho and Charlie Says, and has recently published ‘When the World Didn’t End,’ a book about her experiences growing up in a cult.
We do a deep, deep dive into the representation of cults in film and TV and look at what filmmakers get right and what they get wrong. We also discuss the characteristics of a cult, who is susceptible to them, their impact on one's mental health, and how to help family and friends who may find themselves deeply entwined in a cult community. Lastly, we talk about why it’s hard to find the right therapist if you are a cult survivor and why the world is so obsessed with cult stories.
In this episode, you will:
Discover the chilling impact of cults in film and TV on our understanding of the human psyche.
Uncover the defining characteristics of cults and their influence on individuals and society.
Gain insight into the vulnerabilities that make people susceptible to joining cults and how to protect against them.
Develop empathy and compassion towards cult members, as we explore the importance of understanding their motivations and experiences.
Explore the profound impact of cults on mental health, shedding light on the psychological trauma experienced by survivors.
Understand the long-lasting effects of cult involvement on mental well-being and learn strategies for healing and recovery.
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Music: Deppisch
Design: Perpetualnotion.ca
Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao
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Guinevere Turner is a writer, director, and actor who has been working in film and TV since her 1994 debut film Go Fish, which she wrote, produced, and starred in. She teamed up with director Mary Harron to write the films American Psycho, The Notorious Bettie Page, and the 2019 film Charlie Says. She was a writer and story editor on Showtime’s The L Word, and she played the recurring character Gabby Deveaux on that show. She has written and directed seven short films, two of which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
She can be seen in film roles that include The Watermelon Woman, Chasing Amy, American Psycho, and The L Word. Her latest screenplay, Charlie Says, was directed by Mary Harron and opened in theaters and on digital platforms in May of 2019. Guinevere has taught screenwriting at Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia University, University of Georgia, UCLA, and NYU. She published an essay in The New Yorker in April of 2019, and has expanded on that essay in a memoir entitled When the World Didn't End - published in May 2023 from Penguin Random House.
REFERENCES
Memoir: When the World Didn’t End
Website: www.guinevereturner.com
Films and series referenced in this episode: Midsommar, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Charlie Says, Waco, Waco the Aftermath
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