Stepford stories

[Statius]

And erotic horror? She's gotta femdom the submissive version of herself into giving control of her own damn body back.

Could go that way for sure, but not by me. Can't write that well and even if I could I wouldn't. Me and horror don't get along.

 

[cw5523729]

Want to make it true horror? Have the wife trapped inside the obedient version of herself.

Now that's a horror story I'd read! And I don't like horror stories.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

Now that's a horror story I'd read! And I don't like horror stories.

Is the "battle in the center of the mind" plot beat of mind control stories really horror though? Like, I guess depending on what the controlling entity is doing it *can* be but just...mind control and battle in the center of the mind kinda just go together. You could totally write it (or read it) without it being horrifying at all (again, from someone who isn't much into horror)

Edited to acknowledge: Yes, I know I called it erotic horror, but I've been having second thoughts as I think about it and then lamenting that it's not my story to tell.

 

[cw5523729]

Is the "battle in the center of the mind" plot beat of mind control stories really horror though?

Beats me. I don't think I've ever read any erotic horror. My horror stories are limited to Stephen King novels. Though some of his works could probably qualify as erotic horror.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

Beats me. I don't think I've ever read any erotic horror. My horror stories are limited to Stephen King novels. Though some of his works could probably qualify as erotic horror.

I was just about to add that last bit you edited in. He was some of my first horror. Him and Anne Rice. I skipped all the "horror for kids" crap and went straight to the King.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I appreciate all the input on this.
It will be largely about a mom with a troubled son who moves to a new neighborhood in a 'company' town. In this case the company being a huge pharmaceutical manufacturer. Her neighbors (all moms with sons) work there and within a couple of weeks, she does too. She finds the company largely matriarchal but at the same time very traditional with employees expected to dress professionally. Dresses, shirts and ties, etc. This is mostly just window dressing, to try and capture the Stepford 'feel'. The men are all subservient but it's so subtle it takes her a while to understand it.

When her son starts having 'therapy' with her psychologist neighbor is when things start to change and she starts discovering things about her neighbors. She knows that these things should bother her more, but inexplicably, as her son starts to change, she does too.

It's not going to be true mind control, but more behavior modification. Again, appreciate the input folks.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

There was a TV movie called the Stepford Children that included the kids getting replaced.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Weird thought.


Did any of these versions say what happened to the original flesh bags?

 

[caleb35]

The whole point of the Stepford Wives is the fragility of men who would prefer a simulacrum of their wife to a free thinking human. I’m pretty sure the lead engineer was a Disney animatronics expert.

As soon as you ditch the robot concept, you end up in mind control territory and there must be hundreds of stories here where husbands rewrite their wives’ personalities.

The thing is, that point is still as relevant today as ever, perhaps more so.

I've also thought about doing a Stepford Wives-type story; the theme is broad enough that I'm sure there can be multiple takes on it. In my mind it's perfectly aligned with the gated community/"model village," where the owners are trying to create a warped version of an ideal American past (i.e. Make America Under My Thumb Again). You could take this story idea to some very depressing, upsetting places plot-wise.

 

[Statius]

'Don't Worry, Darling'.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

In my mind it's perfectly aligned with the gated community/"model village," where the owners are trying to create a ...

... utopia where no one wants for anything, all are happy and content and everything goes well, all the time.

Everyone is gorgeous/handsome, in perfect health and fitness and dresses well.

No illness, no diseases, no conflict, no trauma, drama or hardship and even the weather is always perfect.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

The thing is, that point is still as relevant today as ever, perhaps more so.

I've also thought about doing a Stepford Wives-type story; the theme is broad enough that I'm sure there can be multiple takes on it. In my mind it's perfectly aligned with the gated community/"model village," where the owners are trying to create a warped version of an ideal American past (i.e. Make America Under My Thumb Again). You could take this story idea to some very depressing, upsetting places plot-wise.

Let's keep the politics in the Politics forum.