The case of Loudun demoniadas is one of the most famous episodes of collective demonic possession of history. The event, which culminated in a sounded witchcraft and the execution in the bonfire of a pastor, served as inspiration for blasphemous and greatly controversial in its day ‘The demons’ (1971), one of the most vindictable films (available in Filmin) of today something forgotten Ken Russell, with a Derek Jarman Plestorian as art director.
Wilde’s autumn filmmaker, director of ‘Emma.’ (2020) and usual filmmaker of the Florence clips, seems to have conjured the spirit of collective hysteria that permeated the Russell film, where “Everybody Scream” much and very strong, and has reinterpreted it in the key of folk gothic and witchcraft.
With an aesthetic sensitivity halfway between the Robert Eggers of ‘La Bruja’, the romanticism of the Brontë sisters and a Halloween party of a town in Yorkshire, ‘Everybody Scream’ is a visual awkward that elevates the notion of San Vito’s dance to pop choreography.
The video clip can be read as a claim of the concept of “female hysteria” – transitional patriarchal weapon to silence the rage of women – turned into empowerment element. Florence appears as a “crazy pussy”, leading a group of noisy and shameless witches who, when moving from nature to civilization, subverts the order established to a peeled shout.
To highlight a scene of extraordinary metaphorical power: Florence vomiting “thoughts” on the rider’s face. Wonder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03ibgxb1ee
