The Dead Want Women

The Dead Want Women is a 2012 horror film crafted by a collaborative team of writers Charles Band and Kent Roudebush and directed by Charles Band. The film showcases a star-studded cast, including Jessica Morris, Ariana Madix, Eric Roberts, and Jean Louise O'Sullivan, whose performances work to create a chilling and suspenseful atmosphere that fans of vintage horror and suspense will appreciate.

Set in Hollywood during the 1920s, the film uses this golden age as a backdrop to a haunting story filled with glamour, excitement, and impending terror. Leading man Eric Roberts portrays an aging silent film star who, despite his fame, is systematically becoming a remnant of a bygone era as the silent film industry starts declining with the advent of the 'talkies'. This perfectly captures the mystique and glamour of a bygone era while commenting on the fleeting nature of fame and its impact.

However, the historical setting is simply a backdrop for what is foremost a piece of classic horror cinema. At the heart of the film's narrative are three beautiful but determined women (played by Morris, Madix, and O'Sullivan) who find themselves trapped in a mansion with an ominous secret. Unaware of the horror that awaits them, they are soon caught up in a nerve-wracking fight for survival against the vengeful spirits of silent movie stars that formerly resided there.

Their characters, modern women with a determination not often afforded to their 1920s predecessors, must combat terrifying challenges that pit them against the haunting vestiges of a time long past. Their performances ground the film, offering relatable figures facing gothic horror that tie the viewer subconsciously to this otherworldly world of the past.

With the three-dimensional characters and deeply atmospheric world-building, The Dead Want Women succeeds in capturing the viewer's imagination. The film uses its historical setting both as a nostalgic throwback and as a contrast to the modern sensibilities embodied in its female protagonists — an element greatly effective in elevating the tension and the underlying terror.

The setting, while being beautifully reminiscent of the 1920s, also serves to heighten the fear factor of the film. The sprawling mansion, once a symbol of luxury and opulence, now stands as an ominous monument to a forgotten past filled with echoes of terror, dread, and death. The intricate combination of the evocative narrative, the eerie atmosphere, the compelling performances, and the clever use of metaphors makes The Dead Want Women a unique addition to the universe of horror cinema.

Eric Roberts is perfectly suited to his role as an aging star grappling with a fading career, with his performance bringing out an eerie, uncanny atmosphere that keeps viewers on edge. His character effectively represents the glamorous yet flawed industry that made him and effectively adds a layer of existential horror to the film. Meanwhile, Morris, Madix, and O'Sullivan are compelling as the modern females caught in this haunting narrative.

Together, the cast paints a picture of women's determination against an onslaught of supernatural forces. Their journey from ordinary women to survivors is inspiring, making their characters not just victims of their circumstances, but also heroines carving their path through immense adversity.

The Dead Want Women can be best described as a historical horror drama that doesn't hold back in its narrative. It is a film for those who appreciate the classic elements of vintage horror — creaking mansions, fading starlets, and vengeful spirits, all wrapped up with a modern twist. All of these are punctuated by Band's careful direction that maintains a steady undercurrent of tension running throughout the expanse of the film.