The creator of the critically acclaimed series Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd, addressed questions surrounding his show during his interview with GQ. Speaking about the characters and the reality-based incidents that inspired his series, Gadd purposefully spoke about classic stalker films and how his show is different from them.
Speaking of Misery and Michael Douglas’ 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction as two of the most renowned stalker movies, Richard Gadd claimed to avoid the narrative used in them. Finding issue with the films’ “femme fatale” narrative, Gadd admitted refraining from the use of such tropes in his show.
Richard Gadd Isn’t a Fan of Michael Douglas’ Fatal Attraction
Associated with the critically acclaimed Netflix Original series Baby Reindeer, based on true incidents from his life, Richard Gadd sat to discuss his highly appreciated show with GQ. Initially beginning by addressing the daunting experience he had after the series reached out to 260 million people, Gadd then discussed the unique narrative that it follows.
Addressing some of the greatest stalker movies from the past, like Michael Douglas’ $320M thriller Fatal Attraction, Richard Gadd admitted refraining from its typical “femme fatale” narrative. Claiming to dislike the stereotypical artistic choice where the female stalkers are often “sexed up” in the movies and shows, Gadd seemingly spoke out against the 1987 thriller.
“There’s been some great stalker movies in the past. Misery, Fatal Attraction are amazing films. But the mistake that has been made – and I don’t think it’s a mistake because it’s an artistic choice – is that they’re often sexed up. It’s usually a femme fatale narrative. Someone comes in who seems very normal, they seem perfect, but bit by bit they get weirder and weirder.”
Explaining what’s wrong with those narratives and why he isn’t a fan of them, Richard Gadd urged people to identify stalking as a “mental dysfunction” rather than initially portraying it as something sensual-turned-gory.
Baby Reindeer Refuses to Resort to Clichés and Stereotypes
Proudly refraining from the typical “femme fatale” narrative used in Michael Douglas’ Fatal Attraction, Richard Gadd noted offering a nuanced exploration of complex relationships and the thin lines separating consent and coercion in his show. Unwilling to fall into the beaten-down trap of showcasing a seductress-turned-stalker, Gadd admitted focusing on a thoughtful portrayal of characters.
“Stalking is a mental dysfunction, it’s an illness and I wasn’t dealing with someone who felt calculated or insidious. I felt I was dealing with someone who was vulnerable, somebody who was mentally ill, someone who couldn’t stop because they believed what was in their head.”
The 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction, narrated the story of Michael Douglas’ Dan Gallagher, a married man engaging in an affair with Glenn Close’s Alexandra Forrest, a mentally unstable woman who becomes obsessed with him. In contrast, Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer challenged the harmful tropes and stereotypes of such narratives, while prioritizing proper representations of female stalkers.
Richard Gadd’s remarks against Michael Douglas’ Fatal Attraction came as a testament to his commitment to creating thoughtful character and inclusive content. His work on Baby Reindeer has undoubtedly set a high standard for responsible storytelling, while his criticism of the 1987 thriller came as a reminder of the importance of the evolving media and entertainment industry.
Baby Reindeer is available on Netflix.
Fatal Attraction is available on Prime Video.
