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Vegetarian Protagonists in Horror Movies

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After seeing a couple of horror movies that surprised me by featuring vegetarian protagonists, I was inspired to try to find more. Here is a brief list of what I came up with in my research. Feel free to add to the list in the comments section, as I’m sure I’ve missed some of them.

1. Halloween II (2009) Director Rob Zombie. When I saw this movie in the theater a couple of years back, I was pleasantly amused to see a scene where the main character, Laurie Strode (played by Scout Taylor-Compton) and her best friend, Annie (played by Danielle Harris), taunted Annie’s father (Brad Dourif) for eating meat. The girls even ordered a vegetarian pizza. There are other scenes in the movie as well that have a strong AR message. It should not be too much of a surprise though, considering that director Rob Zombie is an ethical vegetarian himself. Check out this article from ecorazzi about the vegetarian protagonists in H2.

2. Hostel (2005) Director Eli Roth. One of the most memorable scenes of this film for me were between the main character Paxton (Jay Hernandez) and the Dutch businessman (Jan Vlasák), as quoted from IMDB:
Paxton: …you need a fork there chief?
The Dutch Businessman: No. I prefer to use my hands. I believe people have lost their relationship with food. They do not think “this is something that died for me so that I would not go hungry.” I like that connection with something you die for. I appreciate it more.
Paxton: Well I’m a vegetarian.
The Dutch Businessman: I am a meat-eater. It is human nature.
Paxton: Well I’m human and it’s not my nature.

Again, it also should not be too shocking here that the hero of the movie is veg considering director Eli Roth is also not a vegetarian, but a supporter of PETA. Check out this PETA interview with Eli Roth.  ::Swoons::

3. Grace (2009) Director Paul Solet. This is a movie that I personally have not seen yet, but was recommended to me by fellow vegan blogger and Halloween fan extraordinaire, The Spooky Vegan. According to Spooky Vegan, Grace features a vegan mom, Madeline Matheson (Jordan Ladd) whose baby has an insatiable hunger. She notes the movie is very well made, and just checking out the trailer alone gives me the goosebumps. I must add this to my Netflix queue!

4. The X-Files (TV show 1993-2002) Creator Chris Carter, The X-Files (Movie 1998) Director Rob Bowman, & The X-Files: I Want to Believe (Movie 2008) Director Chris Carter. Admittedly, I never really watched the show while it was in its prime on television. I think I may have turned on an episode once when I was living in an apartment by myself (for the first time) and got so spooked, I didn’t watch any more of The X Files for a long, long time. I saw the most recent movie in 2008 in the theater though and wished that I had watched the show on a more regular basis. According to poster Thirsty Johann in a veggieboards forum on 3/15/2005, “There’s one or two screwups by guest-writers, but Mulder & Scully from The X-Files are vegetarians. They don’t mention it specifically during the show, but in one of the novels Scully is vegan, and in one episode she eats vegan ice-cream.” Additionally, The Informed Vegan blogged about animal rights and key episodes of The X-Files that had AR messages on 2/18/11. Digging a little further into this story, I found that actress Gillian Anderson (who played the character of Dana Scully) is vegan, an active member of PETA, and an animal rights activist. Additionally, David Duchovny (who played the character of Fox Mulder) is a former vegetarian, now pescetarian (according to wikipedia).

I have been a long time fan of horror movies and for the past 10 years have been interested in vegetarianism and animal rights. It tickles my brain to see the merging of these two passions on the big screen!

So, grab a bowl of popcorn, sprinkle a little nooch (aka nutritional yeast) or some vegan chocolate chips on top, and settle in for a night of terror! Happy Halloween!

Chocolate Chip Popcorn

St. Patrick’s Day Vegan-Style

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Finding alternatives for a meat-free St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t difficult. I was never a corned beef fan in my pre-vegan days anyway, so finding a substitute for salty beef was not necessary. I decided to stick with mostly whole foods and forgo any faux meat products for this year’s feast. While listening to Flogging Molly in the background, I concocted our Irish feast.

The menu consisted of an Irish Carrot Soup, Kale Salad, Chickpea Shepard’s Pie, sour gherkins, castelvetrano olives, whole wheat Irish Soda Bread, Shamrock Shakes for dessert, and a veganized Bailey’s Irish Cream.

We started off with some freshly baked whole wheat Irish Soda Bread (minus the raisins) from Happy Herbivore. The bread was dense, moist, and chewy. It was great with some vegan butter and dipped into our next soup course.

Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread

Next we had Irish Carrot Soup from this Epicurious recipe (minus the whipping cream). The soup was described by others as tasty and “carrot-y.” I found it a tad bitter for my taste, which could have been attributed to either the lemon juice or cloves included in the ingredient mix. I would make it again in the future if I omitted one or both of those ingredients.

Irish Carrot Soup

The soup was followed by a nice green salad and our main course. I had previously made the kale salad numerous other times and blogged about it. I also have made the Chickpea Shepherd’s Pie before, but it came out even better this time because I used a different mixture of veggies from my first attempt. I used a mixed bag of frozen corn, peas, and carrots. I also added some nutritional yeast in the chickpea mixture as the original creator of the recipe recommended. Delish! The sour gherkins and castelvetrano olives were a nice salty side dish to the meal as well. Okay, so the olives were actually Sicilian (not Irish), but they were green and addicting.

Chickpea Shepherd's Pie, Kale Salad, gherkins, olives, and Irish soda bread

Beverage wise, we were delighted by some spirits that our friend Brent brought over. The men enjoyed Guinness Extra Stout, which according to Barnivore, is the only vegan Guinness beverage. Normally Guinness is made with a fining process using isinglass (from the swimbladders of fish).

After dinner, we had a nightcap of a veganized Bailey’s Irish Cream (consisting of a coconut milk base) that was absolutely amazing. It was creamy, smooth, and sweet with just the right amount of Jameson.

Vegan Bailey's Irish Cream

Since it was a warm evening, I decided to make veganized Shamrock Shakes for dessert. I added a healthier version of Oreos to the mix for a cookies and cream appeal.

Shamrock Shakes (2 servings)

2 to 2 1/2 cups of Rice Dream vanilla ice cream
3/4 to 1 cup of rice milk
1/2 teaspoon mint extract
1 cup of fresh cilantro (more or less until desired “green” color is reached)
4-6 Oreo-style cookies (broken in half)
Fresh mint for garnish (optional)
Straws (optional)

Put all of the ingredients (minus the mint and straws!) into a blender and puree until desired consistency is reached. Add more ice cream or milk depending on how thin or thick you want it. Garnish with mint and stick a straw in the glass for easier drinking.

This was the perfect blend of mint, vanilla, and cookie-goodness! The cilantro was a nice addition and wasn’t too strong or overbearing (for those who aren’t cilantro fans).

Vegan Shamrock Shakes

To top of our St. Patty’s Day vegan feast, we watched the campy, cult horror film Leprechaun, featuring a young Jennifer Aniston. It was hilarious and silly and the perfect ending for a great dinner with friends. It turns out that Jennifer Aniston’s character is vegetarian in the movie, thus prepping me up for another future edition of Vegetarian Protaganists in Horror Movies. Erin go Braugh!

Overall, I’d give this meal a 4 1/2 out of 5 carrots on the veganlicious scale!

My Top 5 Vegan/Animal Rights Documentaries

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Since it is the end of the year and so many are making “top 5” lists, I felt compelled to make a few myself, starting with my top five vegan and/or animal rights themed documentaries. Watching documentaries such as A Cow at My Table and Meet Your Meat made me go vegetarian 10 years ago (and a year or two later, vegan). The power of film is not lost on me and I think it is imperative for many, not only to read about the stories of suffering, but to see the images that helped many of us to transition to this lifestyle. This list is not exclusively for films from 2012, but films, both new and old, that have really spoken to me throughout the years and ones that I regularly recommend to others. I love a good documentary, and those related to helping animals (both human and non-human), the environment, and our health score big points with me. In my selections, I hoped to hit on all or at least one of these issues.

Here are some of my favorites listed in no particular order.

1. The Witness – This is a Tribe of Heart documentary from fellow Ithacans, Jenny Stein and James LaVeck, about one man’s journey to a higher level of consciousness and empathy. This is a great film for those animal lovers who haven’t quite made the connection to the animal on one’s plate, or for anyone that loves a story of change and grassroots activism. The Witness tells the story of Eddie Lama, a regular blue-collar entrepreneur from the Bronx who decides to watch a potential love interest’s cat (even though he wasn’t particularly fond of animals). He starts to form a deep bond with the cat, and eventually has a change in perception of all animals. I remember when I first saw the film I thought, “If Eddie Lama can change the direction of his life, anyone can.” I still think that. The film is available to watch for free online or you can also buy the DVD. Heartwarming.

2. Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home – Another wonderful film from Jenny Stein, James LaVeck, and the folks at Tribe of Heart about the stories of several people, many of whom were once involved in small and large farms that used animals. The film takes you on the bittersweet journey of those who grew over time to view their life paths differently. We also get to meet those now running animal sanctuaries and trying to make a difference for farmed animals. Some of my favorite people, such as Harold Brown from Farm Kind and Howard Lyman of Voice for a Viable Future were featured in this film. This is an eye-opening piece for people who think small, family farm operations are much different and more “humane” places for animals. They aren’t. And if you don’t believe animal rights activists, listen to those who were involved in these industries. Their stories will break your heart, but hopefully raise your spirits as well. This is a film that I personally screened to many friends in my own home and continues to make a difference in the lives of those who watch it. This documentary was just released this year and is available on DVD.

3. Earthlings – This Nation Earth film directed by Shaun Monsoon, is a tour de force into the world of animal use and abuse that is narrated by actor Joaquin Phoenix with accompanying music by Moby. I own the DVD, but in all honesty, have probably only watched it once in its entirety. I have allowed others to borrow it though, as once one knows what happens to animals in the food, entertainment, clothing, research, and pet industries, they will never be the same. This is a great film for any naysayers who think our treatment and use of animals “can’t be that bad.” It provides the images, sounds, and horrors that make one think more critically about all of the industries that exploit animals, and hopefully one’s own choices. This film isn’t for the meek and can be viewed online for free or purchased on DVD.

4. Vegucated – Before her directorial debut of Vegucated, I had the pleasure of meeting Marisa Miller Wolfson many years ago at a Sowing Seeds workshop through the Institute for Humane Education. When her film was slated to come out, I knew it would be a keeper. Marisa takes her background in humor, education, and advocacy and created a fabulous documentary that follows the lives of three meat and cheese loving New Yorkers as they go on a six week journey into veganism. The film documents their trials and tribulations, and provides an education into the health, animal, and environmental impact of the Standard American Diet (SAD). Because this film delves into all three (vs. just one aspect) of the benefits of a vegan diet, I have used it as part of the curriculum in my Environmental Psychology course. This is also a film that is very accessible to the masses and provides comic relief to balance out the heavy issues the subjects (and audience) have to face. The film is now available on Netflix (DVD or streamable) or for purchase in a variety of formats. Highly recommend.

5. May I Be Frank – This is the only film on the list that I had the privilege of seeing on the big screen at Cinemapolis, an independent movie theater in Ithaca, NY. Afterwards, the main subject of the documentary, Frank Ferrante was available for Q&A. I’ve blogged about this powerful experience previously and walked away with over a half dozen copies of the film myself to give to others. The filmmakers, Cary Mosier, Ryland Engelhart, and Conor Gaffney follow the story of Frank’s transformation from a very unhealthy, addicted lifestyle of unhappiness to one of healing through a raw, vegan diet and their inspiring coaching in 42 days. This project started when Frank was asked one day by Ryland, in Cafe Gratitude in San Franscisco the question of the day, “What is one thing you want to do before you die?” Frank replies “I want to fall in love one more time, but no one will love me looking the way I do.” In his journey for love of another, Frank learns self-love and the audience comes to love him as well. The film is available for purchase on DVD. Makes a great gift too!