[WiHM] Interview with Writer and Co-Host of I Spit On Your Podcast, Jess

Tell us a little bit about yourself! What is your role in the horror community?

I am a content creator known as Spinster #1 or Spectral Jess of the Spinsters of Horror. This is a website that hosts writing from both Kelly and I on various topics in the horror genre that we are interested in. I am also a co-host to the podcast I Spit on Your Podcast with Kelly (Spinster # 2) where we discuss horror movies and other horror mediums (television shows and books) with thoughtful analysis, research and passion often through a feminist lens. I have also written pieces for GRIM Magazine,  Last Girls Club, Horror Homeroom and Morbidly Beautiful. 

What was the first thing you encountered that made you fall in love with horror?

I came to horror movies late in my life, as I had a very overactive imagination, and found that watching horror movies would really unnerve me. Even though I loved classic horror movies, B-horror movies and would watch a really scary one with Kelly at least once a year. However, I have also loved the horror genre and been drawn to it as a child. For me it started with books, reading horror is what got me into the genre. It started out with Goosebumps, Fear Street, then morphed into Anne Rice, Stephen King and Clive Barker.  I also enjoyed the dark, weird, paranormal  and macabre cartoons and movies such as the Addams Family, Are you Afraid of the Dark and anything by Tim Burton (his early works). My love for horror had always been there - it just grew in different stages in my life.   

What does the horror community mean to you? 

To me it means authenticity as well as good times. To have the horror community to turn to when experiencing stress and dark times in my life (especially during the pandemic), as a nice for not only escape but also growth. When I embraced my love of the horror genre, I began to feel like myself and also meet people who supported that in me. It has been wonderful to connect with other fans and discuss what the horror genre has meant for them. I have also made some of my best memories watching and discussing horror with people. I have been able to create a mini community with my best friend discussing horror and I love it.

Who are your favorite women in horror?

This is a tough question because I have so many and always have a hard time narrowing down my favorites. In terms of directors, I absolutely love the work of Julia Ducournau. RAW (2016) and Titane (2021) have become two of my favorite movies and I will watch these movies over and over. She brings the female gaze to body horror and while it makes me tad squeamish, I am here for it! For podcasters it would have to be Alex and Andrea over at The Faculty of Horror. It was their podcast that got me over my fear of watching horror movies and applying an academic lens to them which I loved. They are also the people who inspired me to get myself out there engaging with horror criticalling in both podcasting and writing. Also, my co-host/best friend, Kelly. She has been a major influence in my horror journey over the past 20 years that we have known each other. She also supports me when I step outside of my comfort zone and encourages me to follow the places my ideas take me on.

If you could invite one woman from horror to dinner who would you invite and why?

This is another tough question as I would like to sit and have dinner with a lot of amazing women in horror. But if I were to select one it would be Canadian film writer, programmer, and producer,  Kier-La Janisse. Her documentary, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror, was incredible. It had everything I wanted to learn more about the folk horror genre and had me going out to explore more. But her book, House of Psychotic Women, I have read front to back many times and I have so many questions for her. Her book also helped me come to terms with my own interests in subversive and exploitation cinema and the themes they explore. So I have been using her book as a guide into that side of cinema.

Women in horror have been making progress, but it’s clear that a lot of work is still needed to ensure that representation is correct and widespread . What is the importance of Women in Horror Month?

To me the importance of Women in Horror Month is all about celebrating the contributions of ALL women in the horror genre. But I also see it as a time to address the issues of lack of diversity, misogyny and disenfranchisement that is still present in the horror community at large. Yes, in the past few years a lot of work has been done, but I see that there is still a way to go. Because it will be nice one day for women to be able to voice their opinions on horror films/books/video games etc without having someone viciously insult and threaten them on social media. Especially in the other branches of the horror community that is still largely male dominated such as extreme and subversive cinema.

In honor of celebrating Women in Horror, who do you believe readers should keep an eye on in terms of women in horror (creatives, content creators, podcasts, movies, television shows)?

There is so much coming out these days that at times I find it hard to keep up with everything. But it has been amazing to see more female and female identifying individuals coming out with more and more horror content.  It terms in what I think readers should do to celebrate - SHARE EVERYTHING! Social media has become a powerful tool to spread information - so use this month the share your favorite podcasts done by or including women as hosts, read and share your favorite editorials and articles written by women both new and old (Ghouls Magazine, iHorror, Bloody Disgusting, Horror Homeroom, Morbidly Beautiful) are some good places to start. Got a favorite female Youtuber - share! Watch a movie directed, written, or stars mostly women - share and talk about them. There are so many indie horror films coming out created by women (Rose Glass, Nia DaCosta, Natalie Erika James, and Leight Janiak)  and we don’t talk about them enough.

What do you have coming in 2022 that you can talk to us about?

The Spinsters have some plans in the works for 2022 with events being created in June for Pride, some exciting themes for podcast episodes being planned,  another Extreme Cinema event (spearheaded by Kelly - I am the techie behind the scenes) and whatever else comes our way. I have also pitched a few ideas to places for writing and plan to continue to grow that part of my content creation.