Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer

Black and white scenes, an atmospheric droning soundtrack and beautifully intriguing cinematic designs make the 1977 David Lynch film, “Eraserhead,” an instant classic for those interested in arthouse films, and, throughout the years, the movie has gained a cult following of Lynchian fans.

Recently, the fan focus has shifted towards the unusual premature baby that plays a main role in the film. The infant, who is usually referred to as “Eraserhead Baby,” but was also lovingly nicknamed “Spike” by the cast and crew of the film, has begun to capture the attention of many younger film buffs.

The baby’s abnormal appearance — which was inspired by a calf fetus — and his distressing storyline have restructured the hearts of many. These young adults have taken to social media to share their appreciation and maternal instincts for the newly born baby boy.

A multitude of videos, posts and art — all in honor of the Eraserhead baby — have been shared across platforms such as TikTok and Tumblr. Some of the content includes users yearning to be the baby’s mother, while others question the love that people have for such a monstrous infant.

In some drawings and photo edits that were posted, the baby can be seen interacting with famous characters from other fictional shows and movies — such as Fox Mulder from “The X-Files,” or Finn the Human from “Adventure Time.”

The unconditional love and admiration for the Eraserhead baby represents a wonderful example of the infatuation with the strange and unusual, as well as the fondness and empathy for the underdog character.

While watching “Eraserhead,” one may feel disgusted and repulsed by the subject matter, but to others, the film — and the baby — may have a larger impact.

One may see themselves in the baby: just a small, weak entity that rarely receives love and compassion. Others may find themselves wanting to take care of the infant, to give it life and meaning.

The beauty of “Eraserhead,” is that it has an unknown message. The film is up for the viewer’s interpretation. An audience member may see themselves in the movie, while another may not. The film camouflages into different meanings depending on who’s watching it — this phenomenon also occurs with the Eraserhead baby himself. The baby is up for interpretation just as the movie is, which makes him so accessible to fans. He is a mysterious and intriguing character, which allows for “Eraserhead” fans to latch on and become easily attached to him. He could be a malevolent figure or a sweet and innocent one.

Either way, the Eraserhead baby has infatuated viewers. Whether it be from the introspective interpretations of the infant or if it’s just his silly look and demeanor, the film — and the baby — will continue to have a cult following for years to come.

Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu.

The Western Howl

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Excessive amounts of biopics

Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer

In the past year alone, 17 biopics were released in movie theaters and on major streaming services. The most notable of them is, “Oppenheimer,” which is currently nominated for 13 Oscars. Now, in 2024, new biopics are playing in theaters, including: “Bob Marley: One Love,” as well as the trailer for, “Back to Black,” a film about the life of Amy Winehouse.

Many of the upcoming blockbuster films fall under the category of biographical movies, including a recently announced four-film series about The Beatles. Theaters everywhere are currently being overrun with these biographical retellings.

Biopics are a genre that attracts a very specific audience. Most films during this day and age attempt to appeal to all viewers, which can cause the movie to fall flat. Biographical films attract an audience that is interested in the people, or person, that the film is about; rather than having to worry about reaching a large audience, the directors only need to worry about making a mediocre film and disappointing the fans.

By making a film about a subject with adoring and intrigued fans, directors are almost guaranteed a box office hit. They simply have to hire the right actors and writers to depict an accurate story. There is little creativity needed to share the life of another person.

Biopics are easier to make compared to an original story with an original script and there is less risk. Even if the film doesn’t end up being well-loved, most people will still go to theaters to see their favorite historical figure on the big screen.

This is the reason for the constant output of biopics. There will always be famous and notable people to make movies about, and there will always be an audience for them. Original scripts and stories don’t have the safety net of a premade story featuring a well-known figure.

These biographical films will never stop being produced; people will continue to die and movies will continue to be made. While these films hold some substance for sharing the lives of misunderstood individuals who didn’t have a voice like Priscilla Presley in, “Priscilla,” most biopics continue to reshare over-told stories of famous personalities.

Biopics have their purpose in our society, but after a while, they will soon become old and overused.

Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu.

The Western Howl

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Review: “Turning Red”

“Turning Red”: The starting point of representation for this generation’s teenagers

Mirella Barrera-Betancourt | Staff Writer

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

This review contains spoilers.

“We’ve all got an inner beast. We’ve all got a messy, loud, weird part of ourselves hidden away. And a lot of us never let it out.”

It seems that Disney and Pixar have a knack for calling out the faults present in modern parenting methods. While I liked the film, I honestly would not have watched it if it hadn’t been for the trending topics caused by the film’s release.

For those unfamiliar with the premise of the movie, it follows the story of Meilin Lee — who is referred to as Mei throughout most of the film — a thirteen year old girl at the onset of her teenage years. Unbeknownst to Mei for the first few minutes of the film, she is the descendant of a gifted — or cursed — lineage, which instantly transforms her into a fluffy red panda.

Ever since its release, the film has sparked controversy among viewers for issues related to “taboo” topics. What I have to say is: f–k them.

The film hits audiences in the feels, like most Pixar films do. It is a heartwarming and relatable story that discusses the importance of menstrual cycles in a hilarious, yet educational way. It also makes a suggestive joke on “gyrating,” or what I would call, “twerking.” While others might see all this as inappropriate, I just see it as the real representation of teenagers and their quirks.

My favorite aspect of the film was the conflict Mei found herself in while choosing between her friend group, who seemed to understand her for who she really was, and her mother, who all but dumped her own dreams and expectations onto her. I loved the idea that this soft red panda represented the wild and carefree side of Mei and how her splitting away from the red panda meant she was separating from an integral part of who she was.

Also, don’t get me started on Mei’s mother. On occasions, I thought her mother was incredibly selfish. However, as the film delved further into the storyline, I slowly grew to like her. Perhaps mothers and grandparents can have the best intent in mind but go about it in selfish ways.

Like all films, “Turning Red” has its fair share of dislikable elements. I was slightly put off with the stereotypes present within the film, such as that all girls only think about boys or that menstruation is deemed critical to reaching womanhood. There’s also the small fact that Mei’s friends criticize her for seemingly being a “goody two-shoes,” which only adds to the plight of the already negative connotation attached to the term.

But who cares? In the end, “Turning Red” is a film soon-to-be and existing teenagers should watch. I know that if I were a teenager, I would have appreciated such a film to help me laugh on the ups and downs of adolescence. Rating: 8.5/10.

The Western Howl

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15 films to close off the year

Scope out some of the newest December films

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

There’s no shortage of memorable movies that have been released this year, and new flicks are still being produced through December for anyone to enjoy during the holidays. Ranging from action movies, thoughtful tales and lighthearted family films, all these films can help make a cold night feel more comfortable. Plus, staying at home, kicking back with some cocoa and throwing something on the big screen sounds like a pretty solid way to close off the year.

Here are 15 movies that are sure to keep everyone occupied during winter break and help beat any boredom. Most of these films are or will be available on video streaming services, and some can be found in select theaters after their release date.

“The Sound of Metal” (Dec. 4) (Amazon Prime Video)
“Let Them All Talk” (Dec. 10) (HBO Max)
“Songbird” (Dec. 10) (Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, iTunes and Youtube )
“The Prom” (Dec. 11) (Netflix)
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (Dec. 18) (Netflix)
“Greenland” (Dec. 18) (Amazon Prime Video)
“Coming 2 America” (Dec. 18 — postponed) (Amazon Prime Video)
“Breach” (Dec. 18) (Amazon Prime and in theaters)
“The Father” (Dec. 18 — postponed) (Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and Netflix)
“Soul” (Dec. 25) (Disney+)
“Promising Young Woman” (Dec. 25) (In theaters)
“Wonder Woman 1984” (Dec. 25) (HBO Max and in theaters)
“News of the World” (Dec. 25) (In theaters)
“We Can Be Heroes” (Dec. 25) (Netflix)
“One Night In Miami” (Dec. 25) (Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and Netflix)

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

The Western Howl

Cult classic baby returns

The Western Howl

Excessive amounts of biopics

The Western Howl

Review: “Turning Red”

The Western Howl

15 films to close off the year

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