Bodies as Commodities and Stolen Identities in Horror: A Comparative Analysis of Never Whistle at Night and Get Out

Authors : Doina Ciochina

Pages : 516-525

Doi:10.47777/cankujhss.1851072

View : 191 | Download : 654

Publication Date : 2025-12-29

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This paper examines the commodification of Indigenous and Black bodies through two works: the short stories in the Indigenous horror anthology Never Whistle at Night (2023), and the film Get Out (2017). I aim to analyze two short stories from the anthology Never Whistle at Night that highlight the exploitation and objectification of Indigenous bodies: “Collections” by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala and “Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth” by Conley Lyons. Drawing parallels with the critically acclaimed horror movie Get Out, I will explore how the exploitation of Black bodies in the context of systemic racism and white supremacy resonates with the themes presented in Never Whistle at Night. While the experiences of Black and Indigenous communities are distinct, there are undeniable similarities in the ways they have been and continue to be marginalized, exploited, and dehumanized by dominant cultures. Academic spaces often overlook or ignore Indigenous scholars and minorities in general, because it is easier to critique existing knowledge and systems from a dominant and usually privileged position.
Keywords : Speculative fiction, colonialism, horror, never whistle at night, Indigenous, power, control, survival, oppression, get out

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