#Anya Shepard

[zeb-mod]

#shepard #mass effect #head replacer #mod #le1 #me #legendary edition #commander #gifset #gifs #willow #rahul #camila #anya #hiroaki #emily #my collection...... is growing........ good..................... #solange #varada #charlotte

[pixxiecore]

Miss Anya Is eating y’all

#*anya shepard #femshep #mass effect 3 #mele #commander shepard #simply a slay #the white dress is zeb’s formal apparel #blue suit is morning’s outfits for femshep pt2 #mass effect #oc:Anya kylee shepard #my queen

[hamingo]

Kinda wanna make a Shepard to romance Miranda. But not sure how I could fit him into my canon with Kat and Anya...

#might just go the npc route #where Kat and Anya are The Shepards and this guy is just a funny little dude they keep around for giggles #maybe he can be Kat's spacer buddy or something #like theyre old friends and so she always asks to have him on her crew #hmm. yes maybe it is all coming together

[msn-04iinightingale]

(Since our Star Colonel is busy, I thought we could for lack of better terms, kill some time and get to know folks who will soon be risking life and limb fighting zealots. Open to anyone who wants to get to know some of my people before the big drop)

Clustered around the docking berth to one of Barghest Company’s two dropships, but not in the way of the stream of crew, techs, and other personnel, Lt . Victoria Everheart watched the munitions and supply carts go by to be loaded not only into the Leopard Class dropship “Dando”, but also into her mech, an Axman dubbed “Queen of Hearts”. The 6 foot muscled Mechwarrior wouldn’t normally have stood out, we’re it not for the cat ears, tail and eyes she possessed, and tattoos on prominent display garbed as she was in tank top and compact pants and boots.

Around her sat or stood the two other members of her lance, as well as possibly the largest black German Shepard ever seen in the inner sphere.

Major Vance Strider, a gaunt, bald man sits on a crate beside her, seemingly mumbling or speaking at himself with closed eyes, in meditation or contemplation.

“This is gonna be one hell of a drop, huh?” Said Major Anya Corwin, a buxom woman on the shorter side with curly red hair. As if in response, the large dog she is petting and giving skritches to chuffs a bit.

Victoria snorts. “Thanks for the input, Loki.” She stretches, rolling well sculpted shoulders. “But yeah, looks that way…can’t say I’ve seen this many people in one place since well, the last war.”

“Hope it all goes well…or as well as can be expected…” Anya chips in.

“Yeah, same.” Victoria agrees.

As if in agreement once again, the dog Loki huffs again.

@starcommanderhannahlewis @the-clawtake @harwood-pmc-official @the-tired-merc @lt-chari @snords-sword @wolf-among-mechs @house-steiner-stays-winning @karriethemechtech @starcolonelkatrinamoon @is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

#story event #mechwarrior #battletech

[soapybutt17]

From Russia With Love Masterlist

Won't Go Home Without You [Vladimir Makarov x Price!Female Reader]

Summary: It was all supposed to be a mission. Blend in with his people in the underworld and get the much needed information that could potentially save lives in the process. Yet, here you were, finding yourself falling and bounding yourself to an enemy that was dangerous beyond belief. There was nothing good about getting involved with one Vladimir Makarov, but you were entangled in his web of lies and lust and you did not want to escape him whatever the consequence. Characters: Vladimir Makarov x Price!Female Reader. John Price. Simon "Ghost" Riley. Kyle "Gaz" Garrick. John "Soap" MacTavish. Kate Laswell. General Shepard. Nikolai. Warnings: Dubious Consent. Dark Elements. Dead Dove Do Not Eat.. Blood and Gore. Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence. Canon Typical Violence. Smut. Mention of Murder and Manslaughter. Mention of Alcohol and Drug Consumption. Inaccurate military slangs and details. Mention of Human Trafficking. Mention of Physical, Mental and Sexual Abuse. Major Character Death. Heavy Angst.

Part 0: Prologue

Part 1: Eye Spy

Part 2: Lingering Eyes

Part 3: Eye for An Eye

She Will Be Loved [Nikolai x Price!Female Reader]

Summary: Vladimir Makarov was dead. Thanks to you, thanks to your brother and thanks to the rest of the team that was dead set on making sure he was stopped whatever it takes. As the dust has come to settle it left you to linger in the aftermath of your betrayal in the form of your daughter that was a spitting image of the man you've once loved and the man you've helped stopped. Who would have ever thought that another handsome Russian would help you mend the pieces of your heart and your life back together. Characters: Nikolai x Price!Female Reader. John Price. Simon "Ghost" Riley. Kyle "Gaz" Garrick. John "Soap" MacTavish. Kate Laswell. General Shepard. Original Female Character (Anastasia "Anya" Price / Anastasia Makarova) Warnings: Blood and Gore. Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence. Canon Typical Violence. Smut. Mention of Murder and Manslaughter. Mention of Alcohol and Drug Consumption. Inaccurate military slangs and details. Mention of Human Trafficking. Mention of Physical, Mental and Sexual Abuse. Mention of Trauma and PTSD. Mention of Mental Issues (especially PPD & Depression).

Part 0: Prologue

Part 1: Dust on the Ground

Part 2: Papa

#call of duty #cod #cod mw2 #mw2 #call of duty x reader #cod x reader #mw2 x reader #makarov x reader #vladimir makarov x reader #cod makarov #vladimir makarov #vladimir makarov masterlist #vladimir makarov angst #vladimir makarov smut #makarov smut #makarov angst #dubcon #dead dove do not eat #cod nikolai x reader #nikolai x reader #cod nikolai #nikolai smut #nikolai angst #nikolai fluff

[healingpuppys]

Stimboards pt. 4

Laios from Dungeon Meshi stimboard

agere knuckles stimboard

CG! matt murdock stimboard

agere mera salamin stimboard

petre titanboa stimboard

China from Hetalia stimboard

agere 2D gorillaz stimboard

Vanellope von schweetz stimboard

CGs! leela and fry stimboard

petre german shepard stimboard

agere micheal afton stimboard

CG! preed from Titan A. E stimboard

ramshackle stimboard

agere roxy and june play date stimboard

CG! sniper TF2 stimboard

agere vox stimboard

chica from sprout stimboard

agere dismas stimboard with lizzard’s

CG! test tube and little cheesy stimboard

babyre jinx stimboard

how to train your dragon stimboard

agere Umi from port by the sea stimboard

fursuit paw stimboard

CG! marvus stimboard

dragonkin plush stimboard

seven red suns stimboard

agere luke nightingale stimboard

agere rin shirayuki stimboard

dave x john stimboard

farm kiddo stimboard

scratch and molly stimboard

helmsmen homestuck stimboard

disciple homestuck stimboard

signless homestuck stimboard

Dolorosa stimboard

shark pup stimboard

thalia grace stimboard

diona stimboard

CG! gallagher stimboard

camila noceda stimboard

scp-999 stimboard

gus from sweet tooth stimboard

petre spring fox stimboard

agere colt from brawl stars stimboard

90s carpet and squiglz stimboard

grubber stimboard

tamagotchi + pixel stimboard

snoopy stimboard

CG! professor venomous stimboard

batman stimboard

CG! astarion stimboard

stimboard with gears, toys, and coloring

cottonee stimboard

CG! karlach stimboard

agere toy bonnie with red stimboard

magnetic by ILLIT stimboard

anya from spy x family stimboard

dream agere room stimboard

agere Misumi uika stimboard

paci gifs pt. 9

pen and woody regression playdate stimboard

kankri x cronus stimboard

dolorosa x psiioniic stimboard

agere toy bonnie stimboard

reptile regressor caliborn stimboard

paci gif pt. 8

transfem eridan stimboard

agere karako pierot stimboard

worms reloaded stimboard

agere abigail hobbs stimboard

CG! doc scratch stimboard

fiver 2018 stimboard

trollsona stimboard

firepaw stimboard

agere john egbert stimboard

1x1x1x1 super paper stimboard

verfection and voixer stimboard

agere dave strider stimboard

agere purple bunny stimboard

silly dog fella OC stimboard

agere tavros stimboard

[nabulsi]

was tagged by @lightinger and @rozhevisny to make my ocs in this picrew

I enjoyed it a lot -- so here's my ocs:

Anya Surana (Top Left) -- Warden Commander (Dragon Age)

Areina Lavellan (Top Right) -- Inquisitor (Dragon Age)

Ayat Ferdous (Bottom Left) -- Shepard (Mass Effect)

Nayzak Sarhan (Bottom Right) -- Detective (Wayhaven Chronicles)

Tagging these ppl if you wanna make your own <3

@not-sewell @bitchesofostwick @mournholdmushroom @pinayelf @serenpedac @askweisswolf @danielsullivan @would-be-trickster @leafkisser @lookingforsomethingcuzimbored

#picrew #oc: nayzak #oc: anya #oc: ayat #oc: areina #paptalk #tag meme

[swaps55]

WIP Whenever

About to be out of pocket for a bit, and still a ways away from posting more Fugue, but I am working on it and have made some good progress: 

~

Kaidan lets out a shaky breath and cards anxious fingers through his hair. “Sir, even if I wanted to, I’m not him. I can’t…do what he did.”

“Hell, I can’t do what he did. Even when I was his age and could have kept up.” Anderson’s voice softens. It’s tinny over the comm. “Alenko. You served with him for a long time. Do you think that was by accident?”

Kaidan shakes his head, although the pain the question brings him goes a lot deeper than Anderson will ever know.

A heavy look crosses Anderson’s face. “Shepard was one of the sharpest tactical minds I’ve ever known, but before the ‘Yang he didn’t understand how to work through other people. It got worse after Torfan. A lot worse. He was pissed off and bitter, convinced the only person he could rely on was himself.”

“I remember,” Kaidan says softly.

On the screen, Anderson’s visage flickers with a brief wave of lag. It makes him look old. “Scared the hell out of me. It was a bad road he was headed down, and I couldn’t help him. So I sent him to Anya and the ‘Yang. I don’t know what happened during his time there. He was never one to talk about things. But I do know the ‘Yang changed him. What he accomplished with that marine squad he shouldn’t have been able to do with a full N squad. Couldn’t believe my eyes. I looked over the dossiers of each and every one of you, trying to figure out how the hell he did shit like save that colony on Arvuna, or get that intel on Yandoa. You know what I found?”

The ever-present ache in Kaidan’s heart settles deeper. Kaidan knows exactly what Shepard found on the ‘Yang. What they’d all found there.

Each other.

But he shakes his head anyway.  

“Every member of that squad had skills he didn’t. In those four years, the kid I could never get to listen to any damn thing somehow learned to listen to people who saw things differently than he did. I don’t think it’s a gamble to say you had something to do with that.”

Kaidan tries to swallow, but it gets stuck in his throat.

“He was a great soldier,” Anderson goes on. “But not just because of what he could do with a gun or his amp. It was because he surrounded himself with people who had the strengths he didn’t. I guess what I’m saying is, you don’t need to be him. Because he thought that to do the things we asked him to do, he needed the help of someone who wasn’t. And the person he looked to the most was you.”

#snippet #kaidan alenko #david anderson #some post-alchera angst for your friday

[sunflower-butch]

Woohoo I did a meet the artist thing, so new intro

My name is Lo, I go by they/she (preferably they) pronouns, and I am 21 years old!

I do art and write stuff sometimes. My AO3 is does_this_unit_have_a_soul but I haven’t updated anything in a while but D&D fic oops. Planning MekaMechanic fics atm, possible future Griddlehark and BG3 (Karheart?) as well. Also D&D lol. Anything else is old and will probably be orphaned.

Speaking of D&D, check out #memento mori campaign and see the SUPER COOL AND RAD little guys my friends are playing in our Wild West horror campaign!! (I DM 🫶) Or ask me about it! I love to ramble.

I also have a side blog where I ramble about music!! @its-just-a-spark-but-its-enough

OC/DMPC bullshit happens over @anya-eldermourne-apologist

Ask me about Cora Shepard and I’ll be your best friend. :3c

Also if you are participating in Art Fight 2024, find me at dyltgir over there!!

(Last Updated: 1/27/24)

#meet the artist #lo arts stuff

[dispatchwithlove]

G, M, W and X for the fandom asks?

Hello! So sorry it took me so long to get to this. Life is busy and/or bumpy sometimes! Ok, here goes:

G: What was your first fandom?

I think technically it would be Dragon Age. I got into it so hard! and I started reading fanfic because I loved the world and characters so much. And I may have some DA tattoos 😊

M: A person who got you into a fandom and what fandom they pulled you into.

Well, there's an ME writer @tiger-lilly13 who writes AMAZING shakarian fics. I liked their fics so much I tried out a Predator fic of theirs, having no interest in the fandom prior, and I'm now a big Predator fan.

W: 5 favorite characters from 5 different fandoms

Ooo, this is fun but hard.

Garrus Vakarian, Mass Effect

Elias Ainsworth, Ancient Magus Bride

Cassandra Pentagast, Dragon Age

Viktor, Arcane

Anya, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

X: 3 OTPs form 3 different fandoms

Shepard and Garrus, Mass Effect

Elias and Chise, Ancient Magus Bride

Lavellan Inquisitor and Cullen Rtherford, Dragon Age

Thanks for the asks! They were fun! 😊

#ask prompt #fandom asks

[zeb-mod]

uwu

#mele #head replacer #mass effect #fshep #anya #sorry for the spam #I just didn't have a lot of faith in myself while making her #but I'm really starting to like how she turned out #le1 #shepard #mod

[faeratil]

A, B, G, H, M, O, R, S, T, U, V, X, Z! (Do any fandom for the fandom-specific ones, I want to make you choose between all your favs hehehe)

😂 thanks Mar

A - Ships that you currently like a lot

Viktuuri, Sasamiya, Chuntaka, Otayuri, Twiyor, Katarina x Alan, Katarina x Sora, Marichat

B - A pairing that you initially didn’t consider, but someone changed your mind

Katarina x Keith

G - Have you ever had an OTP? If so, do you remember your first one? Who was in it?

Absolutely. My first OTP I think was from the Hourglass Door Trilogy, I can’t remember liking another pairing as much before that. It was Abigail Beatrice Edmunds and Dante di Alessandro Casella. Currently, though, it’s a tie between Viktuuri and Sasamiya.

H - What is your favorite source text for fandom stuff?

Anime. It used to be video games, and before that it was books.

M - Name a character you’d like to have as a friend

Miyano. He’s a fudanshi and an otaku, so we would probably spend all day just comparing our favorite bl anime and manga 😂

O - Choose a song at random. What ship or character does it remind you of?

I put my Spotify liked songs on shuffle, and the first song was “Why Don’t You Do Right?” But specifically the version from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Obviously the first character I think of is Jessica Rabbit, but it also reminds me of Black Canary from the new Birds of Prey movie. I think she’d absolutely kill the song.

R - Which friendship/platonic relationship is your favorite in fandom?

Miyano with Hirano and Hanzawa. They’re so protective of him and I think it’s adorable and hilarious.

S - Show us an example of your personal headcanon

So my biggest headcanon that I have is for the Mass Effect trilogy. It’s like a whole big thing that I explained to only one person ever and they stared at me like I was so weird. But basically, Shepard and Thane get together and have their romance, but just as it happens in game, Thane dies. So Shep turns to drinking and reckless fighting to cope with the pain, and since she’s saving the universe she has no shortage of enemies trying to kill her that she can take her anger out on. But then Garrus steps in and makes her sit down and talk to him and she cries in his arms for a couple hours. They’ve been friends since the very first game so it makes sense that they’d be close. But then they grow closer and closer until they fall in love, but obviously Garrus doesn’t want to overstep where Thane was, so he’s careful about how he approaches a potential relationship with Shep. And then at the end of the games when Shep is saying goodbye to everyone, he tells her how he feels and that he wants to grow old with her and adopt Krogan babies. And this time Shep SURVIVES because FUCK THE REAL ENDING, and they end up together and raise Krogan babies, and then Shep dies years later before Garrus does, and the afterlife is how Thane describes it like being across the sea, and Thane is over there waiting for her and she gets to be with him again and he’s happy for her finding a life with Garrus too, and I just think it’s a much better ending and you get to have BOTH of the good romances.

So yeah.

T - Do you have any hard and fast headcanons that you will die defending?

Viktor and Christophe had a little fling before Viktor met Yuuri. I will die on that hill.

U - Three favorite characters from three different fandoms, and why they’re your favorites

Can the whole Forger family count as one character? Otherwise Anya Forger from Spy x Family because she’s adorable and her facial expressions are amazing and she just really wants her new mom and dad to stay forever.

Eda from The Owl House. She’s exactly the level of chaotic and maternal that I aspire to be.

Miyano from Sasaki to Miyano because I just love him.

V - Which character do you relate to most?

Miyano. He’s a disaster bi otaku who loves bl.

X - A trope which you are almost certain to love in a fandom

Enemies to lovers

Z - Just ramble about something fan-related

I feel like I’ve rambled enough already, but related to my most recent hyperfixation I think that Alan or Sora should be best guy in Hamefura. I’ve only had Sora for a few episodes and I love him. I also love that Alan’s VA is also Chat Noir’s VA because it makes me laugh anytime he says something Chat would say. I think that everyone should watch Hamefura, especially if you love disaster bi characters. Also I just really want more people to love Sora and Alan as much as I do.

#asks #ask game #mutuals #lannisterdaddyissues #thanks mar #mar I can’t wait for you to watch Hamefura s2 and also Sasaki to Miyano

[redgumshoe]

If my ocs was dogs

Anya: a Samoyed

Ruslan: A German Shepard - husky mix

Laverna: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Devlin: Old English sheepdog

Charles: a rabid Rottweiler

#alternative universe #oc stuff #my ocs

[fullanimebyfunny]

Marvel Heroes Cast

Peter Parker/Spider Man as Mega Man X

Mary Jane Watson as Alia

Harry Osborn as Zero

Gwen Stacy as Nana

Miles Morales/Spider Man as Axl

Felicia Sara Hardy/Black Cat as Marino

Gwen Stacy/Ghost Spider as Cinnamon

Anya Corazon/Spider Girl as Pallette

Miguel O'Hara/Spider Man 2099 as Zero (Mega Man Zero)

Peni Parker as Tron Bonne

Bruce Banner/Hulk as Kong

Tony Stark/Iron Man as Master Chief

Thor Odinson as Kratos

Steve Rogers/Captain America as Commander Shepard

Clint Barton/Hawkeye as Connor Kenway

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow as Lara Croft

James Howlett/Wolverine as Jak

Scott Summers/Cyclops as Ratchet

Ororo Munroe/Storm as Carmelita Fox

Anna Marie/Rogue as Twilight Sparkle

Remy Etienne LeBeau/Gambit as Flash Sentry

Bobby Drake/Iceman as Sackboy

Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler as Daxter

Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic as Rayman

Susan Storm/The Invisible Woman as Ly

Johnny Storm/The Human Torch as Splosion Man

Benjamin Grimm/The Thing as Knuckles the Echidna

Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk as Cammy

Greer Grant Nelson/Tigra as Aisha Clanclan

Johnathan Blaze/Ghost Rider as Shadow the Hedgehog

Matt Murdock/Daredevil as Leonardo (TMNT 2003)

T'Challa/Black Panther as Sly Cooper

James Rhodes/War Machine as Ironhide

Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch as Kat (Gravity Rush)

Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver as Speedrunner

Jonas/The Vision as Starscream (Transformers Armada)

Scott Lang/Ant Man as Puss in Boots

Janet van Dyne/The Wasp as Kitty Softpaws

Marc Spector/Moon Knight as Spawn

[twincitiesgeek]

Just published on TwinCitiesGeek.com: True West’s Small Cast Packs a Punch at Theatre in the Round April is historically a very busy time for me, so seeing a show at all is quite a treat. Seeing a show directed by Duck Washington is even more a treat. So seeing Sam Shepard’s True West at Theatre in the Round, which is playing now through May 14, was... Continue Reading at TwinCitiesGeek.com Photo by Anya Magnuson https://instagr.am/p/CrmUc1XreLK/

#Twin Cities Geek #Minnesota #Minneapolis #Twin Cities #Instagram

[fpere2023]

Critical Project: Empowerment in Horror

Introduction

“…the majority audience, perhaps even more than the audience for horror in general, was largely young and largely male-conspicuously groups of boys who cheer the killer on as he assaults his victims, then reverse their sympathies to cheer the survivor on as she assaults the killer. Young males are also, I shall suggest, the slasher film's implied audience, the object of its address.” (Corrigan 514)

“Between 1974 and 1986, however, the formula evolved and flourished in ways of some interest to observers of popular cul-ture, above all those concerned with the representation of women in film.” (Corrigan 516)

Due to an increased awareness/acknowledgment of female horror fans, the portrayal of female characters has developed into one that is more respectful and empowering. 

How Annihilation Subverts the tropes of the Final Girl:

“…the victim is eternally and prototypically the damsel.” (Corrigan 516)

In Annihilation the crew that embarks on the journey is made up of specialist and veteran women who desire to learn more about the phenomena. They are not damsels in distress but scientists who hunger for answers. (Garland, Annihilation, 21:05-24:08)

Dr. Ventress - psychologist (team leader)

Cassie Shepard - Geomorphologist

Josie Radek - Physicist

Anya Thorensen - paramedic

Lena Double - Biologist

“…a blatantly phallic murderer, even gurgling orgasmically as she dies.” (Corrigan 516)

The deaths in Annihilation (focusing on the female team) occur both on and off screen. The first death occurs off screen. Cass Sheppard is found in the forest by Lena Double where her body is mutilated but not in a sexual manner. Her throat is bit open exposing gore that makes the viewer turn away in disgust. However, Sheppard is left closed with eyes staring wide at the sky above. The second death is brutal and quick as Anya Thorensen is mauled by the bear-human hybrid. Her face is torn in half leaving gore and the character once again staring wide eyed at the ceiling. The third death occurs off screen but is not as violent or as shocking as the others. Josie Radek accepts the metamorphosis she is undergoing within the shimmer and becomes one of the humanoid plants sprawled across the village. The fourth and final death of the female scientist occurs within the center part of the creature controlling the shimmer. The lead scientist, Dr. Ventress accepts her death and is evaporated by the light being expelled from her body. Non- of the deaths should arouse desire or satisfaction form viewers. They can either be brutal or beautiful but they are not sexual. 

(Garland, Annihilation, 1:02:03-1:02:3) [Shepard]

(Garland, Annihilation, 1:16:20-1:16:50) [Thorensen]

(Garland, Annihilation, 1:18:40-1:21:39) [Radek]

(Garland, Annihilation, 1:30:26 - 1:33:30) [Ventress]

“As E. Ann Kaplan sums it up, "within the film text itself, men gaze at women, who become objects of the gaze; the spectator, in turn, is made to identify with this male gaze, and to objectify the woman on the screen; and the camera's original 'gaze' comes into play in the very act of filming." (Corrigan 517)

Because the main character is female the story is told from her perspective allowing the gaze to be her own. During one of the flashbacks (affair scene) Portman's character is shot from behind around eye level. Her back and face are shown in two separate shots showing her dominance in the bedroom and within the affair. She is in control. Her character is not sexualized as other female leads are in other horror movies (full body shots, breast exposed, loud orgasmic screaming) she is quietly pleasing herself while also dealing with the inner turmoil her actions have caused her. (Garland, Annihilation, 29:05 - 29:25)

“She is introduced at the beginning and is the only character to be developed in any psychological detail. We understand immediately from the attention paid it that hers is the main story line.” (Corrigan 518)

The other characters (Kane, other female leads) receive development as the story progresses allowing the audience to empathize and mourn each. 

“When De Palma says that female frailty is a predicate of the suspense genre, he proposes, in effect, that the lack of the phallus, for Lacan the privileged signifier of the symbolic order, is itself simply horrifying, at least in the mind of the male observer.” (Corrigan 521)

Although it is brought to attention the limited strength of the female characters (gun pickup scene). The characters are proven to be capable of protecting themselves when the situation calls for it. (Portman scenes shooting the alligator at eye level). (35:40) (Garland, Annihilation, 36:08-36:38)

“The cinematic gaze, we are told, is male, and just as that gaze "knows" how to fetishize the female form in pornography (in a way that it does not "know" how to fetishize the male form) so it "knows," in horror, how to track a woman ascending a staircase in a scary house and how to study her face from an angle above as she first hears the killer's footfall.” (Corrigan 521)

The characters are not hypersexualized in the film. They are allowed to have messy buns and wear baggy clothes because they are meant to survive. (Garland, Annihilation, 27:38 - 28:57)

“…boyish: because they are transformed males.” (Corrigan 522)

Although they do take the place of the ale team they are not reflections of them. The women have their own reasons for entering the shimmer and are able to progress to the end (two of them)

“…victim-hero…” (Corrigan 526)

None of the women are victims because they chose to enter the shimmer and continued forward knowing the danger. 

“Abject terror, in short, is gendered feminine…” (Corrigan 522)

Most of the women are stoic throughout the film or show some moments of weakness but they are not screaming and sobbing throughout the film. They work to survive. (Garland, Annihilation, 44:35-47:08)

(Garland, Annihilation, 1:10:56 - 1:14:30) Madness scene

How annihilation fulfills the trope of the final girl described by Clover:

“Brian De Palma elaborates:…you fear more for her than you would for a husky man."(Corrigan 516)

Hitchcock…'Torture the women!' The trouble today is that we don't torture women enough.” (Corrigan 516)

The team of women in Annihilation suffer both grotesque physical and psychological changes due to their time in the shimmer. The audience is disturbed by their suffering and sympathizes with their struggles. However, the horror is not solely experienced by them. As the film progresses the viewer learns about the fate of the Male team which acts as a catalyst to the true horror of the shimmer. 

“The killer is often unseen or barely glimpsed, during the first part of the film, and what we do see, when we finally get a good look, hardly invites immediate or conscious empathy.” (Corrigan 518)

Because it is not humanoid, the entity controlling the shimmer creates no connection with the viewer. Only confusion and fear. 

“No male character of any stature lives to tell the tale.” (Corrigan 518)

None of the male team survives to explain their experience in the shimmer. All that remains is the footage they recorded. (Garland, Annihilation, 47:28-48:55)

“-we see through his eyes and (on the soundtrack) hear his breathing and heartbeat.” (Corrigan 518)

Beginning shot of Kane's clone returning home. But it is brief and Pormans characters perspective is the one we focus on. (Garland, Annihilation, 6:27-7:30)

“The last point is the crucial one: the same female body does for both. The Final Girl (1) undergoes agonizing trials, and (2) virtually or actually destroys the antagonist and saves herself.” (Corrigan 524)

The body shifts due to shimmer, the psychological torment Portman's character faces due to her guilt and experience in the shimmer as well as her battle against her clone in the heart of shimmer qualifies her for 1. The destruction of the shimmer through the clone is 2.

“At the moment that the Final Girl becomes her own savior, she becomes a hero; and the moment that she becomes a hero is the moment that the male viewer gives up the last pretense of male identification.” (Corrigan 524)

By burning the shimmer, Portmans character is able to do the thing her husband, Kane, could do, essentially making her the final girl. However she is ultimately changed forever. 

Sources

“Annihilation.” Box Office Mojo, https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1057129985/.

Clover, Carol J. Her Body, Himself Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film. 1992.  Princeton University Press.  In Critical Vision in Film Theory (2011).  Corrigan, et al.  Bedford/St.Martins, p. 511-530 

“The Most Surprising Horror Movie Statistics and Trends in 2023 • Gitnux.” GITNUX, 13 Mar. 2023, https://blog.gitnux.com/horror-movie-statistics/.

Published by Statista Research Department, and Jan 5. “U.S.: Horror Films' Popularity by Gender 2022.” Statista, 5 Jan. 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342707/horror-movies-theater-viewing-gender-united-states/#:~:text=As%20of%20October%202022%2C%20approximately,added%20up%20to%2021%20percent.

Annihilation. Directed by Alex Garland. Performance by Natalie Portman Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny, and Oscar Isaac. Paramount Pictures. 2018. Film

#Youtube #annihilation #Carol J. Clover #Horror #final girl