Jenni Holtz
“Trans characters are infrequently represented in film, which is reflective of societal attitudes towards transgender people. Thus, when trans people are represented poorly in media, the inaccurate representations shape viewers’ idea of what trans people are like. ”
What is your favourite genre of horror?
Body Horror
What movies would you recommend in that genre?
American Mary, Possessor, Raw
What are your favourite horror movies?
Raw, Scream 2, The Craft, Rocky Horror Picture Show
What was the last horror movie that actually scared you?
1BR
What is your favourite moment from a horror movie?
The piano scene from Nobuhiko Ōbayashi's House (1977)
Why is horror special for you?
I'm a transgender person with high anxiety, so I am drawn to stories about outcasts, underdogs, and people who don't really fit the status quo. These things show up in horror a lot, whether it's a final girl who goes against the odds to survive a killer, or in the tragic backstories of villains. I also find horror a "safe space" to experience anxiety and really feel the depths of fear while knowing that in actuality, I am safe in my home. Horror is cathartic in that way, providing an outlet for everyday anxiety and fear, a way to feel feelings that in many situations, I push down and away.
What character in a horror do you relate to most and why?
Dezzy from Bliss (2019) - definitely felt seen as a creative person who has experienced art block on many occasions!
How do your friends and family feel about your horror obsession?
My family thinks it's very funny because I was quite the scaredy-cat growing up. Because of that, though, I wanted to prove that I could handle scary movies and eventually fell in love with them.
When did you fall head over heels in love with the horror genre?
One summer afternoon when I was around twelve, I spent the day in my parent's unfinished basement because it was the coldest room in the house. I caught a screening of The Shining and watched it alone, thinking it was the most captivating and beautifully horrific thing I'd ever seen. Ever since then, I watched every horror movie I could get my hands on to find that feeling again, of being unable to look away from the screen no matter how terrifying it became.
Do you have any Halloween traditions?
I try to go see Rocky Horror with the shadow cast at least once in the month of October, ideally, a midnight showing at Chicago's Music Box theatre.
If you could go back in time and experience the midnight premiere of any horror movie, what would you choose?
Psycho (1960) - after extensively writing about this film as a transgender person, I'd love to be in the room to see people's initial reactions to the twist in the film.
What's the spookiest place you've ever visited?
Sadly, I haven't visited any spooky places, but I hope to in the future!