[WiHM] Interview with Indie Horror Filmmaker, Karlie Boon
Tell us a little bit about yourself! What is your role in the horror community?
Hi! I’m Karlee Boon. I’m an independent horror director/producer and freelance production assistant living in Portland, Oregon.
What was the first thing you encountered that made you fall in love with horror?
Watching the VHS video from The Ring changed me forever! I remember watching it as a child and being so terrified but also constantly begging to rewatch it. I think the adrenaline of watching horror on-screen was instantly addictive for me.
What does the horror community mean to you?
The horror community is all about sharing ideas, supporting other creators, and just geeking out about the genre! I believe that half the fun of enjoying something you love is being able to share it with others, so I’m beyond grateful to have a horror community (both in Portland and on social media) to share that passion with.
Who are your favourite women in horror?
Director Julia Ducornau, Nia Dacosta and Mimi Cave have all really excited me with their recent films and I’m incredibly inspired by each of them as a filmmaker myself.
If you could invite one woman from horror to dinner who would you invite and why?
I just would love to pick Jamie Lee Curtis’ brain. Not only is she an iconic scream queen with decades of experience in the horror genre, but is also an active producer, director and philanthropist!
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?
Women in Horror month is so important because it puts the spotlight on femmes working within a genre that has a seedy history of overlooking and mistreating women (both in real life and within horror narratives). Women have a unique perspective on horror and it is essential that our voices be heard by the masses. Women in Horror month provides the opportunity to highlight these perspectives.
In honour of celebrating Women in Horror, who do you believe readers should keep an eye on in terms of women in horror?
I’ve been really excited about a few creators/projects in particular - loving the content put out by TooMuch Productions in LA, looking forward to catching the new season of Slay Away (@slayawaywithus) hosted by Enola Lugosi, and have been very excited seeing all the hard work put into upcoming short film “Neonate” (@neonatefilm) dir. @georgie_kfilm.
What do you have coming in 2022 that you can talk to us about?
Currently, I’m in pre-production for my new short film “NIGHT SHIFT” a coming-of-age horror short about a teenage waitress that harnesses the power to bite back against misogyny in her conservative 1980s town. Our crowdfunding campaign launches in April, and we hope to have the Horror Community’s support! Learn more about the film at karleeboon.com/night-shift and on Instagram @night.shift.short.
