Holy Terrors: Jewish Horror Ic-n of the Month, Spencer Charnas
Holy Terrors is a monthly column highlighting the Jewish talent behind some of our favorite horror films.
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Spencer Charnas: Hip ‘n Scary
In a recent chat with founder of Hear Us Scream (and my beautiful friend and go-to music expert) Cat Benstead, I was encouraged to check out the sinister bliss that is Ice Nine Kills, and, damn, have I seen the light! Fronted by the frighteningly cool—and also Jewish—Spencer Charnas, Ice Nine Kills and its stylish lead vocalist fit the bill PERFECTLY for the column, which covers gothic and ghoulish Jews all over the horror industry. While “Holy Terrors” has not yet delved deep into the musical side of the genre… who better to start with than this monstrous melodist?
For those unfamiliar with Charnas’ work, the 36-year-old musician and actor is an absolute force in the horror world. Not only has he appeared in two feature-length genre films (The Retaliators and The Dark Offerings, which were both released in 2021), Charnas’ cinematic prowess clearly carries over to his music videos and albums as well. INK’s stylish sound, which positively radiates blood-tingling nightmare fuel, is a cinematic dream. Often described as metalcore, horrorcore, symphonic metal, or all of the above, the band is gritty and dangerous while remaining simultaneously easy to devour. How they’re able to manage that, hell if I know. While I’m typically more of a poppy girl myself (I listen to The Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack every day), even I can’t get enough of them. INK’s infectious ability to thoughtfully cater to horror buffs’ sensibilities—even horror buffs like me who are typically drawn to softer styles of music—brings with them such an uncanny charm. Truly, genre lovers who’ve not yet been exposed to INK would especially love the band’s astute attention to detail when it comes to tribute after tribute to horror in their track lists. While I’m no longer the die-hard fan of Eli Roth, I was as a child (Roth, by the way, being another prominent Jewish figure in the horror community), Charnas reminds me of him in ways as he’s just as much if not more dedicated to bringing his cinephile nature to his work through every possible avenue.
Akin to a special-edition DVD packed with easter eggs, INK’s last two albums The Silver Scream (released in 2018) and The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood (their newest album, released in 2021) dial extra-hard into the cinematics as the music oozes with even more horror references backwards and forwards. With Silver Scream’s nods to Nightmare on Elm Street (“The American Nightmare”) and Silent Night, Deadly Night (“Merry Axe-mas”) and Silver Scream 2’s tributes to American Psycho (“Hip to be Scared”) and Candyman (“Farewell II Flesh”), excitement abounds as the thrill that comes along with watching horror in the dark accompanies the immersiveness of these last two releases.
Ultimately, Charnas’ passion for horror pumps the blood in my little creepy heart. In fact, I’m sorry I didn’t discover INK earlier, because they’re the haunting favorite I always needed yet never knew existed. For horror fans searching for a smooth entry into their work, I would suggest starting with their scary-cool music videos. I ESPECIALLY recommend “Rainy Day” and “Funeral Derangements” if you want that full horror movie experience. While I’m not feeling comfortable enough to travel yet, INK is also currently on their Trinity of Terror Tour, which is making its way across the United States. For now, I’ll drool at their Instagram feed and listen to their music in the shower as the horror gods intended.