Ghouls on Film

Who wouldn't want to join this family?

Well, it took the Academy of Arts and Sciences long enough to award a woman the Oscar for best director. I mean what’s a gal gotta do? Make sweaty, adrenaline-pumping, thrill-rides filled with dudes for dudes who like dude movies? Blow a bunch of shit up?

Apparently so.

So in light of the fact that the big winner of the night was not only a woman, but one who has an eye for horror, Ghouls on Film would like to extend Women in Horror Recognition month into  March, for at least a few more days.

Bigelow is clearly a visionary, and not just because of her work on “The Hurt Locker” or even “Point Break” (ahem, stop your snickering please, brahs.) but because she was at the forefront of the teen vampire craze and created some unforgettable characters long before “Twilight” was asparkle in Stephanie Meyers’ mind. Remember the late 80s undead western “Near Dark?”  Bigelow  did a little role reversal-roo writing an actual girl for the vampire love interest rather than just another girly-boy. Remember how hot poor confused Adrian Pasdar was? And who can forget Bill Paxton as Severen? With the exception of Gus in “The Dark Backward” it’s my favorite character he’s ever played.

I asked  the founder of Women in Horror Month Hannah Neurotica, who I interviewed a few weeks ago, to make a list of the 10 female horror directors we should all know. Guess who made the list? Here it is, in no particular order. I added my thoughts on why they made her list, so please don’t blame the dumb jokes on Hannah.

10 Ladies to Call for a Good Scare

Mary Lambert – Director of not only “Pet Cemetary,” but also Madonna’s music videos. I wonder which she finds scarier?

Marry Harron – Behind the big-screen adaptation of “American Psycho.”

Amy Lynn Best -  Boys eat your heart out. No, that’s a warning. She actually will.

The Soska Sisters – Did the girls from “The Shining” grow up and make movies? Gothspoloitation at its finest.

Katt Shea – “Dance of the Damned” — think undead “Indecent Proposal.”

Shannon Lark -  “Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter” might be the best horror slogan ever written.

(Check out Visera Film Fest for all horror films made/directed by women)

Amy Holden Jones -  “Slumber Party Massacre” anyone?

Rachel Talalay – She took on Freddy and lived to tell about it.

Holly Dale -”Blood & Donuts” is delish.

Katherine Bigelow – No need for an intro; I already wrote one.