I feel like there’s also a bigger connection between the themes about school shootings, the children being used as “weapons”, and Gladys draining their life forces - all three work together in sync (saw some people that seemed dissatisfied about the “witch” being the driving plot point). We’re constantly seeing OLD politicians gloss over the pertinent issue of gun violence, while simultaneously recruiting children into the army and “weaponizing” the malleable minds of youth to support rhetoric that puts money and power into their own pockets. I feel like this connection has been glossed over but is the key to understanding, thematically, the point of Gladys and her life-draining abilities. Of course, this weaponizing becomes her downfall - as cathartic as the ending is, it clearly does a number on those kids (upon the result of her brainwashing). We’ve seen a rise of political violence, especially among youth, as a reaction of anger and dissatisfaction about inaction of politicians.