When I was growing up, I was fully convinced I’d become a ballerina one day (I was also convinced I could be an astronaut on the side, but that’s a story for another time). I had the right temperament for it—I was a perfectionist with a dramatic streak and a natural need to perform. I took my little-kid tap and ballet classes very seriously, but eventually I drifted toward music. Younger me even joined the orchestra in elementary school, and eventually, I’d play viola competitively. Still, every so often, I wonder what would’ve happened if I’d continued my dance lessons. But then an image from this intense psychological thriller will pop into my head, and I’ll remind myself that maybe it was for the best I quit.
If you’ve never seen Darren Aronofsky‘s Black Swan, then you’re in for quite the experience because Hulu added it on December 1. It follows Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a ballerina whose dream role in Swan Lake pushes her far beyond her limits and into something much darker. But if you’ve already seen it, then you know that it’s one of the most suffocating, intense, and beautiful films of the 2010s. I’d even argue it’s one of the most unforgettable.
A Classic
In fact, people are still talking about Black Swan 15 years after it premiered. On TikTok, fans upload their own edits, behind-the-scenes footage set to Lana Del Rey’s unreleased music (because of course), and feminist analyses of the film. Over on Letterboxd, one user confessed, “I have never been more anxious in my life.” And as our very own Chad Collins put it, while the film does have its critics (John Carpenter, unsurprisingly, isn’t a fan) “there’s no denying Black Swan is a noteworthy piece of horror history, in no small part because of its mainstream awards recognition” (it was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, with Portman winning Best Actress).
I watched it when I was in high school with my sister and my mom, which might have been a crazy decision in retrospect. Not to sound like every other girl online, but Black Swan was definitely a movie made for me. In fact, I think it might have awakened the obsessive artist in me like a sleeper cell. If only you all knew how many times I read over my work. Out loud.
Watch the trailer below:
Clearly, I love Black Swan, and I’m so excited for it to arrive on Hulu in December. And if you haven’t seen it before and end up watching, or if you love dance-horror films in general, let me know @ashjenexi on Instagram and X.
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