Why Is Black Swan so disturbing

Natalie Portman stars in Darren Aronofsky’s new film hitting select theaters this weekend, Black Swan. Portman plays Nina, a ballerina who desperately wants to win the lead role in a production of Swan Lake—a production directed by a sometimes sadistic company director named Thomas (Vincent Cassel) who pushes Nina to the limits. Is Black Swan a nice little movie about ballerinas that the whole family will enjoy, or will it haunt your dreams at night as if the specter of death himself is hovering over your bed? As a service, we answer every question you could possibly have about Black Swan. (Obligatory spoiler alert: this article will give away a few of the film’s jarring surprises, though by no means all of them.)

Q: Is Black Swan the scariest movie you’ve seen this year?

A: Black Swan is the scariest movie I’ve seen in at least the last five years.Q: Is Black Swan a horror movie?

A: Not in the traditional sense. I mean, it’s not a gory *Saw-*type movie. But, for lack of a better term, Black Swan is one dark, fucked-up movie.

Q: If you’re going to be blurbed in this weekend’s commercials for Black Swan, what do you hope will be used?

A: “Black Swan is one fucked-up movie!” - Mike Ryan, Vanity Fair.

Q: So Black Swan isn’t gory?

A: Well, there are definitely some cringe-worthy moments. Put it this way, there is blood—especially in the second half.

Q: Who is the Black Swan?

A: The Black Swan is a character in Tchaikovsky’s ballet, Swan Lake. The character of the Black Swan is used as a beaten-over-your-head metaphor for pretty much the entire film in regards to Nina’s character.

Q: Who is Nina?

A: Nina (Natalie Portman) is a dancer in the New York City production of Swan Lake. She is trying out for the lead role of both the White Swan and the Black Swan now that Beth (Wynona Rider) has retired. Nina also lives with her overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey).

Q: Why did Beth retire?

A: Beth, a superstar in the world of New York ballet, didn’t really retire. She’s more forced out by Thomas because of her age.

Q: Does Beth take the news well?

A: Beth takes the news about as poorly as a person can take that sort of news.

Q: Does Beth file an age-discrimination suit?

A: No. Beth verbally assaults Nina at a gala then throws herself in front of a car the following day.

Q: Does Thomas make any sexual advances on Nina?

A: Sort of. But it becomes apparent that his advances are more to try and prepare Nina for her role as the Swan Queen.

Q: What kind of advice does Thomas give Nina?

A: Thomas advises Nina that she should masturbate more often.

Q: What’s the scariest scene in Black Swan?

A: Nina is in her bedroom and decides to take Thomas’s advice and masturbate. She’s really into her masturbation session when she notices that her mother is asleep on a chair right next to her. Perhaps this isn’t technically the scariest scene in the true sense of the word—but that would be a personal nightmare for anyone, I think.

Q: So Nina gets the role as the Swan Queen?

A: Eventually, but she is constantly pushed by a new girl in the production, Lily (Mila Kunis).

Q: When you look at Mila Kunis’s IMDb page, are you more shocked that you’re reminded that she was born in the Ukraine or that she’s the voice of Meg Griffin on Family Guy?

A: Family Guy.

Q: How many tongue-lashings does Nina get from Thomas?

A: Four.

Q: How many tongue lickings does Nina get from her rival Lily?

A: One.

Q: Do Nina and Lily get along?

A: The two have a complicated relationship. Lily does reach out to Nina in an effort to become friends, and they do spend a fairly drugged-up evening together out on the town. But Nina is always suspicious of Lily’s intentions and doesn’t make these feelings a secret. At one point, Lily responds to Nina, “Excuse me, your highness.”

Q: Is there a chance that Mila Kunis called Nina “your highness” because she was getting confused and thought Natalie Portman was playing her character from Attack of the Clones?

A: It’s unlikely. Thankfully, Hayden Christensen is nowhere near Black Swan.

Q: I’ve heard Black Swan compared to Single White Female. Is Black Swan anything like Single White Female?

A: Black Swan would be comparable to Single White Female only if the Bridget Fonda character, still the focus of the film, was the one who turned out to be insane.

Q: Is Nina insane?

A: Well, as we learn early, she has issues. She has a tendency to see things that are not there, like eyes that move on a painting. She also has visions of a slightly more evil version of herself in an assortment of different situations. Also, her mother discovers mysterious injuries, usually deep scratch marks, on her body.

Q: Will I enjoy Black Swan?

Why is Black Swan disturbing?

What mental disorder does Nina have in Black Swan?

Is Black Swan too scary?