As many probably suspected, there has been some backlash following the release of the biopic film Blonde on Netflix. The new movie is rated NC-17 and deals with some pretty heavy subject matter. So, with that in mind, there were bound to be complaints. Many of these complaints suggest that Blonde should be considered “sexist” and “exploitative” in its depiction of Marilyn Monroe.
For example, Manohla Dargis wrote a rather critical review in The New York Times which involved a passage about Marilyn Monroe’s life. After detailing “the indignities and horrors” that she had to endure, Dargis notes how much better off Monroe was by not having “to suffer through the vulgarities of Blonde, the latest necrophiliac entertainment to exploit her.”
Meanwhile, abortion researcher Steph Herold discussed the film’s views of abortion as noted by Variety. This included a passage where they’re quoted as having said the “movie is so anti-abortion, so sexist, so exploitative. Cannot recommend it LESS. Do not watch.” Steph Herold further noted that “the abortion scenes in particular are terrible, but so is the whole entire movie. It depicts Marilyn being coerced into her first abortion, screaming on the table that she’s changed her mind, and then she hallucinates finding a crying baby in her childhood home, which is engulfed in flames.”
As for the social media side of things, you can see some of the following responses from viewers:
Oh wow. Blonde may sincerely be one of the most detestable movies I’ve ever seen. A self-indulgent act of cruelty by a deeply incurious filmmaker.
— unfriendly black hottie 🪩✨ (@battymamzelle) September 28, 2022
Started watching “Blonde” the Marilyn movie on Netflix and… it’s so made for the male gaze😭 I hate it. It’s shot beautifully but the content is… not it. Obvious it’s written & directed by a man unfortunately
— Danielle Victoria Fuentes (@xoMissDanielle) September 28, 2022
#BlondeNetflix has to be one of the most disrespectful, distasteful, fabricated biopics I’ve ever seen. Marilyn was not weak she stood up for Civil rights , women’s rights to equal pay , she never wanted to be treated as a joke or sex object… they did all of the above pic.twitter.com/3weTWEfoWE
— ♫ Mariah Stan 🦋 (@TheElusiveLamb) September 29, 2022
Of course, there are plenty of viewers that were rather fond of Blonde. And, in addition to that, the film has found itself at the No. 1 spot on the Netflix streaming platform. This means that, despite the backlash, swarms of subscribers are tuning into Blonde. Of course, it remains to be seen how many will still enjoy the film once the dust settles.
The Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde was written and directed by Andrew Dominik. The film is produced by Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tracey Landon, Brad Pitt, and Scott Robertson. It’s the first streaming exclusive film to be rated NC-17.
The cast for the film includes Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe, Adrien Brody as Arthur Miller, Bobby Cannavale as Joe DiMaggio, and Julianne Nicholson as Gladys Pearl Baker.
Blonde is currently streaming on Netflix.