Words by Hebah Ali // photo by jeshoots
Over the last decade the ‘strong independent woman’ trope, made waves for the types of women we see on screen today – leaving in its wake the ‘manic pixie dream girl’ of 2012. It was a period where feminism was becoming mainstream (read: profitable) and female leads were moving out of damsels in distress and sidelined heroines, and moving toward more complex, human arcs. However, more recently, the ‘strong independent woman’ meets her death and from the ashes rises the ‘Unhinged Woman’. From the feminine rage of Dani in Midsommar, to the crudeness of Tracey Gordon in Michaela Coel’s Chewing Gum and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag, to the unbridled, murderous chaos of Pearl (SHE’S A STAR!!!), women are finally being MESSY in the public sphere and I imagine it’s here to stay.
As a filmmaker who often writes about Unhinged Women™ I have some qualifications in this field. As it goes; here are my top 10 favourite Unhinged, Messy, and Chaotic women in film. Disclaimer: There are some spoilers ahead!
Bridget Jones – Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) dir. Sharon Macquire
Perhaps one of the earlier Messy Women™ to grace our screens, Bridget Jones was messy before it was cool. In the words of one Mark Darcy, Bridget is a “verbally incontinent spinster who smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish, and dresses like her mother”. This is actually just every cool girl I know. From flirting with her sleazy boss, to dating his arch nemesis, to being the cause of the most dramatic showdown fist fight sequence of the early naughties, Bridget Jones might just be the blueprint for women’ s wrongs everywhere.
Sandra – Anatomy of a Fall (2023) dir. Justine Triet
Sandra spends a lot of time in a courtroom defending her innocence in a case about her husband’s ‘accidental death’. This woman cheats on him a year before he dies, and also hooks up with her lawyer/friend a year on from his death. Kind of based. I’m not saying she did or didn’t do it, I’m just saying if my husband was blasting PIMP on a loop while I was trying to flirt with my interviewer, his days would also be numbered.
Ria Khan – Polite Society (2023) Dir. Nida Manzoor
Ria Khan has dreams to be a stuntwoman and has a healthy distrust in men – particularly ones who want to whisk her cool, rebellious older sister, Lena away and marry her. When one such man succeeds in doing so, Ria fights (literally) tooth and nail to expose him and his family for the freaks that they are. I mean, he wanted his wife to give birth to his mother??????? And Ria is copping it??? Riddle me that.
Tashi Duncan – Challengers (2024) Dr. Luca Guadagnino
A woman who needs no introduction. Rising star tennis player Tashi Duncan ping-pongs between two best friends, Art and Patrick, when her one true love is tennis. Antics that are daily-mail-headline fuel, prove that she really is just in it for the love of the game. Much like Tashi, I am also into whoever is hot and winning. Women should be allowed to cheat on their loving husbands as a treat especially if it’s a little windy outside!
The Girl – A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) Dir. Ana Lily Amirpour
The Girl is a vampire who sometimes kills men. I don’t see the problem officer. Who am I to judge a woman that needs to eat?
Alexia – Titane (2021) Dir. Julia Ducournau
As we move into the top five, these women get a little harder to defend but I will stand ten toes down for them. Yes Alexia has sex with a Cadillac in this film and carries the bionicle baby to term, but before you judge her I need you to look me in my eyes and tell me you wouldn’t fold for Optimus Prime.
Adelaide Wilson – Us (2019) Dir. Jordan Peele
So she’s the evil twin who stole the real Adelaide Wilson’s life – big whoop! When your perfect life is under threat, you would move mountains to keep that from happening, what’s a bit of doppelganger world domination in the mix? Adelaide had the plan, she just needed the platform – you snooze you lose!
Ava – Ex Machina (2014) Dir. Alex Garland
Ava, is technically not a real woman, and the fact that she made it on this list – this high too – is a testament to her ability to scheme and connive. She’s the epitome of gaslight gatekeep girlboss and I’m sure many other gen z slogans.
Amy Dunne – Gone Girl (2014) Dir. David Fincher
Amy Dunne arguably launched the ‘unhinged woman’ into centre stage. I know we were meant to feel sorry for Ben Affleck by the end but she was just way too good at weaponising white woman tears, and he left Jennifer Garner!! I have to respect a woman’s dedication to her craft, and also the scavenger hunt?! I know a Capricorn Sun Sagittarius rising when I see one. Also when she killed NPH in her cunty bob that was awesome.
Abigail – Triangle of Sadness (2022) Dir. Ruben Ostlund
Abigail is an unlikely number one pick – but similarly to her trajectory in the film – she is the force nobody sees coming. She really is the opportunistic manipulator more women should strive to be. Abigail starts as the undervalued, underpaid crew member on the cruise, the doormat for the rich and elite. But once the ship capsizes and they’re stranded on the desert island it’s all Abigail’s playbook. This woman single-handedly restructures society and forms somewhat of a dictatorship (I’m in too deep with this to draw the line at female-led dictatorship) but that is a skill they definitely don’t teach at Harvard Business School – I can tell you that for free.
