Throughout the records of film history, there has been one theme that has always caught people’s attention. The “hysterical woman trope”.
This portrayal of women as crazy or insane has spanned every genre from drama to comedy. Each female hysteria movie tells a story about how society views them and what it means for their role in society.
Whether we sympathize with these characters or laugh at them, this kind of representation shows us just what is expected from women today.
So let’s take some time out of our day and see where these movies about female hysteria take us – because who knows? We might even learn something along the way!
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“Hysterical Woman Trope”: Movies About Female Hysteria
1. Black Swan (2010)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky, this psychological thriller follows Nina Sayers – a ballet dancer whose psyche starts to unravel due to perfectionism and obsession. Natalie Portman’s performance won her an Academy Award for Best Actress as she shows us what ambition does with identity in the face of mental health issues.
2. Mother! (2017)
This allegorical tale sees Jennifer Lawrence playing opposite Javier Bardem as his character’s wife; they live peacefully until uninvited guests arrive at their house throwing everything into chaos.
The film has a very strange plot which defies commonly accepted ways stories can be told thus creating opportunity for examining creation through destruction focusing on female experience rather than male one.
3. Requiem For A Dream (2000)
In this movie directed also by him we follow four different characters whose lives are ruined because of drug addiction – it’s another great movie about addiction you should definitely watch if haven’t seen yet!
Jennifer Connelly does some really impressive acting here too where she plays Marion Silver; she gets sucked into drugs because she wants to lose weight quickly so that way it makes her look better when wearing clothes designed specifically for skinny people only but then things go downhill from there on out…
4. Don’t Worry Darling (2022)
Olivia Wilde directs Don’t Worry Darling, which is set during the 1950s and stars Florence Pugh as a housewife who uncovers disturbing secrets about her seemingly perfect life. It’s filled with twists turns while challenging traditional gender roles narratives alike due to its talented ensemble cast led by none other than Pugh herself!
5. Pearl (2011)
Pearl wants to leave her poor family on the farm, get away from the hard work and monotonous routine, as well as avoid dealing with her sick dad and judgmental mother. She dreams of being rich and famous like the people she sees in movies.
6. Hysteria (2011)
Hysteria is a British movie from 2011 directed by Tanya Wexler. It takes place in Victorian England where doctors were treating women’s symptoms such as anxiety or irritability believed to be caused by their uterus through genital stimulation using handheld devices.
7. American Mary (2012)
Directed by Jen Soska Sylvia Soska; body horror film about medical student turned underground surgeon who starts performing extreme body modification surgeries after being wronged personally professionally which challenges ideas around what constitutes as identity agency etcetera.
8. The Ladies Club (1986)
A policewoman, a doctor, and the victim’s sister join forces to form a group aimed at advocating for justice for survivors of sexual assault. They focus on supporting victims, raising awareness, and working within the legal system to ensure perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
9. Kill Bill: Volume One (2003)
Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Volume One is a power-packed female hysteria movie, that people can’t help but love!
It has amazing action scenes and Uma Thurman does a fantastic job playing Beatrix Kiddo AKA The Bride – former assassin seeking revenge against those responsible for trying to kill her unborn child during wedding ceremony!
10. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Marvel Studios promised a thrilling ride through multiple universes and infinite possibilities. This 10th movie is shrouded in secrecy with Elizabeth Olsen joining Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange.
Scarlet Witch becomes a more nuanced character, she’s already one of the most powerful ones in their roster. This challenges the traditional superhero tropes by having such a complex female lead, making this one of the movies about female hysteria.
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By examining the hysterical woman stereotype, these movies explore the innermost levels of fragility, thus showing how social norms and biases affect the way people view female feelings and forcing them to reconsider their deep-rooted assumptions.
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