What is up with Little Helen? An analysis of Greener Grass weirdness

Just some of the things in Greener Grass that I haven't seen people cover yet. My first video essay. Hooray!
I don't cover everything (because there's so much,) but I tried to cover what I thought was important to the movie's overall themes.

[@drewguidry1940]

I think the graves represent the idea that Jill was blind to the conformity and uniformity of the society she’s in. All of a sudden, she sees graves that were always there. I also believe that Julian was always a dog, but her realization of the strict social norms in the town is unveiled in Julian being a dog. He acted as he pleased in public, used the bathroom freely, etc. and the teacher was unphased by julian being a dog

[@capriceabigail]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!! I watched the movie today and it left me with so many more questions than answers lol! Here are some of my thoughts on it though: -I think another aspect to the revelation that the kids were playing on graves is how you never notice you’re in a bubble until you leave. So now that Jill is back she suddenly realizes how odd some of the things are. -Lisa having Twilson could be seen as her being a literal “soccer mom”, and how these types of parents obsess so much over what their kid is doing that they see them as a soccer ball, not a child (similar to Julian turning into a dog to fit his parent’s mold) -I think the hair cutting symbolizes how we often view our hair as an extension of ourselves, to the point that if we cut it we bleed. I think this is why she bleeds when she removes her braces too Anyways, this was a great video thank you for making it!

[@minirant9903]

wow, what insightful analysis. I never thought of it like this. Great work, minirant. You're a hero!!

[@minirant9903]

dont thank me its my job

[@nathanjohnson6910]

...did you thank yourself?

[@3lttlbrds]

Um

[@dewdplays3455]

You’re a school

[@heef9001]

please make more videos!

[@CameronMetrejean]

I saw this movie at a film festival and got to meet the two actresses who wrote and directed the film. During a Q&A portion I actually asked them about the graves implication at the end of the film. I was a little confused by their answer but I think what I gathered is that it was supposed to imply that they are in an ongoing cycle of sorts; they are doing what the people before them did and what their children will do after them. Something like that. Hope that helps!

[@cheapshotfishing9239]

Hearing your breakdown of Julian's relationship with his mother really helped explain to me why I feel so connected to this movie, and a big part of why I've loved it so much.

[@Megatonwhale]

Just saw this film last night and I loved it. Also loved your analysis on it, some really great insights. While watching, my partner brought up a good point, how the town seems to almost operate under children's logic. The idea of these thin conventionally attractive ladies in bright coloured outfits, like dolls, the braces being a sign of "maturity", the haircut being a painful and bloody experience, people swapping babies and houses like they're playing house on the whim. And I also can't help thinking that all the Western/Native American details throughout are perhaps a way to highlight the idea that the US is built on stolen land, to obviously then exacerbate the idea that nothing real is being done with said land, that it's being filled with these empty suburban plots devoid of any real meaning other than "keeping up with the Jones's" Anyway, good video. It looks like you've only got the 1 video so far, from a year ago too, but I'm subscribing anyway, just on the chance you have more content

[@nathanjohnson6910]

Btw the priest is also wearing a baptismal robe. So that may play into your theory.

[@hannahisadisaster337]

i just watched this movie. the weirdcore nature of the thumbnail(?) of the movie caught my eye on hulu and i knew i had to watch it. my favorite movie tbh

[@khartlin]

Thanks for this! I watched this last night and I was totally captivated. It really is a film that needs to be talked about and analyzed. What a treat!

[@CBlade0]

Woah, you made sense of one of the strangest and, IMO off-putting movies I've ever seen.. this is incredible, thank you!

[@HannahVonStevens]

Did anyone else notice that Lisa at the end of the movie is wearing the exact same outfit that Jill was wearing at the beginning of the movie when she gave Lisa her baby?

[@jolie8162]

i feel like this was because lisa wanted jills life so bad, she took her baby, her house and then her outfit. She wanted jills life because she wasn’t happy with hers

[@RooneySparks]

Thanks for this, I have so many thoughts about this will be but just couldn't put into words like this. Also, this is very well additive with good sound on top of being a solid analysis

[@safehaven717]

Also that Rolie Polie Olie thing gave me so many flashbacks I didn’t even know I had

[@annaangelic2318]

Okay I've tried to skim comments but my biggest take is that this movie is about American colonialism and the culture produced by it. There's a ton of moments in the movie that distort and fetishize various cultures: look at the various themes of the parties hosted, the karate lesson and the costumes in it, and being an "Indian giver / Native American giver" exchange between Jill and Lisa, the children playing on top of graves and this only being made aware to Jill toward the conclusion of the film, Miss Human and her class and teachings on the American prairie and settlers and the western colonization of the United States without touching on the people who already lived there (as well as her mother being a sharecropper), Lisa taking and keeping one of Jill's children and slowly taking over her entire life (at the end, Lisa is wearing Jill's exact same outfit, presumably her own clothes), Little Helen being a home invader who steals clothes and drives Jill out of her own house WHILE chasing her around and preventing her from leaving, Little Helen attempts to steal Jill's identity, Jill is a white woman who steals a black child from her mother. I think that is a screamingly obvious take but I haven't seen anyone else in the comments bring it up. Also I am so glad you envisioned the water as transformative and brought up Christianity because I think that's a very valid point. A significant component to this movie is that we actually rarely see the pool being used. I think about Breaking Bad, where the Whites have a pool in New Mexico that they never use and they struggle to make ends meet, and how this might represent living above your means. Here in Greener Grass, the pool is also just an object that exists for people to rarely use it, where Julian, Nick, and Little Helen use it once in shocking ways and are transformed by it.

[@madimartin3470]

Miss Human was my favorite character but I also just love D'arcy Carden so I may be a little bias. I would love to hear your thoughts on her character.

[@cathathex]

im so happy someone talked about it , this movie been on my watchlist for a while and i LOVEEEED it but i was so confused at alot of it .

[@mateorendon5533]

Wow, what an amazing video! I just watched this amazing movie since I wanted to learn more about modern surrealist films and your video was a great companion to Greener Grass. Would love to see more videos on your favorite movies! Other surrealist films that I love are Mulholland Drive, Daisies, and I'm Thinking of Ending Things

[@pepperminttree]

I liked how bizarre it was, but I was expecting more thriller in the end, given the whole murderer on the run thing

[@cl0wn_d3m0n4]

this deserves so many more likes views and your channel deserves so much, like, its such a good video, i can tell you put a lot of effort into this, i'd definitely love to see more

[@andrewwestlund610]

I really liked this analysis! I just finished watching the movie and you did an incredible job! Great editing too :)

[@Aglaesia]

I wanted to say as well since you didn't touch on it that at the end of the movie, Lisa is wearing the exact same outfit that Jill was at the beginning of the movie (since now, she is at the top of the suburban mom food chain, i'm assuming). I also wanted to share my review of the movie the last time I saw it (which was also my second time watching) because I think a lot of your theories make sense and some aligned with what I wrote as well. Curious on your possible thoughts about the colors people are wearing and if they might mean anything? My review: "I had to watch this movie again to unpack it better after millions of theories in my head after the first watch. I like to think that the bagger is some sort of personification of the ostracized parts of women who become too different. I noticed upon my second viewing that in the classroom next to the chalkboard, there was a photo of Cheryl (dead girl) on the wall with a dunce hat. Not to mention, at her memorial area, people saying "why her," and that her face was pretty. I feel like maybe the murderer is a metaphorical stand-in for when either this girl or jill finally leave this place, or "get killed" by the murderer. When jill came back, the murderer was also arrested, therefore also the parts of her that were so "ugly" and different to this perfect suburbia, conforming again. Anyway, just my theory along many others like colors having to do with gender roles or roles in their little society, etc. 🧡💜💛🩵🩷I love this movie 🩷🩵💛💜🧡"

[@dale85311]

I feel like I was gaslit for hour and half

[@mollysandmeier3262]

I love this movie so much! I hope that it becomes more well known and gets the credit it deserves!

[@nickasbury]

Disingenuous is a better word (rather than “ingenuine”).

[@williamallen1812]

Nice analysis I think the Graves represent the points u made before about panga and kind of solidified that idea

[@ihatetwinks99]

thanks for making this bro i had no idea what was going on

[@johnkistler3467]

I'm glad somebody knew what was going on. I just felt like I was on drugs the whole time and by the end when the graves showed up I was like... they're in hell??? lol

[@stevenshoemake2291]

Good analysis. But, the water represents repression (not status or aptitude) It is the force that drives the entire story. Little Helen is the personification of repression.

[@aiden5369]

really makes sense now after watching this

[@jack_lazuli285]

surprised you have 25 subs, this is great

[@strawberry911]

THANK YPU SO MUCH THIS IS THE MOST CONFUSING BUT AMAZING MOVIE EVER

[@moviesandseries1510]

Why didn't you continue 2 upload more video essays ? You're really good❤

[@tonigiammona7107]

9:28 BLEW MY MIND !!! 🤯

[@Polleywannapocket]

It all makes sense now

[@safehaven717]

Thanks for making this vid I love this movie and I really think you did a great job here! Keep up the great videos!!

[@SkyeFische]

I think you missed the symbology of American Empire. Miss Human is the history of the world, she talks about her violent family being the colonists who created the system and generally discussed constant violent horror. With that in mind also, I don't think the graves represent identities, but the people killed to form their bizarre society - the victims of empire.

[@nicksilva7113]

i ADORE this movie it’s so fucking good

[@guygoblin9834]

Nice video, loved the movie and loved your takes on it!

[@christinapeterson8210]

Nice analysis! 🤙

[@marinablack181]

There are plenty of films that paved the way for Greener Grass. The work of Quentin Dupioux, Todd Solondz, Visioneers, Yorgos Lanthimos, even Tim and Eric. Greener Grass was ok, but it's influences are far more essential

[@notquitehim]

Personally I felt like the movie dragged a little too much, and it would have worked better as a short film

[@jaisenmonetathchi3670]

I felt like at the end of the movie she realized none of it was real and couldn’t escape. Or like she realizes she is some hell of some sorts.

[@antoniotheburrito1405]

literally why does this only have 74 views

[@helen7086]

doing gods work thank you sm for this

[@nikolayzolotaryov9964]

But what about the mystical component of the film? You only touch on the surface in your review - the social aspects. But this film is much deeper. Answer these questions for yourself: 1) When does Little Helen first appear? 2) Why don't the inhabitants of this place know how to kiss? 3) What is Little Helen trying to convey to Jill and Lisa during a yoga session? when you can answer these questions, a lot will become clear to you, and then I will ask you a couple more.

[@staticdescent4769]

bro this is a video essay not a magic riddle

[@heatherofmorans]

@@staticdescent4769 no no let him speak i need an explanation

[@alansmithee4927]

You should make mow analysis videos you are good at them :)

[@raysgarage7260]

Good analysis overall. I wanted to add one thing. It seemed pretty obvious that Little Helen is Julian, somehow: Similar characteristics in breathing, lost look stares, similar speech patterns, and (once we accept the idea that Julian fell into the pool and was transformed into a female, older version of himself (or was he a man dressed as a woman? not sure)), it makes sense that he would gravitate toward following "himself" and his mom around, move into his old house, wear her clothes, etc. "This is MY house!" When we see things from older, transformed Julian's first person perspective, he is muttering and repeating phrases and things that he experienced firsthand before as he watches himself and his mom from a distance. His mom really seems to be on the verge of realizing that it might be him during the yoga scene. Again, I thought it was pretty intentional, so I won't spell out the other supportive points. (Watch pool scene carefully. Little Helen appears and hides behind the three men. Helen is not in the frame with the other men just before. Also, the orange in mouth is a dead giveaway. They both do it.) Of course, this raises the question of whether older Julian killed the yoga instructor.... I think probably not, the sister did it, but the random stranger working as a store cashier took the rap. (I think that was meant to be Little Helen putting the strange juice gift with carrot on the memorial.) Interesting and strange movie, with just enough surrealism for anything to be permissible in the universe. Great stuff PS The bloody hair can just be bloody hair. I'm not the first person to wonder how crazy it would be if our hair had pain receptors and every time it was cut (which would be rare), it would be painful and bleed. I think the writers had the same idea and threw it in for fun, as a weird concept. If this universe allows couples to mistake each other's spouses or treat a soccer ball as a baby, hair can be painful and bleed when cut. It doesn't necessarily have to be symbolic or representative of anything.

[@alsitair]

bruh why this vid so good bruh

[@ikjet648]

Love this review I'm obessed

[@Calico.7]

HELLO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!

[@wibleston]

I think that this movie is not about Jill at all. I think it's a criticism of America. I don't know the politics and history of America that well but at least I can tell you this: 1. The children playing soccer on graves is deffo a criticism towards the American atrocities done to the natives (for example the construction of mount Rushmore on sacred native grounds); 2. Julian killed himself... a person cannot be alienated from his community because he doesn't fit in, and by his parents because he doesn't meet the requirements for them to love him and then fall in a pool and come out as a dog. That is not Julian, that is Julian the dog. (You might have brought up this point so sorry if that's the case); 3. I feel like Wetbottom's competitiveness is criticism of how sometimes these kinds of games of "who's gonna fit in better" can become very toxic and often lead to sabotage of one-another or this can be totally a criticism on consumerist culture, because at the end Wetbottom takes her house and pool and leaves Jill with the flowers she had (in a sort of envious "I want what you have way" and I'll get it at any cost); 4. The priest saying not to believe things that don't agree with the religion's teachings when Pangea is mentioned and the very Christian feel that it gives off sometimes is a criticism how church and state are not separate entities; 5. Bob being "bad" and experiencing his own alienation is criticism of how this kind of society does not respect nor encourage deviation from thought or rebellion of any kind (what Bob is doing), and difference in character (what Julian experienced and what ultimately lead to his suicide).

[@katehengstler]

This was an awesome video, I loved this movie

[@dohnjoe735]

You are so genius!!!!!!

[@sonja5998]

Pls post where Bob is making corn husk dolls pls

[@carrotlover6917]

Does anyone have any recommendations of movies/shows that are like Greener Grass

[@hecksnek6158]

It's pretty unique. The closest thing I can think of are David Lynch films (Blue Velvet especially) or Alan Resnick's Adult Swim Stuff.

[@julieg2603]

fireeee

[@sonja5998]

Pls do part 2

[@germwerm782]

My only thoughts was it felt like a child telling a made up story

[@mistery91able]

Please make more videos

[@mkmkk3605]

Julian es el puto amo ksjsjajaja🤘

[@carolyngilbert4843]

Ithought lil helen was a stalker and a pedophile

[@nonyabusinessinc]

SUB'd.

[@tonigiammona7107]

CHRISTIANITY?!?

[@jimmybuko2065]

make more videos!

[@mkmkk3605]

Eii subs in spanish plssssss 😘😘😘

[@sinnsage]

thank you!!!