Since his unconventional Bob Dylan biopic came onto the scene, a lot more folks know who Todd Haynes is. Hopefully this means that a lot more know about his film Safe - but just to be “safe” I’m going write a bit about it.

Haynes’ 1995 film starring Julianne Moore as Carol White, is on the surface a slow, strange horror film where the bad guy isn’t a ghost, monster or a man in a mask, but is in fact the chemicals that surround all of us.

When we meet Carol she is a housewife in California. She lives in a big house and spend her days taking care of that house and running the occasional errands. Soon after the film starts, Carol finds herself feeling weak and not very well. She visits doctors who find nothing wrong and even a psychiatrist, who she has trouble talking to. As her condition grows worse, Carol hears about a group that treats chemical disorders - folks that have become extremely sensitive to the chemicals that surround them. She seeks out the group and looks for a cure to her chemical sensitivity. Moore steals the show and is horrifying wonderful to watch. Her Carol White stands not only for all women stuck in a life with nowhere to go, but also carries with her dialogue on a variety of social issues.

For Safe is more than an examination of the chemicals around us and is actually a striking portrait of suburban alienation and disgust told through subtle and effective soundscapes and images. Beyond the suburban critique, Safe has also been called a metaphor for the AIDS epidemic along with a harsh look at the “new age” industry.

Even when you consider the deeper levels the film offers us, I can’t help but think in the 13 years since the film was released, that chemicals and our exposure to them may actually becoming a very real threat. While we may not have to resort to the methods that Carol eventually takes, no doubt we are all facing more illness and consequences that we don’t even know about due to our lack of environmental protection. Maybe one day Safe will also become a film that is regarded as an unfortunate warning.

Hopefully it won’t though and to do your part to make sure that it doesn’t, and learn more about the National Resources Defense Council and the simple steps they provide to give you:

the information you need to make healthy decisions for yourself, your home and the planet. Find out about easy, everyday actions you can take to make a real difference, from finding a safe sunscreen to choosing fish low in mercury. It’s a place to share tips and talk with others who care about their world–and take more action if you want [NRDC]

And of course watch the trailer for Safe below: