[WiHM] Interview with Writer, Critic, Podcaster and Cosplayer, Jessica Scott

Tell us a little bit about yourself! What is your role in the horror community?
I am a writer, critic, editor, podcaster, and cosplayer! I do everything I can in the horror community because I love it so much. I run my own website called We Who Walk Here. I am a staff writer for Film Cred, where I often write about horror, as well as Daily Grindhouse, Nightmarish Conjurings, and Ghouls Magazine. I have bylines at other horror sites and publications like Dread Central, Certified Forgotten, and Grim. I spend as much time watching and writing about horror as I can, and when I’m not writing about it, I’m talking about it on as many podcasts as possible. 

What was the first thing you encountered that made you fall in love with horror?
I can’t remember not loving creepy things, but the first memory I have of the horror genre is watching Poltergeist from behind the couch when my parents rented it one night. They didn’t know I was there, but I absolutely fell in love with horror that night. I credit that movie with igniting my love for the genre and for turning me into a haunted house obsessive. I don’t go to haunted houses, but I watch as many haunted house movies as I can get my hands on.

What does the horror community mean to you? 
Ideally, the horror community is where all the nerds and outcasts can get together to talk about their passions. That’s the horror community I identify with: all the kids who were a little too weird or a little too macabre, discussing the art that they love in a respectful way and realizing that they’re not as weird or as alone as they thought they were. 

Who are your favourite women in horror?
Where do I start? Mary Beth McAndrews, Valeska Griffiths, Sharai Bohannon, Nichole Goble, Kay Lynch…the Oscar snub queens, of course: Toni Collette and Lupita Nyong’o. Jasmin Savoy Brown, Christina Ricci, Karyn Kusama. I could go on for days, because I haven’t even gotten into classic horror yet. I’ll stop there, but if anyone wants to hear a longer list from me, please let me know!

If you could invite one woman from horror to dinner who would you invite and why?
Marilyn Burns. I would ask her about making The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and what she thought of the franchise’s twists and turns. But mainly I would just want to tell her how important Sally Hardesty is to me and thank her for making me feel less alone. 

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?
I think Women in Horror Month is important for a few reasons. One, to remind people that women have always worked in the genre and helped push it forward. Always. Two, to drive home the point that, although we’ve always been here, we haven’t been treated fairly or recognized like we should. That has to change. And three, to highlight intersectional struggles. If you celebrated Women in Horror Month but not Black History Month, why is that? Are you including women of color in your celebration? Queer women, disabled women? Are you looking outside of your own country for horror creators? There’s a wealth of horror out there, both in terms of art being created and criticism being produced, and if you shut out marginalized women, you’re just perpetuating injustice and doing yourself a disservice at the same time, because you are missing out on a LOT. 

In honour of celebrating Women in Horror, who do you believe readers should keep an eye on in terms of women in horror?
Nikyatu Jusu won this year’s Grand Jury Prize at Sundance for her incredible film Nanny. I hope that will open lots of doors for her in terms of opportunities and financing, because I want to see more films from her. Alice Maio Mackay is a young trans filmmaker whose second feature — Bad Girl Boogey, a queer slasher movie — is in post-production right now. I can’t wait for that. Mariama Diallo’s Sundance film Master should be streaming soon. I thought it was one of the most impressive movies of the festival. Avalon Fast’s feature debut Honeycomb recently premiered at Slamdance. She’s another young filmmaker to keep an eye on. And Mattie Do, Laos’ only female filmmaker — her 2019 film The Long Walk is finally available on VOD. I highly recommend it. 

What do you have coming in 2022 that you can talk to us about?
I’m excited to be covering SXSW for the first time, because there are some great horror titles playing. So you’ll see lots of reviews from me out of that festival. I’m working on a book at the moment. You may see excerpts this year, but it probably won’t be finished until 2023 or 2024. Other than that, I’m going to be doing my usual things: seeking out new by-lines, guesting on podcasts, cosplaying, and talking about horror as much as I can!