Clash of the Titans (1981) | Medusa Did NOTHING Wrong!

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On this episode, join the Clever Ghouls as they tackle the 1981 film Clash of the Titans. In between Melissa being a total mythology expert, they cover topics ranging from representation in Greek Mythology, why Medusa did nothing wrong and how she became the face of sexual assault survivors, why Zeuss is The WorstTM, and why practical effects are the BEST effects.

This movie, while many may consider it underwhelming and dated, is one of the great works of animator and movie maker Ray Harryhausen. It follows Perseus in a rather…creative...retelling of his myth. Naturally, there is some questionable content, so we’d like to caution viewers about some depictions of snakes, scorpions and other creepy crawlies, a fight with a two headed dog creature, and some random nude scenes. Also, anytime Zeus is involved, there will inevitably be mention and discussion of sexual assault. If you want more info, make sure to check out doesthedogdie.com. Also, while not often listed in the horror genre, this is a great example of Harryhausen’s work, and as many modern day film creators (horror especially) cite him with creature and special effects inspiration, we feel it is without a doubt worthy of the spooky movie title.

Related minisodes for even more content: 

• Myth-isode: Modern Feminism in Classical Mythology | Minisode w/ Melissa
• Sexy & SCARY: The History & Folklore of Mermaids | Minisode w/ Maegan & Melissa 

Resources:

• Ray Harryhausen Documentary: https://www.amazon.com/Ray-Harryhausen-Special-Effects-Titan/dp/B088JPPGJL/ref=tmm_aiv_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
• Tropes in CotT: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/ClashOfTheTitans1981
• Zeus’ fuckery: https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/ZeusLoves.html

The Clever Ghouls podcast, hosted by Maegan and Blair, is a show dedicated to watching, analyzing, and discussing the movies that make us think about them long after we’ve left the theater or turned off the TV. We bring quick wit and unique perspectives from backgrounds like art history, cinematography, psychology, analysis, public education, mysticism, mythos, and more to create a curated, inclusive conversation around the spooky movies we love. Tune in on your favorite podcast hosting platform to listen along, join the conversation, and chime in with your own observations!

Our intro and outro music was created for us by Josh Marshall. For more episodes and other spooky content, find us on your favorite social media platform through our handle: @CleverGhouls. Don’t forget to subscribe and share, and if you really like our content, please leave us a review. Or we’ll haunt you forever. Thanks for listening!