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Willow Catelyn Maclay

@willowcatelyn.bsky.social

Film Critic (Film Comment, Reverse Shot, etc). GALECA. Co-Author of CORPSES, FOOLS AND MONSTERS

17,441 Followers  |  719 Following  |  5,055 Posts  |  Joined: 03.05.2023
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Posts by Willow Catelyn Maclay (@willowcatelyn.bsky.social)

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Why We Must Fight to Stop HR 7661 Before It Destroys the Lives of American Children Lately I’ve been calling my House rep and screaming about one zillion things, and maybe you have too. But today I want to talk about one thing in particular you should add to your list: H.R. 7661 i…

I wrote about the first national book banning bill, which effectively seeks to erase trans people. At the end I include a link to let your reps know that you oppose this bill and all it stands for. lithub.com/why-we-must-...

05.03.2026 13:45 β€” πŸ‘ 582    πŸ” 417    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 12

The girl gremlin is trans and I'm certain she got her ideas of glamour from Bugs Bunny. If we look at the evidence in the film then we know that they reproduce asexually when Gizmo is soaked with water. They are all versions of TV obsessed Gizmo who was assigned male at bi-[is tackled by security]

05.03.2026 20:14 β€” πŸ‘ 65    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
A review of Silence (2016) Scorsese has always been captivated by what can be expected of a person, and how a person may or may not live up to a personal moral code. It is dialectic that runs throughout the entirety of his work...

There will be some announcements in the coming days where I will unveil the next Patron's choice poll & the next horror project I'll be undertaking this month.

You can also read a sample of this essay over here

letterboxd.com/catelyn/film...

05.03.2026 20:07 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Willow is so good at this.

05.03.2026 18:41 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you Sean!!!

05.03.2026 19:42 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Scorsese has always been captivated by what can be expected of a person, and how a person may or may not live up to a personal moral code. It is dialectic that runs throughout the entirety of his work. Scorsese made a few films prior to Mean Streets in 1973, but the course was set for him ever since Harvey Keitel’s gangster character in that film got on his knees and prayed for guidance. Scorsese seems to always come back to the question of whether or not a man can ever truly be good, and he has wavered back and forth with his answer. Jake LaMotta punched his way into an animalistic state in Raging Bull (1980) in pursuit of it, Christ nearly failed when he was given the task of weighing our qualities against his crucifixion in The Last Temptation of Christ, and we are shown to be merciless and not worthy of such a sacrifice in Killers of the Flower Moon’s portrait of aboriginal genocide within an American community. Scorsese is probably American cinema’s greatest chronicler of the post-world war II era, and he has remained vital because his questions have remained personal, even when they’ve become maximalist in his final years, and he has begun to grapple with centuries of violence. I don’t believe he has much faith in the collective body of mankind, but I think a hope remains in his films that one man can do one good thing on any given day, and that it can matter a great deal to put in the effort to try. In his adaptation of β€œSilence” there are many examples of this happening, and they are among some of the most moving and profound moments in the picture. He finds God in hopeless places, between men clasping each others palms, in acts of mercy, and in the sacrifice of identity for the sake of another person’s safety.

Scorsese has always been captivated by what can be expected of a person, and how a person may or may not live up to a personal moral code. It is dialectic that runs throughout the entirety of his work. Scorsese made a few films prior to Mean Streets in 1973, but the course was set for him ever since Harvey Keitel’s gangster character in that film got on his knees and prayed for guidance. Scorsese seems to always come back to the question of whether or not a man can ever truly be good, and he has wavered back and forth with his answer. Jake LaMotta punched his way into an animalistic state in Raging Bull (1980) in pursuit of it, Christ nearly failed when he was given the task of weighing our qualities against his crucifixion in The Last Temptation of Christ, and we are shown to be merciless and not worthy of such a sacrifice in Killers of the Flower Moon’s portrait of aboriginal genocide within an American community. Scorsese is probably American cinema’s greatest chronicler of the post-world war II era, and he has remained vital because his questions have remained personal, even when they’ve become maximalist in his final years, and he has begun to grapple with centuries of violence. I don’t believe he has much faith in the collective body of mankind, but I think a hope remains in his films that one man can do one good thing on any given day, and that it can matter a great deal to put in the effort to try. In his adaptation of β€œSilence” there are many examples of this happening, and they are among some of the most moving and profound moments in the picture. He finds God in hopeless places, between men clasping each others palms, in acts of mercy, and in the sacrifice of identity for the sake of another person’s safety.

a still image from SILENCE of Andrew Garfield praying in the foreground and Shinya Tsukamoto praying in the background

a still image from SILENCE of Andrew Garfield praying in the foreground and Shinya Tsukamoto praying in the background

I wrote about Martin Scorsese's SILENCE for my readers choice series and wrestled with its many questions of faith.

www.patreon.com/posts/152227...

04.03.2026 16:14 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
05.03.2026 03:24 β€” πŸ‘ 24    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Scorsese has always been captivated by what can be expected of a person, and how a person may or may not live up to a personal moral code. It is dialectic that runs throughout the entirety of his work. Scorsese made a few films prior to Mean Streets in 1973, but the course was set for him ever since Harvey Keitel’s gangster character in that film got on his knees and prayed for guidance. Scorsese seems to always come back to the question of whether or not a man can ever truly be good, and he has wavered back and forth with his answer. Jake LaMotta punched his way into an animalistic state in Raging Bull (1980) in pursuit of it, Christ nearly failed when he was given the task of weighing our qualities against his crucifixion in The Last Temptation of Christ, and we are shown to be merciless and not worthy of such a sacrifice in Killers of the Flower Moon’s portrait of aboriginal genocide within an American community. Scorsese is probably American cinema’s greatest chronicler of the post-world war II era, and he has remained vital because his questions have remained personal, even when they’ve become maximalist in his final years, and he has begun to grapple with centuries of violence. I don’t believe he has much faith in the collective body of mankind, but I think a hope remains in his films that one man can do one good thing on any given day, and that it can matter a great deal to put in the effort to try. In his adaptation of β€œSilence” there are many examples of this happening, and they are among some of the most moving and profound moments in the picture. He finds God in hopeless places, between men clasping each others palms, in acts of mercy, and in the sacrifice of identity for the sake of another person’s safety.

Scorsese has always been captivated by what can be expected of a person, and how a person may or may not live up to a personal moral code. It is dialectic that runs throughout the entirety of his work. Scorsese made a few films prior to Mean Streets in 1973, but the course was set for him ever since Harvey Keitel’s gangster character in that film got on his knees and prayed for guidance. Scorsese seems to always come back to the question of whether or not a man can ever truly be good, and he has wavered back and forth with his answer. Jake LaMotta punched his way into an animalistic state in Raging Bull (1980) in pursuit of it, Christ nearly failed when he was given the task of weighing our qualities against his crucifixion in The Last Temptation of Christ, and we are shown to be merciless and not worthy of such a sacrifice in Killers of the Flower Moon’s portrait of aboriginal genocide within an American community. Scorsese is probably American cinema’s greatest chronicler of the post-world war II era, and he has remained vital because his questions have remained personal, even when they’ve become maximalist in his final years, and he has begun to grapple with centuries of violence. I don’t believe he has much faith in the collective body of mankind, but I think a hope remains in his films that one man can do one good thing on any given day, and that it can matter a great deal to put in the effort to try. In his adaptation of β€œSilence” there are many examples of this happening, and they are among some of the most moving and profound moments in the picture. He finds God in hopeless places, between men clasping each others palms, in acts of mercy, and in the sacrifice of identity for the sake of another person’s safety.

a still image from SILENCE of Andrew Garfield praying in the foreground and Shinya Tsukamoto praying in the background

a still image from SILENCE of Andrew Garfield praying in the foreground and Shinya Tsukamoto praying in the background

I wrote about Martin Scorsese's SILENCE for my readers choice series and wrestled with its many questions of faith.

www.patreon.com/posts/152227...

04.03.2026 16:14 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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Modern Fairy Tales on Film: Phantom Thread Join host Adam Nayman as he discusses P.T. Anderson's masterpiece with critics Manuela Lazic and Haley Mlotek.

Starting on March 24 I'm beginning a virtual lecture series with
@torontolibrary
on modern fairy tales on film. The first episode is about Phantom Thread, with guests Haley Mlotek and Manuela Lazic; information below. eventbrite.ca/e/modern-fai...

04.03.2026 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Just want to say thank you to everyone who took the time to read or share my essay on Isabella Rossellini in BLUE VELVET. Love y'all <3

04.03.2026 15:02 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

thank you Marya!!!!!

04.03.2026 15:00 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

thank you jen <333

04.03.2026 14:59 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Book cover 1000 WOMEN IN HORROR

Book cover 1000 WOMEN IN HORROR

Film poster 1000 Women in Horror

Film poster 1000 Women in Horror

Can't wait til 20 March when the @shudder.com doc 1000 WOMEN IN HORROR is released? Good news! You can read my book that inspired the film in the interim!

www.bearmanormedia.com/products/100...

03.03.2026 21:34 β€” πŸ‘ 73    πŸ” 25    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

thank you babe!!!!!

03.03.2026 22:57 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Love this piece, which goes to great lengths to underline Isabella Rossellini's agency and artistry in helping create one of David Lynch's best films.

03.03.2026 19:16 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you Eric! πŸ’™

03.03.2026 20:07 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

thank you Odie! πŸ’™

03.03.2026 20:07 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you so much πŸ’™

03.03.2026 20:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This is my favourite piece of film writing this year. Just brilliant.

03.03.2026 18:00 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

"There is a distinction between movies about sexism and movies that are sexist, and β€œBlue Velvet” remains shocking because it is honest about misogyny and the power dynamics of rape."

03.03.2026 17:55 β€” πŸ‘ 30    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Really an excellent essay. "Dorothy Vallens was the first of Lynch’s many 'women in trouble', but she remains strange even refracted in that canon."

03.03.2026 17:50 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

me too. I think this was the first David Lynch movie that I watched. He eventually became my favorite filmmaker

03.03.2026 17:45 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

thank you!!!

03.03.2026 17:44 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The Mysteries of Dorothy Vallens: On Isabella Rossellini in β€œBlue Velvet” A look at one of the most essential performances of the '80s.

I was invited to participate in Women Writers Week at the Ebert website, and I wrote about Isabella Rossellini's performance in BLUE VELVET, and how she helped guide the film into its dark and mysteries places.

www.rogerebert.com/women-writer...

03.03.2026 14:43 β€” πŸ‘ 138    πŸ” 44    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 15
Preview
The Mysteries of Dorothy Vallens: On Isabella Rossellini in β€œBlue Velvet” A look at one of the most essential performances of the '80s.

β€œIsabella Rossellini’s extraordinary performance set the stage for all the actresses who would venture into those dark, mysterious places we call Lynchian," writes @willowcatelyn.bsky.social about the actress’ turn in BLUE VELVET.

03.03.2026 16:00 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Thank you Matt! πŸ’™

03.03.2026 17:03 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

"Blue Velvet circles down the drain, ever further into the abyss, and the black hole that a viewer enters when watching this picture emanates from Dorothy’s experiences."β€” @willowcatelyn.bsky.social

03.03.2026 16:00 β€” πŸ‘ 34    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you so much Mike <3

03.03.2026 15:44 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

"A movie like Blue Velvet and a performance like Rossellini’s have to make us feel uncomfortable in order for it to be honorable. They hold true to her experiences by showing us that Vallens is a woman with no protection from her emotions and her exposed vulnerability."

Superb essay.

03.03.2026 15:43 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

That's lovely to hear. I appreciate that

03.03.2026 15:33 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0