[WiHM] Interview with Writer and Co-Host of Killer Bs, Tori Potenza.
Tell us a little bit about yourself! What is your role in the horror community?
My name is Tori and I am an educator and historian in Philadelphia PA. I am a staff writer and outreach manager for MovieJawn.com and I also host a podcast called Killer Bs with my partner Garrett Smith. I began podcasting a few years ago, mostly contributing to general film podcasts. Through that I met a wonderful community of film and horror fans. I was given the opportunity to start writing for Cinema76 (which has since been absorbed by Moviejawn). My first piece was in honor of Barbara Crampton for Women in Horror month, since then I have been working on a variety of columns and essays that focus on feminist perspectives in horror films.
What was the first thing you encountered that made you fall in love with horror?
I always feel embarrassed to say that I did not start out as a horror fan. I was a huge scaredy cat for most of my life. Even still I was always into creepy things that were horror adjacent; Nightmare Before Christmas, AAAH Real Monsters, The X-Files, etc. That really changed when I was in my early 20s. I realized I had anxiety and depression, and at the same time I discovered horror and the therapeutic effect it had on me. I saw films like John Carpenter’s The Thing, Reanimator, and It Follows, and those were some of the formative movies that made me into the horror fan I am today. Since then the world has expanded and I have been exposed to incredible BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and Female focused/created horror films that have made me feel like I belong in the community.
What does the horror community mean to you?
Everything. You know, I have my standard 9-5 day job, but the horror community is where my passion lies. Especially over the last few years with the pandemic, I have felt very disconnected from a lot of my Philadelphia community. So making online connections with a variety of incredible people in the horror community has helped to keep me grounded. I do not know what I would do if I did not have this community. The festivals, podcasts, classes, and day to day conversations I have with other people in the horror community have made me feel connected, even when I cannot physically be with people.
Who are your favourite women in horror?
There are so many, and I find more everyday! Karyn Kusama, Mary Harron, Anna Biller, and Julia Ducournau are just a few of the female filmmakers I love. Alexander Heller Nicholas, Kier-La Janisse and Alison Pierce are horror writers I truly look up to. I am constantly inspired by all of these women and so many others. I am also a huge bookworm so the writings of Shirley Jackson made me into a horror fan before I would even watch a horror movie!
If you could invite one woman from horror to dinner who would you invite and why?
This is such a hard question! I think it would have to be Barbara Crampton. She was the first person I wrote about when I became a horror writer. She was a young horror queen in the 80s who did not realize the impact her work had on so many young filmmakers until she worked with Adam Wingard in You’re Next. Now she is out there constantly acting and working with a variety of new horror directors and writers. She wields her power in an awesome way and she genuinely seems like a doll. Plus I need to know all the behind the scenes stories of her work with Stuart Gordon and Jeffrey Combs!
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?
Representation matters. It is important we have these celebratory months to honor a variety of populations, and while we need to honor these people year round, these months are a great way to steer focus onto all the amazing women doing work out there. One of the worst experiences I had as a woman in horror was a few years ago when I was invited to introduce Rosemary’s Baby at a repertory screening in Philly. I used the platform to talk about the real horrors of womanhood; emotional abuse, physical abuse, and how women are often not taken seriously. I was yelled off the stage, by a group of men. I was hesitant to write about or even podcast about movies after that, I was so embarrassed. But I am stronger because of it. There are still toxic people in the horror community, but because I did not let them ruin horror for me, I know so many incredible women in this community because I stuck with it. We need to share each other's stories and we also need to acknowledge the work that still needs to happen. A lot of people are out there making the horror community a more welcoming, inclusive place and we should celebrate them.
In honour of celebrating Women in Horror, who do you believe readers should keep an eye on in terms of women in horror?
Amber T from Horn Blood Fire Podcast is an incredible writer and podcaster. I also love the work of Annie Rose Malamet of Girls Guts, and Giallo and Caitlin Grant of Plug it Up Podcast.
They all have really interesting horror focuses that tap into different parts of the horror experience. I loved Nia DeCosta’s Candyman so I have high hopes for her. I also think Chloe Okuno and Coralie Fargeat are going to continue bringing us great female directed horror.
What do you have coming in 2022 that you can talk to us about?
I will be continuing my Women Who Kill column monthly on Moviejawn. I will also continue working on my Cronenberg on Sex and Gender series which is one of the things I am proudest of. I am hoping to hear back about some speaking opportunities and some potential opportunities to be published (send me some good vibes!). I am mostly excited to continue making connections and talking about horror movies with cool women! That is what it's all about.
