'Blonde': Sometimes films are meant to disturb us, but Netflix should have been more mindful

Since its release, there has been nothing but controversy surrounding Netflix’s original Marilyn Monroe biopic, Blonde. Many viewers have stated that they have not been able to get past the first 20 minutes due to intensely disturbing and traumatic scenes right from the start. Curious to see whether these headlines stating that streamers were switching off early were clickbait or legitimate, I decided to watch it myself (warning - there are spoilers ahead).

My conclusion is that Netflix’s audience weren’t ready to see the streaming platform release an NC-17 rated arthouse-style original.

Viewing the trailer, you can see why so many were drawn to watch the film and yet were surprised when they actually sat down to watch it. The trailer for Blonde presents it similarly to the more conventional, linear, PG biopics which we have been used to seeing in mainstream cinemas in recent years - Elvis (2022), Rocketman (2019), Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) to name a few. With Monroe also being one of the most renowned figures in the history of cinema, the speed at which it shot to being Netflix’s #1 most viewed film is also no surprise.

The trailer encapsulates the film in a sugar-coated package, completely removing any reference to the brutally traumatising events which are portrayed in Blonde – these include her being raped by a producer, her mother attempting to drown her in the bathtub when she’s a child, being beaten by husband Joe DiMaggio and going through an abortion.

Yes, obviously Netflix can’t include such scenes in the trailer when it can be easily accessed by those who are not old enough to see the film – but all the same, this is a platform which has rarely released films with grittiness to this degree and they have a responsibility to market it right. It is Netflix’s first NC-17 rated original, meaning it shares a rating with movies including Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013) and Natural Born Killers (1994) (although this was later re-classified with an R rating). The NC-17 classification is only presented in the trailer for about 3 seconds and I didn't even notice it the first time round - so how many others missed it? I can’t help but think that Netflix could've better warned its viewers that Blonde strays far from the realms of an 'easy watch'.

The film is bound to make for a challenging viewing if you're not familiar with movies that contain scenes which intentionally repulse viewers in order to make a statement on social issues such as sexual violence. Provocative indies such as Harmony Korine's Kids (1995), Elizabeth Wood's White Girl (2016) and any film by Todd Solondz are notable examples of films which achieve this. The issue here is, not everyone will recognise the directors' names I just mentioned. Everyone has heard the name 'Marilyn Monroe'. So this means a plethora of people have just been introduced to a type of cinema which is completely new to them and potentially triggering. For those that are sensitive to scenes of sexual violence and abuse in films, I believe that Netflix should have at least included a trigger warning in there.

In terms of my own opinion of the film and its controversy, whilst I agree with certain authors that nudity and sexual content becomes a little gratuitous in the film, I am a firm believer that discomforting scenes are often necessary when a film is commenting on societal issues where drastic change is needed, in order to provoke empathy and stress the weight of the issue. In the case of Blonde, Hollywood's mistreatment of women and the exploitative male gaze are a key focus, and the scenes that have outraged viewers, in my opinion, are essential in peeling away the facade that is the glamour and idealism of the film industry.

Ana De Armas, who plays Monroe, has said herself "Whether we were shooting an abortion scene, dealing with abuse, nudity, happy sex, unhappy sex, it is so important to show the reality of it." We see how Marilyn is taken advantage of by millionaire producers and feel how it breaks her - we see how she is creepily preyed upon by almost every male who sets eyes on her and feel how lonely it makes her. This is the side of Monroe's life that nobody saw, and the pain she had to hide behind the smile she always put on for the camera.

Throughout the majority of the film, I don't believe the scenes of nudity and exploitation are unnecessary and excessive, however the last 35 minutes did border on being gratuitous. The scene with JFK didn't really help this - although I guess Monroe's hard-hitting internal monologue whilst she is forced to perform oral sex is important, as it describes how she detaches from reality whilst experiencing such traumatic events as the horror of the situation is all too much to bear.

How she is exploited by men again and again throughout the film is meant to disturb us, because this is what happened, and it still happens all the time today. Bombshell (2019), based on the Harvey Weinstein scandal, is another powerful example of how so many women have had to endure sexual harassment in the workplace and have felt coerced into performing sexual favours in order to progress in their careers or simply get paid fairly.

Overall, as someone who believes that certain graphic scenes are necessary in film - as long as they aim to educate rather than shock - I believe that Blonde is important to watch. However, not everybody will hold this viewpoint, and for those who have experienced events similar to those portrayed, this film could be highly triggering and streaming platforms need to be mindful of this.

Perhaps Netflix should better prepare their audience next time they release an NC-17.