Beware Of 'Blonde' Ahead of Renewed Interest Via Awards Nod

Netflix

“Blonde” may be on the verge of getting its second wind on Netflix. The daring, dark, and shocking Marilyn Monroe drama is officially an awards contender thanks to star Ana de Armas. De Armas earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Drama for her performance in the controversial movie. The awards buzz could potentially lead to renewed interest in the film, which premiered in September.

There is something first-time viewers need to know before diving headlong into the ambitious movie. Netflix owes viewers a trigger warning that they need to get ahead of the over three-hour film. In its first twenty minutes, “Blonde” portrays shocking scenes of a young Norma Jean at the hands of her mentally ill mother, and it does not stop there.

It is sickening to watch, and the content grows no less grim. “Blonde” contains depictions of SA, domestic violence, graphic depictions of abortion, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and a lot of other heavy material. You need to know this because Netflix does not make it clear to viewers heading into it.

“Blonde” is not a glossy biopic. It is a raw, graphic, and potentially triggering film for survivors. There is no way around it. The physical and emotional violence perpetrated against Norma Jean/Marilyn Monroe is so pervasive it is nauseating. Perhaps, that is the point the movie is trying to make. Netflix needs to do its part in protecting those who need no such lesson.

These scenes are intense, and the quieter ones are no exception. The one in which a grown Norma Jean is icily greeted by her mother is absolutely crushing to watch. No one yells or screams. The hushed devastation rattles Ana de Armas’ Norma and the viewers. The moment of parental dysfunction could undoubtedly trigger those with similar issues.

Here at Eclectic Pop, I talk a lot about movies and TV while working hard not to spoil their plots unless otherwise noted. That has sometimes come at the expense of not issuing a necessary trigger warning. The plan is to go back and add one to any TV shows or movies that need one.

Triggers are real; the last thing anyone needs is a sucker punch that takes them back to their trauma. Those who watch “Blonde” have the right to know they are taking a risk in revisiting, or perhaps exposing themselves for the first time, to some incredibly dark aspects of certain human experiences. Please do what is best for you.

As far as the awards season is concerned, Ana de Armas will find out if she is the winner of the Golden Globe for Best Lead Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama - when the ceremony is held Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET. It will air on NBC and be available on Peacock.