Hollywood films are a major cultural export to other nations, and studios often bank a lot on a film’s ability to sell tickets all over the world. But when the art of one nation crashes up against the cultural of another, conflict can arise. It’s far from uncommon for Hollywood movies to see significant edits, if not outright bans in the Middle East, but in what appears to be a first. A24’s new horror hit Talk to Me has been banned in Kuwait not because of what it depicts but because of who is in it. And the studio is standing behind star Zoe Terakes.
Talk To Me has become a hit almost all over the world, but the movie was recently banned in Kuwait. The decision was reportedly made not due to any content in the film itself, but entirely due to the fact that the movie stars Zoe Terakes, who identifies as non-binary and trans masculine. In a statement posted to Instagram, she called the decision “dehumanizing, “ saying…
