The succubus... - V/H/S (2012) Discussion

[–] verycoolnin 11 years ago

My thoughts. The fact that she carried him away tells me that he's alive for some reason.

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[–] vech24 11 years ago

So my thoughts:

1. Alive or Dead camera guy? I'm saying probably alive (since "she liked him") though it's not revealed on-camera. Glasses drop as she flies away.

2. What type of monster is she? Again it's not clear as she was more interested in eating organs / flesh and not just blood. I see people claiming a Succubus but traditional succubi feed from the actual act of sex and draining semen or it's a sort of "psychic energy" drain through sex. I think she's supposed to actually be a historically referenced demon called Lilith, given that her name is "Lily".

Lilith as a historical folklore and mythological figure has been around cross-culturally for centuries in various incarnations. So to simply call her "a succubus" is like calling Dracula "a vampire". Or, maybe more apt, it's like referring to Satan as simply "a demon".

Sources: http://www.pantheon.org/articles/l/lilith.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith

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[–] Number_One_Birdlawyer 11 years ago

Apparently the creator didn't assign any mythology to her. She's just what they wanted her to be.

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[–] JohnKirkland145 10 years ago

If we are going by technicalities just about all of you here are wrong (vech24 being the exception) about what kind of demon she is.

She is absolutely, positively 100% a Lilith. They even make it obvious, her name being Lily and all. But wait there's more:

-Definitely not a vampire as another poster said, they aren't as hideously disfigured with their arms and legs nor do they have jacked up teeth.

-Not a harpy, they're half bird half woman always. They don't change form.

-Technically she's not a succubus by textbook definition. A succubus preys on sleeping men and drains their energy by screwing them as they sleep. Wet dream? Probably a succubus. They don't want to reproduce, only to drain energy from man juice.

-That leaves a Lilith. Horribly disfigured winged woman with clawed feet and arms in addition to a bad temper. The nail in the coffin in V/H/S for her being one is she is sleeping with men while they're awake and her keeping Clint alive. She will force him to give her babies then send him on his way. He's more than likely alive and she won't kill him. A succubus, vampire or harpy would never do this.

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[–] TheMonkofDestiny 10 years ago

Definitely not a vampire as another poster said, they aren't as hideously disfigured with their arms and legs nor do they have jacked up teeth.

I keep seeing this reasoning and thinking "because who said so?" Depictions of vampires have varied so widely that assigning them a stereotypical "look" or style just doesn't make any sense.

Also, to add (and as was indirectly/unintentionally pointed out by an earlier reply), Lilith is considered a succubus according to various folklore, as well as a mother of demons.

As for following the (traditional) succubus lore to the letter, I'm one of the few people who can forgive David Bruckner for not doing that. Just because she isn't appearing to the trio of guys in the short through dreams doesn't instantly rule out her being one.

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[–] JohnKirkland145 10 years ago

I keep seeing this reasoning and thinking "because who said so?" Depictions of vampires have varied so widely that assigning them a stereotypical "look" or style just doesn't make any sense.

There's still a certain dogma with vampires and Lily didn't fit it at all in the movie other than being a creature of the night. I mean, I get what you're trying to say since movies like Salem's Lot have their own version of vampires, but I didn't once think she was a vampire.

Also, to add (and as was indirectly/unintentionally pointed out by an earlier reply), Lilith is considered a succubus according to various folklore, as well as a mother of demons.

I felt that succubus was too broad a term so I went with lilith, especially with the character's name and her behavior. But I agree with your definition so perhaps this was just this particular movie's version of a succubus. After all, Hollywood doesn't always go by the textbook definitions, right? More like never lol.

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[–] svalinanikola 10 years ago

After all, Hollywood doesn't always go by the textbook definitions, right? More like never lol.

There are two things wrong with this.

First: Succubus is not real, therefore people can do whatever they want with it. Same with vampires, ghosts etc. Notice how in lots of movies they all have different abilities, look etc.?

Second: Hollywood? This was an indie movie.

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[–] JohnKirkland145 10 years ago

There are two things wrong with this.

First: Succubus is not real, therefore people can do whatever they want with it. Same with vampires, ghosts etc. Notice how in lots of movies they all have different abilities, look etc.?

Second: Hollywood? This was an indie movie.

There are two things wrong with you.

First: You need to calm the hell down, Mr. Smartass. Who the #$*& said anything about a succubus or vampires being real things? I don't even know where you interpreted that from my response. All I said was there is a certain definition of such mythological creatures in writing aka stories. Please enlighten me and point out where I said they're real living things.
Furthermore, no matter what you say about being able to 'do what you want with them' there is still a dogma surrounding them...ghosts are dead spirits, zombies are the living dead, etc.

Second: Gee, pardon me for speaking in general and not specifically saying this was an indie movie. Glad I have wise guys like you on IMDB with their heads in the clouds to remind me. What would we do without you.

I'm not going to sit here arguing over this stupid s### but I felt the need to defend myself. Up yours, dude.

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[–] svalinanikola 10 years ago

Sensitive much?

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[–] milosprole9 9 years ago

She wore him because she liked him, but I don't think she killed him at all.

There's something wrong with Esther.

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