THE PLANE! THE PLANE!
As Tattoo in the original TV series—a character the new horror film practically erases—Herve Villechaize charted an infamously difficult path that cannot be ignored.
Kristen Lopez is a disabled freelance film critic and pop culture essayist whose work has appeared at Heat Vision, TCM Backlot and Birth.Movies.Death. She also hosts two podcasts, Ticklish Business and Citizen Dame.
As Tattoo in the original TV series—a character the new horror film practically erases—Herve Villechaize charted an infamously difficult path that cannot be ignored.
The Marvel movie’s antagonist suffers from chronic pain. Instead of exploring a way for her to cope, the film simply conjures up a magic cure and ableist tropes about disability.
By ignoring circus impresario P.T. Barnum’s history of exploiting his performers, the Hugh Jackman-starring musical undermines its own message.