Abject Women in Holy Spider

Abstract

This article presents a feminist reading of Holy Spider the movie inspired by real life and shot in 2022 under the direction of Ali Abbasi. The position and role of women in society have consistently been one of humanity's most significant strife. This movie reflects the fact that Iran is one of the countries where the discussions and unfair atmosphere about this problem are felt. The movie is about transforming an ordinary citizen whose religious and national feelings are exploited into a serial killer by making it his mission to kill all the prostitutes in the city. Therefore, with Holy Spider, a production that lends itself to analysis from a wide range of perspectives and theories, the audience is expected to question gender roles, degenerate political and religious attitudes, and the effects of many devices that states use as manipulation on individuals. This study examines these problematic issues in Holy Spider through certain notions such as Julia Kristeva’s abjection and Hannah Arendt’s banality of evil.