The Depressing Relevance of ‘The Stepford Wives’ [Horror Queers Podcast]

aka Bobbie is the best.

After delving into the world of sex work with a discussion of Cam (listen) and getting paranoid with the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (listen), we are concluding our themed Doppelgängers and Deception month with Bryan Forbes‘ controversial and oh-so-timely adaptation of Ira Levin‘s The Stepford Wives.

In the film, Joanna Eberhart (Katharine Ross) moves to the quiet town of Stepford with her husband (Peter Masterson) and children. Shortly after moving, Joanna starts to realize that there’s something not quite right with the suburb’s women: they’re vapid, unfathomably devoted to housework and completely subservient to their husbands. After teaming up with Bobbie (Paula Prentiss) another recent Stepford transplant, Joanna begins to investigate the mystery of Stepford’s wives and makes a horrific discovery.

Episode 327: The Stepford Wives (1975)

We’ll just die if we don’t get this recipe, which means we’re discussing Bryan Forbes‘ divisive 1975 chiller The Stepford Wives, itself an adaptation of Ira Levin‘s 1972 novel(la) of the same name!

Join us as we go all in on the male-directed and male-written film that satirizes, well, men. From the Playboy Bunny origins of the Stepford wives to conflicting thoughts on Walter, there’s a lot to discuss!

Plus: praise for Bobbie (Paula Prentiss), a lesson in female fashion and Raymond Chandler for Trace, thinking about Stepford dogs, and wondering if Easy-On Spray Starch really does save you half an hour a day (at least!).

Cross out The Stepford Wives!

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