On June 24th, 2022, Roe V Wade was overturned.
The controversial Supreme Court decision sent shockwaves through the American populous as the Court snatched away the bodily autonomy of millions of cisgender women, trans men, and more. Within a month of the decision, director Natasha Halevi brought together women filmmakers with the goal of creating a horror anthology film responding to the SCOTUS decision. The anthology, Give Me An A, comprises 15 short films, all written and directed by women. I attended the film’s screening at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, where 100% of the proceeds from the screening went to the New York Abortion Access Fund. In the grand tradition of horror being the premier genre of social commentary, Give Me An A uses the genre’s full spectrum to deliver a powerful counter-punch of a film.
Considering how the filmmakers started production in July, with such a short turnaround, it’s incredible how amazing these films look. I immediately have to praise Natasha Halevi as executive producer and shooting the wraparound segment Abigail, The Cheerleaders for putting this film together. I also have to extend praise to directors Meg Swertlow (The Voiceless), Bonnie Discepolo (DTF), Danin Jacquay (Good Girl), Annie Bond (Our Precious Babies), Sarah Kopkin (The Walk), Monica Moore-Suryiage (mediEVIL), Caitlin Hargraves (Sweetie), Megan Rosati (Plan C), Hannah Alline (Hold Please), Avital Ash (God’s Plan), Mary C. Russell (Crone), Valerie Finkel (Crucible Island), Kelly Nygaard (Vasectopia), Loren Escandon (The Last Store), and Francesca Maldonado (Traditional) for all their shorts’ strong production with the quick turnaround time. Making and releasing any film is an achievement but what these women pulled off is nothing short of miraculous.
Under the umbrella of the film’s core theme responding to the SCOTUS decision, the shorts exercise a variety of horror tones and subgenres. Every genre, from dark comedy, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, body horror, sci-fi, and even some grounded dramas, is utilized in the anthology. The mood of each short also varies, with a full emotional spectrum from depressingly terrifying to snarky power fantasies. The arrangement of the shorts keeps the anthology’s pace even, and the dynamic variety makes the film incredibly accessible. There’s something for everyone, but the patriarchal target is focused, so the film feels consistent and direct, it’s aggression always hitting home. The film never feels exploitive, overbearing, or like trauma porn; the gorier shorts (which feature excellent effects) never linger to uncomfortable degrees. Those with weak gore tolerance won’t feel excluded, people tired of victim narratives will enjoy the power fantasy shorts, and people who feel unheard, angry, and depressed will find catharsis in the more aggressive and intimate pieces.
Give Me An A tackles the consequences of the decision from multiple angles. While many of the shorts explicitly address unsafe abortion and threats to bodily autonomy, others tackle privacy, male-privilege, IVF, and other subjects related to the culture that overturned Roe v. Wade. The broad spectrum of shorts demonstrates how overreaching the decision was and gives the anthology a fresh variety of shorts to build on. While I would have wanted some shorts that delve into the impact on LGBT lives, including trans-men and nonbinary people, I do believe they will resonate with the anxieties addressed in the shorts.
Give Me An A is a compelling and daring work. It’s a timely, aggressive force that captures the current wave of anger and depression while maintaining hope and a rebellious snarkiness. While I have some personal favorite segments (Sweetie, The Last Store, Crucible Island, Our Precious Babies, mediEVIL, Plan C, and The Walk), I loved the anthology film in its entirety. Give Me An A paints a full picture of the impact overturning Roe v. Wade caused and encapsulates how horror is the best genre for tackling these issues.
While there isn’t a release date yet, keep this movie on your radar as it tours the festival circuit.
Please follow the links to the National Abortion Fund Network and Vote411 for voting resources for the November Midterms.
